ASHRAE Insights

LONG BEACH, Calif.—At ASHRAE’s 2007 Annual Meeting in Long Beach, members of Task Group 1, Exergy Analysis for Sustainable Buildings, presented a gift to the ASHRAE Library. This gift consisted of a historically significant original journal article, which is the first in the world ever to introduce the new term “exergy.” 

The title of the paper is Energy Value and Pricing, authored by Dr. Zoran Rant, a professor of thermodynamics in the faculty of mechanical engineering at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. The article was published in Strojniški vestnik, No.1, Year I., 1955 (Journal of Mechanical Engineering) in Slovenian.

The original journal (one of 4-5 copies still in existence)  together with the translation of the original articles in English were provided by the SITHOK (Slovenia Society for Cooling, Heating and Air-conditioning) as a gift and for recognition and appreciation of ASHRAE’s dedication to sustainability through exergy. It was also a special tribute to the important contributions of ASHRAE TG 1 members to the world literature on exergy and sustainability.  

The event was organized by Dr. Peter Novak, professor emeritus at the University of Ljubljana, and TG 1 member. The gift was received by Presidential Member Terry Townsend and Jeff Littleton, ASHRAE executive vice president.