ASHRAE Signs Memorandum of Understanding With IGBC

The signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) represents the country’s potential as a market for constructing energy-efficient buildings.

The MOU between ASHRAE and IGBC, a not-for-profit organization that promotes energy efficiency in buildings, allows the two societies to share products, jointly promote educational programs, and, where appropriate, cross-market each other’s products and services.

“IGBC and ASHRAE signed the MOU to share their best practices and information on their research and development, codes and standards for climate-change initiatives, and net-zero and energy-plus built environment,” Prem Jain, ASHRAE Fellow, Life Member, and chair of IGBC, said. “This will help the international community of designers, builders, and researchers to partake in the best of the two eminent organizations dedicated in improving the health of the planet Earth and her inhabitants.”

The memorandum is the latest in strengthening ASHRAE’s ties with India, a country with a fast-growing population that demands an even faster-growing construction industry. ASHRAE has approximately 700 members in India with four chapters: India, Western India, South India, and Chennai.

“ASHRAE is looking forward to working closely with IGBC,” Gordon Holness, ASHRAE president, said. “This memorandum of understanding opens doors to resources, educational material, and member expertise that will benefit ASHRAE and IGBC members alike. Most important, a broader knowledge of energy efficient and sustainable building practices will be gained on both sides.”