WSHPs Vital Role in Decarbonization Part 2: ASHRAE’s Emerging Initiatives

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If you still need to read the ASHRAE Position Document on Building Decarbonization, don’t wait any longer.

This 19-page document concisely summarizes ASHRAE's proposed decarbonization strategies for existing buildings and new building design and construction. It is an essential and historical document that boldly underscores ASHRAE's commitment to achieving net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the built environment by 2050. It is also a not-so-subtle call to action, stating that "…ASHRAE and its members have an important role in decarbonizing the built environment.”

The document lists ASHRAE's positions, commitments, and recommendations concerning decarbonization. While the details are beyond the scope of this blog, a few of these bear mentioning here because of their relevance to this series.

  • Develop technical guidance, standards, training, and other tools to support building decarbonization policy goals.

  • Promote whole-building life-cycle assessment (WBLCA).

  • Support beneficial electrification of heating through education, information dissemination, and focused training.

  • Advance HVAC&R technologies and practices that minimize refrigerants' environmental impact while enhancing performance, cost-effectiveness, and safety.

These and other initiatives got a significant boost in July 2023 when the U.S. Department of Energy Building Technologies Office for Resilient and Efficient Codes Implementation (RECI) awarded ASHRAE and seven partnering organizations a $2.85 million grant to update and implement new energy codes throughout the U.S.

It’s worth noting that within the following short list of otherwise broadly stated recommendations, the Position Statement specifically calls out heat pump technology:

  • Promote research and development programs that investigate and adopt building decarbonization strategies that lower GHG emissions and increase grid flexibility without compromising indoor environmental quality and safety.

  • Promote research and development of heat pump technology.

  • Support developing, updating, and adopting relevant standards and guidelines that facilitate the whole-life-cycle reduction of GHG emissions from new and existing buildings.

  • Encourage standardization of measurement and labeling of embodied carbon in building materials, systems, and equipment.

Work is also underway to publish a Heat Pump Application, Design, and Operation Guide, one of seven guidebooks ASHRAE is producing to decarbonize buildings. Anticipated to be out by June 2024, this guidebook will focus on how heat pumps should be applied and operated in commercial and multifamily buildings to support decarbonization. It will provide guidance to design engineers on various heat pump-specific design elements, including application and sizing in different climate zones, system configuration and refrigerants, electrical requirements, and control and operation strategies for space and hot water applications. According to ASHRAE, the Guide “will represent a critical resource to building designers and operators to support widespread adoption of this building decarbonization strategy.”