Sixteen society members were chosen by the Energy Department and the National Renewable Energy Lab to act as official observers.

ASHRAE was a sponsor of last week’s Solar Decathlon.

The annual U.S. Department of Energy-sponsored event, held Oct. 9-13 and 15-18 in Washington, D.C., brought 20 teams of college and university students together to design and build a solar-powered house.

“Buildings constitute 40 percent of the nation’s primary energy use - that’s why it’s crucial that we encourage students, the future leaders of the HVAC&R industry, in their interest to explore energy efficiency and sustainability,” said Gordon Holness, president of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers. “ASHRAE cannot let this opportunity of influencing our energy future and the climate of the world pass by.”

The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers sponsored two workshops and co-sponsored a workshop with the American Institute of Architects, the U.S. Green Building Council and the American Institute of Architecture Students dealing with those issues.

Sixteen society members were chosen by the Energy Department and the National Renewable Energy Lab to act as official observers.

“I’ve always been drawn to new and innovative ideas for saving energy,” said Nick Long, one of the observers. “The decathlon’s mission is critical in teaching the emerging generation the importance of energy efficiency and integrating the concepts into whole-building design and operation.”