The deadline to submit white papers for ASHRAE’s 2012 winter meeting is a week away.

The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Engineers is looking for information on how building design and operations can increase energy efficiency and help reach the society’s goal of “net-zero” structures within 20 years. A building is considered net-zero if it saves an amount equal to the energy it consumes.

Papers are also being sought on specialized applications, energy modeling, HVAC systems and fundamentals and refrigeration.

The entry deadline is April 18. The 2012 conference is Jan. 21-25 in Chicago. Full details on submissions and the meeting is available here.