ASHRAE Plans to Advance Healthy, Sustainable, and Resilient Buildings Worldwide

ASHRAE has released its 2025–2028 Strategic Plan, developed to accelerate the transformation to a more sustainable built environment through global leadership in indoor environmental quality (IEQ), decarbonization, and workforce development.

The plan centers on three overarching goals:

1. Lead globally in IEQ, decarbonization, and resilience through widely adopted standards, alliances, and member-driven technical resources.
2. Deliver impact-focused engagement by tailoring outreach to key stakeholders, empowering professionals, and forging partnerships that strengthen the HVAC&R and built-environment workforce.
3. Expand access to ASHRAE’s knowledge and opportunities by removing structural, financial, and communication barriers and elevating the role of chapters and regions as local innovation hubs.

2025–26 ASHRAE President Bill McQuade, P.E., CDP, Fellow ASHRAE, LEED AP, Stated, “Our 2025–2028 Strategic Plan is about advancing buildings that truly support human well-being and ensuring that ASHRAE’s work translates into real-world benefits, which include cleaner air, safer indoor spaces, and communities that are better equipped to thrive in a changing climate.”

 Four Strategic Initiatives

 • Healthy, Sustainable, and Resilient Communities

ASHRAE will accelerate the development and adoption of standards, best practices, and technical guidance that enhance indoor environmental quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve the resilience of buildings and communities in the face of climate-related and environmental challenges.

• Empowered Workforce

As a continuous focus, the Society will grow its education and professional development efforts to help close the global skills gap. ASHRAE aims to prepare engineers, technicians, and decision-makers with the tools and knowledge needed to implement IEQ improvements, achieve decarbonization goals, and strengthen resilience across the built environment.

• Organizational Agility

ASHRAE will invest in digital transformation and streamlined communication platforms to improve the speed and clarity of information sharing between chapters, regions, technical committees, and industry partners, ensuring the Society remains responsive, collaborative, and impactful.

• Emerging Technologies

The Society will actively identify, evaluate, and promote emerging innovations, including AI-powered systems and smart building technologies, that support integrated solutions for energy efficiency, occupant health, and operational performance.

ASHRAE’s strategic initiatives are supported by several key enablers that drive progress and innovation. Central to its approach is a commitment to rigorous, impartial research that ensures all technical work is grounded in high-quality, evidence-based findings. Embracing advancements in artificial intelligence, ASHRAE aims to enhance decision-making throughout the design, construction, and operational phases of the building lifecycle by leveraging automation and advanced analytics. Additionally, ASHRAE’s expansive and diverse global network plays a vital role in fostering interdisciplinary and cross-regional collaboration, enabling the organization to address complex building challenges with collective expertise and a unified global perspective.

Implementation of the 2025–2028 Strategic Plan is already underway, with ASHRAE aligning its programs, standards development, and outreach efforts to reflect the plan’s priorities. The Society will provide ongoing updates and progress reports as it works to deliver measurable outcomes.

To know more details about the plan, visit ashrae.org/strategicplan.