Call for Programs

2023 ASHRAE Annual Conference (June 24 - 28, 2023 | Tampa, FL, USA)

2023 ASHRAE Annual Conference Tracks

1 HVAC&R Systems and Equipment:  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. 

2 Fundamentals and Applications:  Fundamentals are the foundation for understanding applications in engineering. Key components of ASHRAE fundamentals include thermodynamics, psychrometrics, heat transfer, fluid and mass flow. 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.             

3 Research Summit: Active research, and the exchange of those research findings, are critical to the development of our HVAC&R industry and built environment. The 2023 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.

4 Pathways to Net Zero Energy and Decarbonization: Decarbonization is urgently needed to slow climate change that is affecting the wellbeing of our planet.  Whether it is new construction, renovation or routine maintenance, ASHRAE and its members are leading in the advancement of carbon neutral, net zero energy and decarbonization strategies in building and HVAC&R design.

 This track highlights: case studies and research that expand on the simple to the complex methods being developed to reduce carbon impact on the global environment; tools and resources to make zero energy design and operation more easily achievable; innovative and state-of-art technologies and strategies to achieve zero energy communities and campuses; policies and regulations, codes and standards, and utility programs for adoption and scale up of net zero (or net-positive) energy building and community initiatives.

5 Future-Proofing the Built Environment: In the face of climate change and weather extremes (hotter, colder, wetter, drier, wilder winds, wildfires, seawater rise, etc.) and energy supply disruptions and shortages, methods of designing, constructing and operating buildings and HVAC&R systems for resilience and sustainability are paramount to long-term success.  

This track invites papers, abstracts, seminars and forums that highlight innovative technologies and strategies that reimagine our relationship with the built environment now and into the future, including advancements in: grid resilience; thermal storage systems; demand response; HVAC systems, equipment and design strategies for extreme climates and weather (e.g., outdoor and passive cooling, water scarcity); appropriate responses to energy supply disruptions; and how all the above are tied to resilience and energy conservation efforts.

6 Building Automation and Control Systems: As sensor systems, internet connectivity, building management software and data collection become more sophisticated and ubiquitous, there are substantial opportunities to make buildings and HVAC system and equipment “smarter”, with improved security, performance, efficiency and maintenance, and better utilization of renewable energy resources, including wind and solar energy and energy storage.

Submissions in this track may include IoT, cyber security, fault detection and diagnosis, big data analytics and applications, smart building, grid-enabled equipment and appliances, and HVAC design and operation for load flexibility, time-of-day practices, utility programs, etc.

7 Professional Development and Education: We participate in ASHRAE functions for the great value of technical exchange, and also for valuable interpersonal connections and exchanges.  This track is designed to provide opportunities to develop and share knowledge in the areas of presentation skills, leadership, teambuilding, understanding various business operations, interpersonal skills, etc., and an opportunity for educators to share knowledge in the teaching and education of current and future generations of professionals.  It also provides a venue for presentations on the importance of ethics and benefits of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in our professional and personal development.

In addition to seminars, submissions to this track may lend themselves to interactive session types such as workshops, panels and forums.

Contact Info

Conference Chair: Bert Phillips

Staff Support
For information on the technical program, special events, special sessions and general conference inquiries:

Haley Booker-Lauridson
Conference Programs Coordinator
Email: hblauridson@ashrae.org

Chris Preyor
Conference Programs Coordinator
Email: cpreyor@ashrae.org

Technical Support

For technical problems or for help in submitting an abstract online, email Tech Support

Tracks

Track 1: Building Automation and Control Systems

Track Chair: Raul Simonetti
Email: raul.simonetti@carel.com

As sensor systems, internet connectivity, building management software and data collection become more sophisticated and ubiquitous, there are substantial opportunities to make buildings and HVAC system and equipment “smarter”, with improved security, performance, efficiency and maintenance, and better utilization of renewable energy resources, including wind and solar energy and energy storage.

Submissions in this track may include IoT, cyber security, fault detection and diagnosis, big data analytics and applications, smart building, grid-enabled equipment and appliances, and HVAC design and operation for load flexibility, time-of-day practices, utility programs, etc.

Track 2: Fundamentals and Applications

Track Chair: Brian Fronk
Email: bmf141@psu.edu

Fundamentals are the foundation for understanding applications in engineering. Key components of ASHRAE fundamentals include thermodynamics, psychrometrics, heat transfer, fluid and mass flow. 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 3: Future-Proofing the Built Environment

Track Chair: Scott Peach
Email: sp@sp.engineering

In the face of climate change and weather extremes (hotter, colder, wetter, drier, wilder winds, wildfires, seawater rise, etc.) and energy supply disruptions and shortages, methods of designing, constructing and operating buildings and HVAC&R systems for resilience and sustainability are paramount to long-term success.  

