The Decarbonizing Existing Tall Buildings Conference will be an information and idea exchange between stakeholders in the built environment industry, concerning the timely and important topic of reducing carbon emissions from large existing buildings.
Conference organizers seek a limited number of presentations on building deep energy and decarbonization retrofits projects.
The project needs to be a tall existing building deep decarbonization retrofit project. Prioritization for selection will be based on the following criteria:
- At least 12 stories tall,
- Has post-retrofit measured (not calculated) whole building energy performance data with a preference for pre-retrofit measured data as well,
- Delivered at least 30% carbon emissions or Energy Use Intensity (EUI) reduction from the starting point/base year pre-retrofit, and
- Shifted from fossil fuel or electric resistance to heat pumps for all or a significant part of the heating load.
Abstracts (not more than 300 words) should include summary information about the decarbonization measures that delivered the biggest reductions.
Contact Info
Conference Chair: Adam Hinge
Staff Support
For information on the technical program, special events, special sessions and general conference inquiries:
Chris Preyor
Conference Programs Coordinator
Email: cpreyor@ashrae.org
Staci Loeffler
Topical Conference Services Coordinator
Email: SLoeffler@ashrae.org
Technical Support
For technical problems or for help in submitting an abstract online, email Tech Support
Submission Process: Individual Presentations
Please follow these steps:
To begin, please choose the program type that you would like to submit a program proposal to: Individual Presentations (10-15 minutes in length).
Before beginning your submission, it may be a good idea to gather all the information that you will be required to submit.
There are five steps to the submission process:
- Presentation Title & Description: Enter the title of the presentation. Also please provide a 300 word (max) abstract.
- People: Provide your name and contact information as the presenter. Enter presenters by choosing the "Presenter" checkbox.
- Objectives: Please include 4 Learning Objectives for the entire session (not required for Forums). The Learning Objectives should complete the statement, "After attending this session, the attendees will be able to..." All 4 Learning Objectives need to be addressed by the speakers. The Learning Objectives should use measurable verbs such as "Explain," "Describe," "Distinguish," "Design," "Apply," etc., such as the example below:
- Define Smart Grid functions, objectives and architecture
- Describe how the Smart Grid affects building operations
- Provide an overview of Smart Grid projects in North America
- Describe the federal policies and regulations promoting the Smart Grid
- Method of Assessment: Please include 4 questions and answers (in T/F, Yes/No, or multiple choice format only) for the entire session based on the Learning Objectives and what will be covered within the speakers' presentations.
- Confirmation: When your submission is complete, click the "Conclude Submission" button. Note that you will still be able to make changes to your abstract up until the submission deadline.
Tracks
Track 1: Artificial Intelligence and the Built Environment
Track Chair:
Email:Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning have the potential to transform how we design, optimize, and operate buildings and equipment. From the automated design of heat exchangers to adaptive controls to the development of new working fluids, the possibilities are vast. This track highlights papers, case studies, and programs that separate the hype from reality and explore the possibilities of AI and ML tools for advancing technology for the built environment.
Track 2: Building Life Cycle Assessment
Track Chair:
Email:The explosion of computational capacity and data collection capability is rapidly expanding the scope, complexity, and practical applications of modeling and performance characterization both during design, construction, end-of-life, but even more so for fault detection, diagnostics, and operational optimization. These data can provide better insights on the whole life cycle impact of building construction and operation on efficiency and decarbonization goals. This track welcomes programs related to all aspects of building life cycle assessment, with a particular interest in successful applications that have extended modeling into operational phases of the building life cycle.
Track 3: Decarb Beyond Operational Energy Emissions
Track Chair:
Email:Track 4: Decarbonization Assessments
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Email:Track 5: Electrification: Possibilities and Pitfalls
Track Chair:
Email:Global legislative efforts are pushing for full electrification of the building sector. This track features programs that explore the required technology to meet legislative targets and the seen and unforeseen challenges and consequences of rapidly electrifying the built environment in parallel with other sectors. Submissions are encouraged in the areas of relationships between electrification and decarbonization, electrification of space and water heating, building/grid interactions in a highly electrified environment, onsite energy generation and storage, district energy systems, and all other areas related to the electrification of building systems.
Track 6: Fundamentals and Applications
Track Chair:
Email:Fundamentals are the foundation for understanding applications in engineering. Key components of ASHRAE fundamentals include thermodynamics, psychrometrics, fluid flow, and heat and mass transfer. This track provides opportunities for papers and presentations of varying levels across a large topic base. Concepts, design elements and shared experiences for theoretical and applied concepts of HVAC&R design are included.
Track 7: HVAC&R Systems and Equipment
Track Chair:
Email:HVAC&R Systems and Equipment are constantly evolving to address the changing requirements of the built environment. Papers and programs in this track focus on the development of new systems and equipment, novel applications of existing systems and equipment, improvements to existing systems and equipment and the proper application and operation of systems and equipment.
Track 8: Legislation, Standards, Codes, and Guidelines
Track Chair:
Email:Legislation such as the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 and global F-Gas regulations can dramatically impact the building sector by incentivizing different technologies and approaches to managing building energy systems. In addition, ASHRAE is well known for its standards and design guidelines and their continuous evolution to improve the built environment and its systems in terms of IEQ, resource efficiency, and energy consumption. ASHRAE Members must be able to keep up with the rapidly evolving legislative environment and prepare to inform future legislation, standards, and codes. The programs in this track highlight recent changes and opportunities to inform new legislation, standards and guidelines and their impact on the buildings sector.
Track 9: Policy, Codes and Standards
Track Chair:
Email:Track 10: Research Summit
Track Chair:
Email:Active research, and the exchange of those research findings, are critical to the development of our HVAC&R industry and built environment. The 11th annual research summit invites researchers to share those results, including ASHRAE-sponsored research and research of interest to the ASHRAE community. Researchers are invited to present papers, extended abstracts, seminars, forums or participate in panel discussions. The Research Summit includes a partnership with ASHRAE's archival journal, Science and Technology for the Built Environment.
Track 11: Tall Building Technology Issues & Solutions
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Email:Track 12: Workforce Development
Track Chair:
Email:As members of a professional organization, we participate not only for the great value of technical exchange, but also the interpersonal exchange. We recognize that the single greatest strength of our organization is its membership. This track is designed to allow those professionals an opportunity to develop in the areas of presentation skills, leadership, team building, understanding various business operations, interpersonal skills, etc. The Workforce Development Track will cover all aspects of business outside of engineering/technical applications and lends itself to interactive session types such as workshops and forums.