- 23 March 2007 -

ASHRAE, REHVA partner to encourage sustainability

ASHRAE and the Federation of European Heating and Air-Conditioning Associations (REHVA) have formalized a long time relationship through the signing of a new memorandum of understanding. The memorandum, signed today at ASHRAE’s 2007 Winter Meeting, calls for increased cooperation between the two associations.

"The challenges of the insecure energy situation and the public’s request for better and more secure buildings are huge," Olli Seppänen, president of REHVA, said. "ASHRAE and REHVA must work together to find the best sustainable technology for superior indoor environment for buildings. Coordination and cooperation is needed so that duplication of efforts is avoided and that the limited resources are used most efficiently."

Europe is committed to a strong energy policy, Seppänen said. The goal for energy saving is set at 20% by the year 2020 in Europe. Steps toward this goal include an energy efficiency and energy services directive from April 2006 that sets the goal for energy savings in the member states at 1% per year during the next nine years, and requests national energy efficiency plans in June 2007. The European commission is also preparing a directive for minimum energy performance standards for 14 priority energy products in 2007. ASHRAE is pursuing a similar goal, with hopes of achieving net-zero energy use by the year 2020.

www.ashrae.org