This track invites papers, abstracts, seminars and forums that highlight innovative technologies and strategies that reimagine our relationship with the built environment now and into the future, including advancements in: grid resilience; thermal storage systems; demand response; HVAC systems, equipment and design strategies for extreme climates and weather (e.g., outdoor and passive cooling, water scarcity); appropriate responses to energy supply disruptions; and how all the above are tied to resilience and energy conservation efforts.

Track 4: HVAC&R Systems and Equipment

Track Chair: Ng Yong Kong
Email: nyk@nyk.com.my

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 5: Pathways to Net Zero Energy and Decarbonization

Track Chair: Rafi Karim
Email: rkarim@aeieng.com

Decarbonization is urgently needed to slow climate change that is affecting the wellbeing of our planet.  Whether it is new construction, renovation or routine maintenance, ASHRAE and its members are leading in the advancement of carbon neutral, net zero energy and decarbonization strategies in building and HVAC&R design.

 This track highlights: case studies and research that expand on the simple to the complex methods being developed to reduce carbon impact on the global environment; tools and resources to make zero energy design and operation more easily achievable; innovative and state-of-art technologies and strategies to achieve zero energy communities and campuses; policies and regulations, codes and standards, and utility programs for adoption and scale up of net zero (or net-positive) energy building and community initiatives.

Track 6: Professional Development and Education

Track Chair: Ahmed Abdel Salam
Email: ahmed.abdel-salam@usask.ca

We participate in ASHRAE functions for the great value of technical exchange, and also for valuable interpersonal connections and exchanges.  This track is designed to provide opportunities to develop and share knowledge in the areas of presentation skills, leadership, teambuilding, understanding various business operations, interpersonal skills, etc., and an opportunity for educators to share knowledge in the teaching and education of current and future generations of professionals.  It also provides a venue for presentations on the importance of ethics and benefits of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in our professional and personal development.

Track 7: Research Summit

Track Chair: Davide Ziviani
Email: dziviani@purdue.edu

Active research, and the exchange of those research findings, are critical to the development of our HVAC&R industry and built environment. The 2023 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.

Submission Process

The website is now open for Seminar and Workshop Proposals. Please follow these steps:

To begin, please choose the program type that you would like to submit a program proposal to: Seminar (1-2 presentations - 60 minutes in length; 3-5 presentations - 90 minutes in length) or Workshop (1 chair, 1-2 presentations; 60 minutes in length; 30 minutes reserved for discussion)

Before beginning your submission, it may be a good idea to gather all the information that you will be required to submit.

There are seven steps to the submission process:

  1. Track: You will be asked to choose which track you are submitting to.
  2. Session Description: Enter the title of the session. Also please provide a 100 word abstract. Please complete the rest of information, including TC sponsors (if any), estimate of the size of audience, etc.
  3. Additional Background and/or Scheduling Request for this session: Please provide any additional information that will be useful in describing the session that is being proposed. If you have any scheduling requests please state them here.
  4. People: Provide your name and contact information as the session organizer. Enter presenters by choosing the "Presenter" checkbox. You will need to enter the presentation title as well. Once a presenter has been entered, you will see the presentation title and presenter's name listed on the "People" step. Click on the icon in the Abstract text column to enter the abstract. Click on the author's name to add co-presenters and speaker bios.
  5. 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
  6. Method of Assessment: Please include 10 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 (not required for Forums).
  7. 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.

Seminars and Workshops are eligible for GBCI and AIA credits.

The website is also open for Forum, Panel, and Debate Proposals. Please follow these steps:

To begin, please choose the program type that you would like to submit a program proposal to: Forum (1 Moderator; 60 minutes in length), Debate (1 moderator; 60-90 minutes in length; 3-6 presenters; no individual presentations), or Panel (1 moderator; 3-4 panelists; 60-90 minutes in length).

  1. Track: You will be asked to choose which track you are submitting to.
  2. Session Description: Enter the title of the session. Also please provide a 100 word abstract. Please complete the rest of information, including TC sponsors (if any), estimate of the size of audience, etc.
  3. Additional Background and/or Scheduling Request for this session: Please provide any additional information that will be useful in describing the session that is being proposed. If you have any scheduling requests please state them here.
  4. People: Enter the name and contact information and select the appropriate role for all session participants.
  5. 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.

Forums, Debates, and Panels are not eligible for GBCI and AIA credits.

