ASHRAE emphasizes quality of indoor environments

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Inc., or ASHRAE, is an international organization of 55,000 people. Its sole objective, according to the official ASHRAE Web site, is to advance through research, standards writing and continuing education the arts and sciences of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration to serve the evolving needs of the public.

ASHRAE was created in 1959 by the merger of two professional societies: the American Society of Heating and Ventilating Engineers, formed in 1894, and the American Society of Refrigerating Engineers, formed in 1904.

ASHRAE sponsors research, develops standards, publishes technical data and organizes meetings and educational activities for its members and other professionals concerned with refrigeration processes and the design and maintenance of indoor environments.

The organization also works to promote increased public awareness of the requirements for healthy, comfortable indoor environments.

The international organization now supports 114 research projects with a combined value of almost $11 million. ASHRAE will spend $3.2 million in fiscal year 2000 on research including indoor air quality projects, energy projects and chlorofluorocarbons.

ASHRAE has nearly 100 active standard and guideline project committees, 87 technical committees and seven technical groups. The organization's continuing education programs reached about 3,500 people in 1999 through a variety of courses.

ASHRAE has 55,000 members in more than 128 countries, including 4,000 student members.

For more information, see the ASHRAE Web site at www.ashrae.org.