ATLANTA –Engineers don’t just shape our buildings and infrastructure; they help transform our world.

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) is the lead society  in the National Engineers Week program (Feb. 20-26), that celebrates the contributions that engineers make to our society and encourages engineering as a career path among young students by promoting pre-college literacy in math and science. For specific information about the program, please visit www.EWeek.org.

“National Engineers Week showcases how our profession engineers the world in which we live,” ASHRAE President Lynn G. Bellenger said. “From buildings to manufacturing and transportation, engineers have been behind many modern-day marvels. ASHRAE is proud to be lead sponsor in this program and celebration.”

ASHRAE has twice served as lead organization in National Engineers Week. The last time, in 2003, ASHRAE launched the New Faces of Engineering program as part of the weekly celebration.

The New Faces program promotes the accomplishments of young engineers across various disciplines by highlighting their engineering contributions and the resulting impact on public welfare. The program targets those age 30 and younger.  Engineering associations, societies and government groups nominate candidates each year, which are selected for recognition in USA Today. 

ASHRAE’s New Face of Engineering is Tracey Jumper, general manger/commissioning project manager, Cornerstone Group Commissioning, Ltd., Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Jumper is leading the way in demonstrating that her engineering specialization of building commissioning can be a best strategy for reducing energy use and costs while increasing comfort and healing in healthcare buildings. She engineered a process that translates industry commissioning guidelines into effective quality control tools for end-users. The process is suited to how people and systems operate in environments where system efficiency and environment quality are patient-critical over the life of the building. 

ASHRAE is also pleased to announce New Faces of Engineering, College Edition. This new program will promote the accomplishments of fourth and fifth year engineering students by highlighting their academic success and student contributions to the industry and sponsoring society. The New Face from each society will be announced no later than May 15, 2011.

Several events will take place in conjunction with National Engineers Week, including Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day (Feb. 24) and the Future City Competition—at which ASHRAE Treasurer Tom Watson will serve as a judge and award the Best Indoor Environment and Most Sustainable Building award.

ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is an international organization of 55,000 persons. ASHRAE 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.