Airborne diseases like COVID-19 can easily spread between apartments in multi-family housing buildings using a common bathroom ventilation system, according to a study from the University of Colorado Boulder and several other institutions. Researchers looked at a COVID-19 outbreak inside an older high-rise building in Spain in 2020, where 15 individuals contracted the virus despite staying in their apartments during lockdown. Read more
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As solar panels lose their ability to generate electricity after sunset, a major challenge remains for renewable energy: how to store solar power for use during cloudy weather or overnight. Researchers at UC Santa Barbara believe they may have found an answer that avoids the need for massive battery systems or reliance on the electrical grid. "Think of photochromic sunglasses. When you're inside, they're just clear lenses. You walk out into the sun, and they darken on their own. Come back inside, and the lenses become clear again," said Han Nguyen, lead author of the study. "That kind of reversible change is what we're interested in." Read more
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A new study from Arizona State University is the first to directly measure air temperatures both upwind and downwind of data centers in real time, and what researchers found warrants attention from city planners. Heat discharged by data centers is raising air temperatures in surrounding neighborhoods by an average of 1.3°F (0.7°C) to 1.6°F (0.9°C)—and in some cases, by as much as 4°F (2.2°C). The effect was detectable up to a third of a mile, roughly five city blocks, from the facilities’ perimeters. Read more
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In a study published in Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, researchers developed a cooling aerogel inspired by the optical structure of white beetles, insects known for maintaining low body temperatures under intense sunlight because of their unique disordered nanostructures. Rather than copying the beetle’s appearance, the study focused on reproducing its multi-scale light-scattering mechanism through an engineered porous architecture. The aerogel was constructed using nanofibrillated cellulose, cellulose nanocrystals, and MOF-801, a hygroscopic metal-organic framework capable of regulating water interactions during freezing. Read more
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Join host Matt Price and guest Nathan Kegel as they discuss load calculations, how they tie into evolving ASHRAE standards, and practical takeaways to optimize projects and avoid oversizing equipment.
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By James Del Monaco, P.E.
When troubleshooting mysterious system failures, it’s easy to forget that the systems we design are operating in a dynamic world. Columnist James Del Monaco discusses how to discern the root cause of performance issues in complex systems, requiring an understanding of the relationships between system components, controls and operations, and access to complete and reliable data. Download here
Access more ASHRAE Journal articles through the Technology Portal.
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By Allison Hambrick, ASHRAE Journal Associate Editor
In April, women throughout the HVAC&R industry gathered for the 2026 Women in ASHRAE Leadership Symposium in Los Angeles, where they explored a combination of technical and soft skill sessions over the course of two days. The 2026 conference brought together 280 attendees from various stages of their careers. “This gathering represents something bigger than a single event,” said ASHRAE President-Elect Sarah Maston. "It reflects a shift in our industry. One that recognizes that leadership is strongest when it is diverse, inclusive and reflective of the world that we serve.” Read more
Abstracts for 2027 ASHRAE Winter Conference Due May 27
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The global cooling sector has seen overall demand rise 245% since 2010 and diverged into two distinct markets: a high-value commercial sector and high-volume residential sector. New research, covering 18 key AC markets and 15 heat pump markets, identifies the key forces shaping the industry: enhanced technology, tighter regulation and the rapid proliferation of data center cooling systems. The reports show a clear divergence in pricing between the high-value commercial sector driven by specialist applications and a high-volume residential sector where competition is suppressing prices. Read more
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