Consumer Center

There was a time when most people relied on a fireplace, a wood stove and the local ice house to keep themselves warm or cool. These primitive methods are inefficient by today's standards, but at one time they were the best means available.

While we can still cool off with a tall glass of lemonade, air-conditioning and modern heating systems have revolutionized the way we live. Without air conditioning, some of our largest cities would have never grown. Refrigeration gives us a greater variety of foods to choose from, and improved ventilation systems make our environments healthier. Many of the industries that affect our every day lives require special environmental conditions that only engineered systems can provide.

Though we don't always recognize it, all of us are touched by the activities of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).