Panels, Debates, Workshops, and Seminars are recorded for the Virtual Conference.

Publication Schedule

This is the overall publication schedule for the 2023 ASHRAE Annual Conference. For specific details and questions regarding these dates, please contact the appropriate Track Chair.

Wednesday, November 30, 2022 Conference Paper Abstracts, Technical Papers, and Paper Session Requests Due
Wednesday, December 21, 2022  Conference Paper Abstract Accept/Reject Notifications
Wednesday, March 29, 2023 Conference Papers and Extended Abstracts Due - Submitted for Review
Monday, February 27, 2023 Debate, Panel, Seminar, Forum, Workshop Proposals Due
Wednesday, May 10, 2023  Revised Conference Papers, Technical Papers Due
Sunday, May 21, 2023 Conference Paper Accept/Reject Notifications
Friday, April 14, 2023 Debate, Panel, Seminar, Forum, Workshop Accept/Reject Notifications

Authors' Resources

Sample Paper

View a sample paper in PDF format.

Templates

Download the conference paper template in MS Word.

Agreement to Publish

Authors of approved Conference Paper abstracts are required to submit a signed Agreement to Publish form. A link will be in the acceptance letter to access and submit the form in electronic format.

Description of Papers

There are three types of paper presentations: Conference Paper, Extended Abstract and Technical Paper. Both must be submitted by their respective deadlines in order to be considered for presentation at the 2023 ASHRAE Annual Conference. Please note the submission process is different for each paper type.

  1. Conference Papers: two-step process - an abstract of the paper (400 words or less) is due for review by November 30, 2022. (Please select the "Submission Process" tab for more details and examples). The abstract must be approved prior to submitting the paper.

    Conference papers are shorter than technical papers, undergo a less stringent review and can be prepared closer to the conferences. Unlike technical papers, abstracts of conference papers are submitted first for review. Upon acceptance of the abstract, papers are due March 29, 2023 and undergo a single-blind review and must be approved by two reviewers. Due to this shorter time frame for review as well as a single review cycle, Conference Papers being submitted should be considered "Final" by the author. "Final" means that it could be published on the internet the next day - which puts responsibility by the author to have quality checks prior to submitting. Conference papers can be a maximum of eight single-spaced pages in length. Papers are submitted in 'final' form using the template.

    Guidelines for Authors of Approved Conference Paper Abstracts
    Below are some guidelines to consider when preparing your Conference Paper. Please note that the guidelines are significant factors in determining the acceptance of your Conference Paper.

    • Adherence to the template.

      The Conference Paper template and paper sample are located on the Author's Resources tab for your reference. Per the conference paper template, please include an author's note at the bottom of page 1 of your manuscript.

      1. Author note with job title, affiliation, and address (city, state, country) must be given for each author in the following form:
        J.L. Doe is associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan. R.L. Roe is president at Consulting Engineers, Inc., Lawrence, Kans.
      2. Paper is no more than 8 single-spaced pages in length total (includes text, tables, figures, etc.)
      3. Non-commercial (paper does not focus on a single product -- proprietary or not.)
      4. Paper has not been previously published.
      5. Equations are accurate.
      6. Paper includes dual units (I-P and SI). Both text and tables require the addition of dual units.
      7. Technical merit, effectiveness of the manuscript (organization & writing), originality.
      8. Relevance to ASHRAE members.
      9. Acknowledgment of the work of others by reference.
      10. Ready to be published.
    • Additionally, your Conference Paper must be submitted as a PDF file, referencing your ID# as the file name.

  2. Extended Abstracts: Extended abstracts are due March 29, 2023, and will receive a final accept/reject notification on April 20, 2023.Extended Abstracts report on research in progress, applications, case studies, and other topics in HVAC&R technical areas and are presented by authors as part of the Research Track at ASHRAE Annual Conferences.

    Extended Abstracts are intended to be preliminary research results that will eventually be expanded into full papers. Extended Abstracts undergo single-blind review by two reviewers to ensure high quality of content. An abstract must be accepted by two reviewers to be approved for a conference.

    Upon submission of the abstract, papers are due March 29, 2023 and undergo a single-blind review. Due to this shorter time frame for review as well as a single review cycle, Extended Abstracts being submitted should be considered "Final" by the author. "Final" means that it could be published on the internet the next day - which puts responsibility by the author to have quality checks prior to submitting. Extended abstracts can be a maximum of three single-spaced pages in length (not including references). Papers are submitted in 'final' form using the template.

