ATLANTA– Highlighting the importance of finding balance in design, the extravagant setting of Las Vegas serves as a unique contrast to the 2011 ASHRAE Winter Conference Technical Program’s theme of zero-energy design. 

The Technical Program features a wide-range of programs and papers addressing the real cost of zero-energy design, the efficient use of energy,  the greening of the industrial base and other topics related to design, standards, codes and professional skills.  In total, the program includes paper-related sessions – five technical paper sessions, 24 conference paper sessions and a poster session – application-oriented, non-paper seminars (57) and open discussion forums (8).

Numerous sessions address the “real cost of zero energy buildings” and cover modeling and design, applications and equipment. Also, several sessions examine how countries around the world have approached net zero, such as Cutting-Edge Japanese Technologies for Zero-Energy Buildings, Zero Energy Buildings around the World and European Net-Zero Energy Activities and Buildings.

As a nod to the Conference location, several sessions focus on HVAC systems for casinos, such as Designing for Improved Air Quality in Casinos with ETS and Historical Perspectives: Las Vegas Casino Design Past to Present.

Other sessions address the growing demand for green buildings and the importance of integrated design: Mechanical Engineer’s Role in Green Building and Building Development: High Performance Teamwork for High Performance Buildings.

Additional sessions of interest include: 

•Smart Grid and Net Zero Buildings: Where Are We Now?

•Energy Modeling of Existing Buildings

•Modeling Extreme Events

•Controls for Central Chiller Plant Optimization

•Next Generation Heat Exchangers for Net-Zero Design

•Thermal Comfort Evaluation and Standards

With so many to choose from, Conference attendees are often forced to narrow down which technical sessions they attend to only a few. However the Virtual Conference, free for paid Conference registrants, allows attendees to catch up with sessions they might not have been able to attend in person due to conflicting schedules. The Virtual Conference includes access to all speakers’ PowerPoint and audio presentations, an open forum for a two-week period following the conference and the ability to rate presentations.

The 2011 ASHRAE Winter Conference and will take place at the Las Vegas Hilton hotel, Las Vegas, Nev. For complete conference information, including abstracts on all technical program sessions, or to register, visit www.ashrae.org/lasvegas.  Those who take part in the early-bird registration before Dec. 31 can save up to $160 from on-site costs.

ASHRAE is an international technical society that fulfills its mission of advancing heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world through research, standards writing, publishing and continuing education.