PowerpointCase StudiesPromote Your ProjectReport Your ProjectResourcesCONTACT
ASHRAE Members:
ASHRAE’s Community Sustainably Project program encourages members and chapters to examine ways to get more involved in their local communities. The program was designed to share the knowledge of members to improve the world around them.
Incentives for chapters to host a Community Sustainability project are included in the Presidential Award of Excellence (PAOE)
The 2023-24 PAOE program offers 500 points for chapter sponsored community sustainability project/event held with a non-profit organization. In addition, points are offered for chapter sponsored community sustainability project publicity (outside of normal chapter promotion and including print, audio, electronic media at local, state, provincial, national or industry level) promoting work of ASHRAE and/or the chapter.
The program was started in 2012-13 by Presidential Member Thomas E. Watson, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, Life Member, as part of his theme, Broadening ASHRAE’s Horizons.
PowerPoint on Community Sustainability Project
View a PowerPoint that gives an overall look at the Community Sustainability Project and highlights projects underway. 
View PowerPoint
Case Studies
Learn more about Community Sustainability Projects carried out by ASHRAE chapters. These include the Sustainable Footprint Projects hosted by the local chapter as part of ASHRAE Annual Conferences to leave a legacy representing ASHRAE's commitment to sustainability and to offset the environmental impact from holding the Annual Conference.
Welcome to Camp Kindle - KCC Ranch House - Southern Alberta Chapter
Light the World Project – Southern Nevada Chapter (ASHRAE of Southern Nevada Humanitarian Project)
YWCA of Salt Lake City’s Teen Home – ASHRAE Utah Chapter
Energy 4 Kids – Hampton Roads Chapter ASHRAE / International Facility Managers Association (IFMA). Watch television coverage about the Energy 4 Kids project here.
Accueil Bonneau Homeless – Montreal Chapter
Ban the Bottle – Florida West Coast Chapter
Habitat for Humanity – Southern Piedmont Chapter
Manatee Park -- Butterfly Gardening and Clean-Up – Southwest Florida Chapter
Camp Kindle – Southern Alberta Chapter
Solar Light Enters Rural Village - India Chapter
Promoting Your Project
One way to help your chapter grow is by taking advantage of publicity and public relations efforts. Reaching out to local media and taking advantage of social media to let others know about your efforts in improving your community is vital to your growth and that of the Society.
You can find more details about working with media in Chapter Publicity as well as the Public Relations Manual as shown below under Resources. Among the tips it contains are tools on reaching the media, placing news releases, photographs and following up. You also should take advantage of social media – such as Facebook or Twitter – to help share the news about your work.
In using traditional and social media, news items should be brief and newsworthy, factual and of general reader interest. The WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE and WHY of the project are the principal points in which editors/readers will show interest. ASHRAE Headquarters PR staff is happy to help you draft a news release and work to find the most appropriate local media to contact. Please contact PR staff at publicrelations@ashrae.org if you are interested in writing a news release about your project.
Reporting Your Project
Incentives for chapters to host a Community Sustainability project are included in the Presidential Award of Excellence (PAOE). The 2023-24 PAOE program offers 500 points for chapter sponsored community sustainability project/event held with a non-profit organization. In addition, 100-500 points are offered for chapter sponsored community sustainability project publicity (outside of normal chapter promotion and including print, audio, electronic media at local, state, provincial, national or industry level) promoting work of ASHRAE and/or the chapter (read full details in PAOE newsletter).
Chapter PAOE Point Claim Form
Upon completion of your chapter Community Sustainability Project, please fill out:
Chapter PAOE Point Claim Form and submit to your director and regional chair with a copy to Tammy Catchings at ASHRAE Headquarters (tcatchings@ashrae.org ).
Questions and Answers
As your chapter launches its community sustainability project, you most likely will have questions. Please feel free to send us an email with any questions you may have about your project.
Resources
ASHRAE offers various resources related to meetings and events hosted by chapters. The links below contain information that may be helpful as your chapter plans fundraisers and other events related to Community Sustainability Projects.
Chapter Meetings and Expos (Section 5)
Chapter Publicity
Lessons Learned
Section 4 – Liability Insurance and Special Events Insurance
Public Relations Manual
Quick Start Guide
Contact
If you have questions about the Community Sustainability Project program or would like more information about a project, please contact Tammy Catchings, manager of region activities, at tcatchings@ashrae.org.