Join Us For our Meeting at our New Location

For our March 4th Meeting

PLEASE NOTE: the presentation will start promptly at 12 pm. Please plan to arrive between 11:30-11:45 a.m. to get your food and be seated in order to start on time :)

Location reminder!

We will now be having our monthly meetings at the Limbach office training room. This will allow us to have more variety in food options while being closer to downtown than our previous location. Parking is available in the lot in front of the building and street parking free of charge.

Address: 3103 S Orchard Knob Avenue

Lunch will be $20.00 for non-members. Please remember to join ASHRAE and pay your local chapter dues to receive a discounted price on lunches.

Here are the details for our presentation this month:

Topic: From ABET to HVAC:

What and Accredited Engineering Education Includes for HVAC Career Paths

Managers and mentors are the front lines of transitioning new engineering graduates into professional HVAC practice for both engineer and non-engineer roles. Most of these engineering students have graduated from programs that have been accredited through a rigorous process administered by ABET, a non-profit, non-governmental agency.

ABET defines required student outcomes and program criteria, while allowing for significant flexibility in how each program meets them.

This talk will examine the following:

Explain how ABET accreditation works, including program criteria and accreditation paths
Distinguish between engineering and engineering technology programs, and the classification’s impact on engineering licensure
Identify what is and isn’t included in an ABET-accredited mechanical engineering curriculum, and how that prepares graduates for both engineer and non-engineer roles within the HVAC industry

Speaker Bio:

Matt Price, P.E. serves as East Tennessee Chapter CTTC Chair and President-Elect and leads Day 3 Academy, an education company for new construction industry professionals. Matt was a student member of ASHRAE at the University of Tennessee and worked as a process engineer for Nissan before moving into the HVAC industry as a mechanical equipment account executive.

RSVP HERE

ASHRAE Invites Abstract Submissions for 2026 Annual Conference in Austin

The conference will feature a robust technical program focused on the industry’s most critical challenges and opportunities, including artificial intelligence, building decarbonization and innovations in building design and systems.

“ASHRAE conferences bring the brightest minds in our field together to exchange ideas and set the direction for the future and our Annual Conference in Austin is no different,” said 2025-26 ASHRAE President Bill McQuade, P.E., CDP, Fellow ASHRAE, LEED AP. “By contributing your research and experiences, you not only advance technical knowledge but also strengthen the collective expertise that drives meaningful progress for our profession and for society.”

Conference papers are requested for the following tracks:

The “Hot Climate Building System Design, Operation and Resilience” track specifically focuses on buildings, building systems and equipment in hot climates and the considerations in design for resilient buildings.

The “Ground Source Heat Pumps” track focuses on the application of GSHP technology to residential, commercial, and district energy system projects contributing to energy efficiency, reduction in peak load and energy-use, and decarbonization.

The “AI in Building Design and Construction” track covers implementation of AI during the building design and construction phases as well as in building automation and control systems to improve energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality and security and maintenance.

The "Building Decarbonization" track focuses on the advancement of carbon neutral, net zero energy and decarbonization strategies in new construction, renovation and HVAC&R design for residential and commercial buildings, with special focus on refrigeration selection and minimizing refrigerant releases.

The "Research Summit" track features active research, and the exchange of research findings, critical to the development of the HVAC&R industry and built environment. The track includes a partnership with ASHRAE's archival journal, Science and Technology for the Built Environment.

The "Workforce Development" track covers all aspects of business outside of engineering/technical applications to allow professionals an opportunity to develop in areas such as presentation skills, leadership, team building, interpersonal skills, etc., and lends itself to interactive session types such as workshops and forums.

The "Fundamentals and Applications" track provides opportunities for papers of varying levels across a large topic base. Concepts, design elements and shared experiences for theoretical and applied concepts of HVAC&R design are included.

Finally, the "HVAC&R Systems and Equipment" track focuses on the development of new systems and equipment, improvements to existing systems and equipment and the proper application and operation of systems and equipment.

Abstracts (400 words or less) are due November 19, 2025. If accepted, final conference papers (8-page maximum) are due February 25, 2026. Proposals for organized paper sessions are also being accepted. Please formally submit all abstracts to be considered for a session before creating a paper session request.

All accepted papers will be considered for publication in Science and Technology for the Built Environment, ASHRAE’s research journal.

For more information on the call for abstracts and the 2026 ASHRAE Annual Conference, visit For questions regarding abstract submissions, contact hblauridson@ashrae.org. For additional details on abstract submissions and updates on the 2026 ASHRAE Annual Conference, visit ashrae.org/2026Annual.