In an effort to translate ASHRAE’s positions and activities into easily understood and communicated concepts, the Washington office­-with input from ASHRAE’s advocacy committee--has developed a series of policy briefs. These fact sheets are distributed to government officials and others with limited technical expertise, but who would benefit from information regarding ASHRAE and its activities.

• Building Energy Data: A Critical Resource
• Climate Change and Building Energy Efficiency
• Consensus Standards: Expert Solutions to Meet National Needs
• Energy Efficiency for Buildings and HVAC&R Equipment
• Energy Use Targets for Commercial Buildings
• Research and Development Needs to Meet National Goals
• Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education & Competitiveness

ASHRAE Government Affairs staff regularly tracks activities within Congress and Federal agencies that are of importance to ASHRAE members. When warranted, letters and testimony are prepared to express ASHRAE’s stance on a particular issue. The most recent letters or testimony appear below. Previous letters and testimony are available:

Resources, Reports and 2011 Letters | 2010 Letters | 2009 Letters 
2008 Letters | 2007 Letters | 2006 Letters

2012

• 05/08/12 – ASHRAE Submitted Testimony for U.S. House Hearing on "The Science Behind Green Building Rating Systems"
• 04/27/12 – ASHRAE 2012 CBECS Support Letter to EIA
• 03/30/12 – ASHRAE Comments to NARA on Standards Incorporated by Reference
• 03/15/12 – ASHRAE Comments on EIA's 2012 CBECS Questionnaire

2011

• 12/30/11 – ASHRAE Comments on DOE's Measured Building Energy Performance Taxonomy
• 11/28/11 – ASHRAE Comments to DOE on DOE’s Commercial Building Workforce Job/Task Analyses
• 09/20/11 – ASHRAE Comments to DOE on DOE’s Development of a Voluntary National Asset Rating Program for Commercial Buildings
• 07/13/11 – House Floor Speeches in Support of CBECS
• 05/05/11 – CBECS Funding Letter
• 04/14/11 – Letter to U.S. Department of Energy Regarding DOE’s Quadrennial Technology Review Framing Document 
• 03/21/11 – Letter to California State Assemblyman Jose Solorio Regarding Assembly Bill 275 “Rainwater Capture Act of 2011”, and Supporting References to the International Green Construction Code and Standard 189.1 Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings
• 02/28/11 – Letter to Ohio General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review Regarding Adoption of ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2007 as the New Ohio Commercial Building Code
• 02/11/11 – Letter to Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources Regarding Public Comment on "An MPG Rating for Commercial Buildings: Establishing a Building Energy Asset Labeling Program in Massachusetts"

• The Key to Energy Efficiency in Buildings: ASHRAE's Response to the McKinsey Report 'Unlocking Energy Efficiency in the U.S. Economy'  
• Achieving National Energy Goals for Buildings: Challenges and Opportunities Facing a New President and Congress

• Tracking    

Written materials, approved by the Society’s Board of Directors (such as ASHRAE Position Statements, Position Documents and Position Briefs), officially represent the Society’s position on a technical subject. These are timely position documents, which have been developed by technical experts within the Society on major industry issues, also have been approved by the ASHRAE Board of Directors. These Board-sanctioned materials can be used (in whole or in part) in comments given by local chapters without seeking permission.

• View the complete list of ASHRAE positions.