The ASHRAE 2026 Building Decarbonization Conference brought 450 building industry professionals to Seattle, Washington, to explore practical strategies, emerging technologies and collaborative approaches for reducing building emissions and improving energy performance.
The three-day conference under the theme “Decarbonization That Delivers: From Policy to Projects to Performance,” featured 40 technical sessions, seven sponsor technology talks and three keynote presentations. The technical program addressed the challenges of translating decarbonization goals into actionable solutions across new and existing buildings, bringing together perspectives from industry, government, research and building operations.
“The progress we make on building decarbonization depends on our ability to bring people together, share knowledge and turn ideas into meaningful action,” said 2026-27 ASHRAE President Sarah E. Maston, P.E., BCxP, LEED AP BD+C. “This conference created the perfect opportunity for professionals across our industry to learn from one another, explore practical solutions and build the partnerships needed to advance building performance and resilience.”
The keynote program included “Stronger Than the Break: Lessons for Big Impact from the Recovery Room for the Decarbonization Movement,” presented by Stet Sanborn, which explored how resilience, collaboration and innovative thinking can help expand the impact of decarbonization efforts. A keynote panel, “Harmonizing Policy, Reducing Burden: State Leadership in Coordinated BPS Development,” brought together state and local leaders to discuss how building performance standards can be better coordinated across jurisdictions. Panelists explored ways to streamline compliance, align policy approaches and balance statewide consistency with local needs.
The ASHRAE Center of Excellence for Building Decarbonization also presented a Future Strategy Priority Forum, providing an opportunity to examine priorities and strategies for advancing building decarbonization.
The conference’s most-attended sessions reflected strong interest in practical strategies for moving building decarbonization projects forward. “From Low-Cost Wins to Capital Projects: Making the Business Case for Decarbonization” explored ways to build support for decarbonization investments, while “Decarbonization Tools, Costs and Case Studies” examined resources and real-world examples to inform project decisions. Attendees also showed interest in emerging technologies and financial incentives through “The Cool Kids of Decarbonization: Exhaust Air Heat Recovery, Thermal Energy Storage, and Geothermal plus the Incentives that Make Them Pencil.” These sessions highlighted the importance of connecting technical solutions with sound financial strategies to make decarbonization projects achievable.
One first-time attendee of the ASHRAE Building Decarbonization Conference praised the breadth of expertise represented throughout the event.
“I was genuinely impressed by the organization, session content and overall experience,” the attendee said. “Hearing directly from manufacturers, learning about emerging tools and research, and engaging with policymakers and practitioners provided a well-rounded view of the challenges and opportunities associated with building decarbonization. The networking opportunities, both during sessions and at receptions, were also valuable.”
The 2027 ASHRAE Building Decarbonization Conference will take place Nov. 3-5, 2027, in Los Angeles
For more information about ASHRAE conferences, technical resources and educational opportunities, visit ashrae.org.
