August 16, 2006—The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has joined an alliance to help promote sustainable infrastructure such as buildings, water resources, transportation, energy generation and waste treatment.
The alliance, Practice, Education and Research for Sustainable Infrastructure (PERSI), is an initiative of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) that works to promote and translate sustainable practices into action within its member organizations.
ASHRAE is the first organization to formally join PERSI by signing the memorandum of understanding, says ASHRAE. By joining the alliance, which will not itself produce standards or guidelines, ASHRAE will work with other PERSI member organizations to assist with educational programs, conduct research, and contribute knowledge about sustainable infrastructure, among other activities.
ASHRAE also will assist PERSI in developing a common language for the definition and achievement of sustainable infrastructure. The alliance currently defines sustainability as the challenge of meeting human needs for natural resources, industrial products, energy, food, transportation, shelter and waste management while conserving and protecting external and internal environmental quality and the natural, economic and social resources essential for human needs.
The alliance has attracted more than 15 groups that have participated in its development, including the American Institute of Architects, the American Planning Association, the American Water Works Association, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
For more information, see the ASHRAE Web site.
