• 01 Oct 2021
• Partnership
• Atlanta, GA

ASHRAE, AABC, ACG and EMA Sign Memorandum of Understanding

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE         
MEDIA CONTACT:
Karen Buckley Washington
kbwashington@ashrae.org

(Front Left to Right: Mike Kelly, TBE, CxA, President, Associated Air Balance Council; Wade Conlan, P.E., CxA, ASHRAE Director-at-Large 
Back Left to Right: Chris Smith, P.E. CxA, EMP, President, Energy Management Association; Troy Byers, P.E., TBE, CxA, President, AABC Commissioning Group)

ATLANTA (October 1, 2021) – ASHRAE, the Associated Air Balance Council (AABC), the AABC Commissioning Group (ACG) and the Energy Management Association (EMA) have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) formalizing the organizations’ relationship.

The MOU was signed by Mike Kelly, TBE, CxA, AABC President, Troy Byers, P.E., TBE, CxA, ACG President, Chris Smith, CxA, EMP, EMA President and Wade Conlan, ASHRAE Director-At-Large, at a signing ceremony during the AABC Annual Meeting in Destin, Florida. The agreement specifies the path forward and defines parameters by which the organizations will work cooperatively to promote the advancement of emerging research and technologies to support a more sustainable built environment.

“With a focus on maintaining safe, healthy and efficient built environments, ASHRAE is pleased to have the opportunity to partner with AABC, ACG and EMA to enhance innovative technologies and resources to meet the challenges of the communities we serve,” said 2021-22 ASHRAE President Mick Schwedler P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, LEED AP. “The global pandemic along with environmental threats have raised the profile of building industry organizations such as ours to set the foundation for impactful solutions to improve the built environment for us all.”

"Properly performed testing and balancing by a certified, independent firm has positive ripple effects on the performance of equipment, systems, and entire buildings that help give owners what they paid for," said AABC President Mike Kelly, TBE, CxA. "Through ASHRAE's leadership position among HVAC engineers, manufacturers and others, we believe a better understanding of TAB's central role in improving performance can lift standards and expectations across the industry, to the benefit of everyone."

"One of ACG's primary missions is advocating for early involvement of the commissioning provider on all projects, and that an independent provider working directly for the building owner should be the norm," said ACG President Troy Byers, P.E., TBE, CxA." "We look forward to working with ASHRAE and their extensive reach within the building industry to communicate those messages."

“We look forward to exploring ways we can combine our education and advocacy efforts to promote EMA’s commissioning-based energy management process, with the goal of maximizing energy savings for building owners everywhere,” said EMA President Chris Smith, CxA, EMP.

Areas of alliance include:

• Ongoing advancement of collaborative projects.
• Consistent leadership communication of major initiatives between organizations.
• Discussion of new collaborative opportunities.

About the Associated Air Balance Council (AABC)

AABC is a nonprofit association of qualified independent test and balance (TAB) agencies that establishes industry standards for the field measurement and documentation of HVAC systems, and provides education, technical training, and certification for its members. For more information and to stay up-to-date on AABC, visit aabc.com and connect on LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

About the AABC Commissioning Group (ACG)

ACG is a non-profit association dedicated to the advancement of independent third-party building commissioning. It provides training, education and certification and is home to the world’s largest group of certified commissioning authorities. For more information and to stay up-to-date on ACG, visit commissioning.org and connect on LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

About the Energy Management Association (EMA)

The Energy Management Association is dedicated to providing education, training and certification to energy management professionals on behalf of building owners. Its Energy Management Professional Certification (EMP) features a commissioning-based curriculum that maximizes energy efficiency and optimization of building systems. For more information and to stay up-to-date on EMA, visit energymgmt.org and connect on LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

About ASHRAE

Founded in 1894, ASHRAE is a global professional society committed to serve humanity by advancing the arts and sciences of heating ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration and their allied fields.

As an industry leader in research, standards writing, publishing, certification and continuing education, ASHRAE and its members are dedicated to promoting a healthy and sustainable built environment for all, through strategic partnerships with organizations in the HVAC&R community and across related industries.

The Society is showcasing integrated building solutions and sustainability in action through the opening of the ASHRAE Global Headquarters building in metro-Atlanta, Georgia. The state-of-the-art, high-performing net-zero-energy efficient global headquarters building is a destination venue for industry representatives, visiting from around the world, who are looking to experience cutting-edge engineering and architectural interventions.

For more information and to stay up-to-date on ASHRAE, visit ashrae.org and connect on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

###