Ashrae’s task force for building decarbonisation

Jurisdictions globally are confronting climate change and recognising that building decarbonisation is an important component in their efforts.

ASHRAE’s Task Force for Building Decarbonisation (TFBD) was formed in Spring 2021 as an initiative of President Chuck Gulledge and President-Elect Mick Schwedler. The worldwide building sector accounts for about 40 percent of energy-related carbon emissions and buildings remain a major sector that lacks sufficient mitigation policies. As the standards authority for energy usage in buildings, ASHRAE recognises that long-standing initiatives in energy efficiency should be expanded to building decarbonisation.

Through its Working Groups with over 100 volunteers from around the world, the TFBD is:

• Determining and engaging with other organisations with pertinent skills, knowledge and expertise
• Providing information to policy makers on how they might achieve the goals they have established
• Providing recommendations and best practices for industry stakeholders by:

1. Identifying existing portfolio of technical resources
2. Packaging these technical resources in a useful way
3. Providing tools for energy efficiency, embodied carbon, and reducing operational carbon
4. Identifying knowledge gaps and developing resources to address those gaps.

The Process

The TFBD will achieve these objectives through its Working Groups (WG), which will identify key areas of concern to address and will deliver recommendations and practices for industry stakeholders. A Public Policy Issue Brief that describes ASHRAE’s role in building decarbonisation has been created. A more comprehensive ASHRAE Position Document on Building Decarbonisation is being developed.