    Guidelines for Authors of Approved Extended Abstracts
    Below are some guidelines to consider when preparing your Extended Abstract. Please note that the guidelines are significant factors in determining the acceptance of your Extended Abstract.

    • Adherence to the template.

      The Conference Paper/Extended Abstract template and paper sample are located on the Author's Resources tab for your reference. Per the conference paper template, please include an author's note at the bottom of page 1 of your manuscript.

      1. Author note with job title, affiliation, and address (city, state, country) must be given for each author in the following form:
        J.L. Doe is associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan. R.L. Roe is president at Consulting Engineers, Inc., Lawrence, Kans.
      2. Paper is no more than 3 single-spaced pages in length total (includes text, tables, figures, etc.) - does not include references
      3. Non-commercial (paper does not focus on a single product -- proprietary or not.)
      4. Paper has not been previously published.
      5. Equations are accurate.
      6. Paper includes dual units (I-P and SI). Both text and tables require the addition of dual units.
      7. Technical merit, effectiveness of the manuscript (organization & writing), originality.
      8. Relevance to ASHRAE members.
      9. Acknowledgment of the work of others by reference.
      10. Ready to be published.
    • Additionally, your Extended Abstract must be submitted as a PDF file, referencing your ID# as the file name.
  3. Technical Papers: full-length Technical Papers are due September 30, 2022.
    Technical papers are presented by authors at ASHRAE Winter and Annual conferences and then published in ASHRAE Transactions. Papers submitted for review must be both technically accurate and clearly written. Technical papers undergo a rigorous double-blind review and must be approved by three reviewers knowledgeable in the subject matter. Presentation is by poster or orally, if grouped into a session with related papers. Technical papers can be up to 30 double-spaced manuscript pages in length, including tables and charts, and a maximum of 12 figures (not counted in the page count).

    Guidelines for Complete Submission of a Technical Paper for Review

    To submit a full-length technical paper, go to http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/ashrae. The following items are mandatory for submission:

    1. When writing your Technical Paper manuscript, please follow the guidelines in the ASHRAE Authors Manual.
    2. Upload a title page with complete authors' listing (Word format). The author's listing should be submitted as a separate file (Word format), and must include:
      • Title of the paper
      • Author names in desired order, principal author first, with (if applicable) ASHRAE membership grade, academic degrees at the doctoral level (e.g., Ph.D., D.Sc.), and professional certification (e.g., P.E., BEMP, BEAP, CPMP, HBDP, OPMP).
      • Author note with job title, affiliation, and address (city, state, country) must be given for each author in the following form:
        J.L. Doe is associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan. R.L. Roe is president at Consulting Engineers, Inc., Lawrence, Kans.
      • Complete contact information for the corresponding author, including mailing address, phone and fax numbers, and email address.
    3. The paper has a maximum of 12 figures.
    4. The length of the text including tables is a maximum of 15 single spaced pages (and figures can be extra.)
    5. Upload your Agreement to Publish form(s) signed by every author.
    6. Upload in Word format 2 Learning Objectives and 4 Question and Answers (select the file designation "not for review".)
    7. Include dual units of measurements in tables and text (I-P and SI Units)

Learning Objectives and Q&A

ASHRAE submits its conference technical program for approval for NY PDHs, AIA Learning Units and GBCI LEED-AP continuing education credits. Among the requirements for approval are Learning Objectives and Questions and Answers for each of the sessions.

Seminar and Workshop Session Chairs are required to submit 4 Learning Objectives and 10 Questions and Answers. These cover the entire seminar.

Conference Paper and Technical Paper Authors are required to submit 2 Learning Objectives and 4 Question and Answers upon upload of the final paper.

Q&A sets should be in multiple choice or true-false format. These questions will be used for quizzing in the Virtual Conference to provide virtual attendance certificates to Virtual Conference users.

Following are examples of each:

Learning Objectives: The Learning Objectives should complete the statement, "After attending this session, the attendees will be able to..." Learning Objectives need to be addressed by the speakers and should use measurable verbs such as "Explain," "Describe," "Distinguish," "Design," "Apply," etc., such as the example below:

  1. Define Smart Grid functions, objectives and architecture
  2. Describe how the Smart Grid affects building operations
  3. Provide an overview of Smart Grid projects in North America
  4. Describe the federal policies and regulations promoting the Smart Grid

Method of Assessment (Q&A): Please include questions with answers based on the Learning Objectives and what will be covered within the Seminar.

Example:

  1. Is 55F the desired coil leaving air temperature in Florida?
    1. Yes
    2. No
  2. True or false: You should use a humidifier in a Florida Lab.
    1. True
    2. False