ASHRAE, NYSERDA Partnership to Help Establish Post-COVID-19 Building Reopening

ASHRAE and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority have signed a new memorandum of understanding formalizing the organizations’ strategic partnership.

The MOU was signed by 2020-21 ASHRAE President Charles E. Gulledge III, P.E., and NYSERDA Acting President and CEO Doreen M. Harris on July 9. The agreement defines parameters on how the two organizations will develop and provide safe building occupancy guidelines following the spread of COVID-19, including building readiness and reopening guidance, sustainable development practices and associated training.

NYSERDA and ASHRAE will work cooperatively to improve the design and application of efficient and low-carbon heating, ventilating, air-conditioning and refrigeration technologies and their application in New York State.

The MOU includes, but is not limited to, the following goals:

• The development and/or utilization of existing research, resources, guidance manuals, training and best practices on minimizing airborne pathogen exposure through improved indoor air quality, ventilation and ultraviolet germicidal irradiation for buildings to enable safe reopening and operation
• The development of job/task specific contractor and building safety guidelines to minimize airborne pathogen exposure
• The development of guidance documents on carbon neutral buildings, building electrification, carbon emission load calculations and clean geothermal district systems
• The development and/or delivery of new or existing ASHRAE professional training on the application of codes, standards, guidance documents, manuals and tools.

For resources and strategies on safe building reopening, visit ASHRAE’s COVID-19 Resources at ashrae.org/COVID19.