The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), along with nine other organizations, has formed a consortium in response to a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) request for advice on high-performance building issues. The High Performance Commercial Green Building Partnership (HPCGBP) brings together leading organizations from all aspects of the building community to provide guidance and technical expertise on key sustainability issues to DOE's Building Technologies Program.

"As solution providers, our members who manufacture residential and commercial heating and cooling and commercial refrigeration systems can provide critical technical guidance to DOE on developing high-performance buildings that help achieve the nation's energy and environmental goals," said Stephen Yurek, AHRI president. .

In addition to AHRI, members of the HPCGBP's steering committee, include representatives from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Alliance to Save Energy (ASE), the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), the International Code Council (ICC), the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA), the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

The partnership seeks to be recognized as a "Partnership Consortium" by the Department of Energy pursuant to Section 421 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Section 421 is part of the formation of the Net-Zero Energy Commercial Building Initiative to develop a research, development and deployment strategy aimed at achieving net-zero energy commercial buildings.

Partnership participants reflect all disciplines necessary to design and build high-performance commercial buildings including:

Architects and engineers

Development, construction, financial and real estate industries

Building owners and operators

Academic and research organizations

Building code agencies and organizations

Independent high-performance green building associations or councils

Experts in indoor air quality and environmental factors

Experts in intelligent buildings and integrated building information systems

Utility energy efficiency programs

Manufacturers and providers of equipment

Public transportation industry experts

Nongovernmental energy efficiency organizations

For more information, please visit www.hpcgbp.org. To inquire about joining the partnership, please contact Doug Read in ASHRAE's Washington Office at dread@ashrae.org or 202-833-1830.