ASHRAE Journal - August 2021 - 6

INDUSTRY NEWS
Building Decarbonization Task Force Update
Nine Working Groups Established
ATLANTA-The ASHRAE Task Force for
Building Decarbonization is poised
to help the built environment lower
its carbon use. Since being formed
this spring, the task force has grown
from 15 people to more than 120
volunteers in nine working groups,
including a group focused on creating
an ASHRAE position document
on decarbonization.
One of the task force's goals is to
provide recommendations and
strategies to industry professionals
and stakeholders about how to
achieve decarbonization goals.
" We need to develop and provide
tools for people to determine how
much carbon they need to save, how
they can become energy efficient
and how they can reduce carbon, "
said one of the task force's co-chairs,
Thomas Phoenix, P.E., Presidential/
Fellow/Life Member ASHRAE.
That is where the working groups
come into play.
Phoenix and his fellow co-chair
Donald Colliver, Ph.D., P.E.,
Presidential/Fellow/Life Member
ASHRAE, updated the industry on
the task force's progress during
the 2021 ASHRAE Virtual Annual
Conference in late June. Their
update included introducing the
task force's working groups:
* Position Document Working
Group;
* Operational Carbon Working
Group;
* Embodied Carbon/Life-Cycle
Assessment Working Group;
* Research/Knowledge Hub
Working Group;
* Building Performance Standards
Working Group;
* Appliance and Equipment Standards
Working Group;
* Grid-Building Intersection
Working Group;
* Building Standards and Codes
Working Group; and
* Training and Education Working
Group.
The working groups have been
meeting regularly since April,
Research Roundup
Building a Better Thermostat With Machine Learning
OAK RIDGE, TENN.-ORNL researchers designed and field-tested
an algorithm that learns over time to keep a home at the occupants'
desired temperature settings while minimizing energy
costs and adjusting to environmental conditions-all with no
existing knowledge of the building. The team's goal is to make
the model universal so it can adapt to any system with the least
amount of data necessary. Source: ORNL
Regulating Indoor Temperatures With 3D Printable Composites
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS-Texas A&M University researchers have created
novel 3D printable phase-change material composites that
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ASHRAE JOURNAL ashrae.org A U G UST 2021
can help regulate ambient temperatures inside buildings using a
simple and cost-effective manufacturing process. The composites
can be added to building materials, like paint, or can be
3D-printed as decorative home accents to seamlessly integrate
into different indoor environments Source: Texas A&M
3D-Printed Air Diffusion System Could Reduce Energy Loss
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA- A robotically 3D-printed air diffusion system-
called " Systems Reef 2 " (SR2)-is designed to fit into existing
air-conditioning units, replacing traditional steel ductwork. The
system's organic curves are based on detailed computer modelling
that demonstrates the curved design could significantly
reduce energy loss and encourage airflow. Source: UTS
Donald Colliver, Ph.D., P.E.,
Presidential/Fellow/Life
Member ASHRAE
Thomas Phoenix, P.E.,
Presidential/Fellow/Life
Member ASHRAE
but people are continuing to join
the groups, said Colliver. The
task force is also reaching out to
ASHRAE's technical committees to
help.
" Each one of them has something
that they can add to our studies as
we begin to develop ways to get to
zero carbon, " Phoenix said.
Read more about the working
group and their directives: https://
tinyurl.com/d8trhuka
Explore the task force's resources:
ashrae.org/decarb
https://tinyurl.com/d8trhuka https://tinyurl.com/d8trhuka http://www.ashrae.org/decarb http://www.ashrae.org
ASHRAE Journal - August 2021

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