Oregon ASHRAE Regional Conference

It’s easy to forget that we, as local professionals, have a voice in shaping the guidelines we rely on daily.

A Look Back at the OR ASHRAE Regional Conference 

After a year and a half of planning, it was incredibly rewarding to see the Oregon ASHRAE Chapter host this year’s Region XI Chapters Regional Conference (CRC) in Portland, OR on May 8th to May 10th, 2025—and to do it with the kind of energy, participation, and innovation that defines our community.

For those who may be new to ASHRAE, it used to stand for the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers. However, as a global organization, ASHRAE dropped its acronym in 2012 and is known simply as ‘ASHRAE’ with over 50,000 members worldwide, spanning more than 130 countries. ASHRAE is a professional society focused on building systems, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and sustainability. I’ve served on the board for the past seven years and had the honor of being last year’s Oregon Chapter President. Organizing this CRC was both a professional milestone and a deeply meaningful experience.

The Region XI CRC brings together chapters from Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and the western provinces of Canada (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba). It’s where we dive into technical topics, shape the direction of ASHRAE on a regional and national level, and, yes—find time for a little fun along the way.

The conference kicked off with four technical sessions focused on AI integration in building systems. These sessions sparked important conversations about how our field can evolve to meet the moment, especially in the face of rapidly advancing technology. The sessions weren’t just theoretical—engineers and designers shared insights on real applications of AI in system design and operations.

One of the most powerful parts of the conference was the caucus, where we elected future regional leaders and nominated the next Society President. These moments matter. They’re where we align our shared goals and push ASHRAE forward—whether that’s in updating standards, enhancing equity and inclusion in our field, or prioritizing sustainability in our industry practices.

We also had business sessions where we had the opportunity to make formal motions to request changes to ASHRAE standards and handbooks, and procedures for how chapters are to be run. It’s easy to forget that we, as local professionals, have a voice in shaping the guidelines we rely on daily. For example, with shifting weather patterns and changing design conditions, there is potential to bring forward the need for updated climate data in the standards to better reflect real-world conditions.

Of course, no CRC is complete without a chance to unwind. Our hospitality suite—generously sponsored by Säzän Group—was a hit. It brought together engineers, architects, and contractors for good conversations, snacks, and one unforgettable round of drag bingo. Special shout-out to our Canadian guests who experienced drag bingo for the first time—you were great sports and added to the fun!

A big thank you to all the volunteers, speakers, and sponsors who made this event possible. A special shoutout to our partners from CSI, for hosting our first ever joint CSI x ASHRAE Tradeshow! We received nothing but positive feedback from our conference attendees. And thank you to my colleagues back at the office—especially Nisu—for keeping everything running while many of us were at the conference, thank you for holding down the fort.

If you’re curious about ASHRAE or want to get involved in your local chapter, I’m always happy to connect. Getting involved has been one of the best decisions of my professional life, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to grow, lead, and stay at the forefront of our industry. If you have ideas for your local ASHRAE technical presentations, suggestions for updating standards, or want more information, please reach out to me.

Until next time,
John Tijerina
jtijerina@sazan.com