Government Affairs Committee

The Government Affairs Committee is responsible for organizing ASHRAE members to educate local, state, provincial, and national government bodies and officials in areas of interest to ASHRAE members, and to promote effective cooperation between ASHRAE members and government. The committee works to coordinate government affairs efforts and is responsible for developing the extent and the manner in which ASHRAE implements and pursues actions to influence government affairs and public policy.

A new standing committee beginning in Society Year 2013-14, the Grassroots Government Activities Committee (GGAC) wants members at all levels of ASHRAE to be a part of this exciting program. In Society Year 2015-16, the Advocacy Committee and the Grassroots Government Activities Committee merged into the Grassroots Government Advocacy Committee, bringing all of ASHRAE’s government affairs under one umbrella. In Society Year 2018-19, the name of the committee was changed to the Government Affairs Committee to more accurately reflect the purpose and work of the Committee.

Did you know that:

• ASHRAE’s Government Outreach Days are targeting legislative leaders and other policy makers at all levels of government?
• Building connections with representatives from relevant government entities and related professional and technical organizations is a critical goal of ASHRAE for the adoption and use of our Standards, Guidelines, and other technical and educational resources?
• The Government Affairs Committee confers an Award annually to an ASHRAE member who demonstrates outstanding efforts in government activities of importance to ASHRAE?

ASHRAE’s Positions and Resources

ASHRAE’s Government Affairs staff has developed numerous resources to assist individual members and chapters to participate in both federal and state government. It is recommended that members and chapter leadership familiarize themselves with the legislative and regulatory process and the current issues ASHRAE is tracking. You may also wish to subscribe to the Government Affairs Updates, a bi-weekly e-mail featuring news and information on activities of interest to ASHRAE members. Tips for contacting your elected officials also are included on this page.

https://www.ashrae.org/about/government-affairs/advocacy-toolkit

ASHRAE Position Statements

Written materials, approved by the Society’s Board of Directors (such as ASHRAE Position Statements, Position Documents and Position Briefs), officially represent the Society’s position on a technical subject. These are timely position documents, which have been developed by technical experts within the Society on major industry issues, also have been approved by the ASHRAE Board of Directors. These Board-sanctioned materials can be used (in whole or in part) in comments given by local chapters without seeking permission.

https://www.ashrae.org/about/position-documents

ASHRAE Public Policy Issue Briefs

In an effort to translate ASHRAE’s positions and activities into easily understood and communicated concepts, the Society has developed a series of Public Policy Issue Briefs. These documents are intended for distribution to government officials and others with limited technical expertise, but who would benefit from information regarding ASHRAE and its activities.

Additional Reading

Government Affairs Canadian Brochure

Governement Affairs Committee Priorities - 2018/19