UK chapter

"As your incoming President it’s my pleasure to welcome you to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers’ UK Midlands Chapter.
We are living in challenging and exciting times. Net Zero Emissions by 2050 targets are looming, with the UK being one of the first major economies to make it into law. We need to recognize that new and existing buildings account for around 40% of energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It is therefore imperative that we take immediate steps to decarbonize the built environment by reducing emissions associated with building construction components and equipment (the embodied carbon), and emissions that occur from operational energy use (the operational carbon dioxide emissions)...
Hence the UK Midlands strategic theme this year is ‘Decarbonising Our Buildings’. The strategy will be promoted through educational and technical events, and engagement through key stakeholders to share best practice. We need to do this not only within the ASHRAE Midlands circle but also among our wider professional communities in order to increase awareness. The ASHRAE Task Force for Building Decarbonization (TFBD) has been has been providing leadership and technical resources since 2021. Such outreach is vital, as highlighted by the ASHRAE Society’s 2022-23 theme promoted by President Farooq Mehboob – ‘Securing Our Future.’ As Mehboob says, “A meaningful and powerful future will not come to us...we must collectively seek it...create it...and SECURE it”."