Keep ASHRAE Weird
5 Days, 5 Reflections
Everyone told me the same thing before I arrived: “You are going to love Austin.” Now that the 2026 Annual ASHRAE Conference has come to an end, I have found myself reflecting on the week. Here are five things I'll be taking home.
ASHRAE, like Austin, is evolving.
It is no surprise that I’m writing this from a Belgian-themed pub in Austin [GP1.1](as a matter of fact, Belgium is playing at the world cup as I type), and this makes me reflect on the incredible change I've noticed in the organization after the past five years of my involvement.
Let’s face it: ASHRAE has a reputation of being an American Society (it’s literally in its name). At this conference, though, I felt a shift to a more international-feel. Chapters from all over the world came to share their knowledge, perspectives, and cultures. As a Mexican working in the US, I couldn’t be more grateful to see this. The same goes for the city of Austin, which seems to be an incredible mix of different cultures all brewing in a melting pot -- not competing, but complementing each other. I look forward to what’s coming, and I’ve never been more convinced of the following: Globalization isn’t the future, it’s the present.
You may be missing the point of conferences...
We can all agree: we come to these conferences to learn. However, learning goes beyond sitting in a session to learn about building physics and mechanical systems. Connecting with people is also learning. Getting lunch, brunch, coffee or drinks with industry peers is also learning. Yes, at first glance, a bite to eat with new connections may not be academic, and yes, you may have to justify your expense report. Still, learning from people face-to-face is incredibly fulfilling -- and just as valuable as learning how to cut peak energy demand. If I had one piece of advice for younger professionals attending their first conference, it would be this: invest as much in your conversations as you do in the sessions.
AI here, AI there.
AI was everywhere. It was in session topics, it was in slideshows. Admittedly, I did my own slide decks using AI support (shoutout to my colleague Hanlin Tian, who taught me how to do it). It wasn’t until I experienced this conference that it hit me… everything looks the same. I’m not here to question and criticize AI usage; I'm here to reflect on what I think makes presentations valuable. Is it the content? Is it the speaker? Is it the slides? Is it all of the above?
One thing I noticed throughout the sessions is that many of the slide decks and content arcs looked quite similar. There was one session that stood out, though. It did not follow the template guidelines, it was not text heavy, it was not AI-generated infographics; it was simply pictures and a powerful presenter. AI technology can make everyone produce polished slides, but what still differentiates a great presentation is the story and the person telling it.
Life truly makes sense backwards.
I once saw a video of Steve Jobs saying, “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards.” This conference proved this very point to me.
A few years ago, I decided to tackle the way the industry estimated operational carbon emissions for life-cycle assessments and created the CLEAR tool. BranchPattern made it publicly available, we hosted a webinar, and then it quietly moved back to the back-burner. To my surprise, it took me two years to realize the impact the CLEAR tool had in the industry; turns out, people actually used it and cited it in their ASHRAE conference papers and case studies.
When the CLEAR tool was released, I hoped it would help the industry, but I never set any clear expectations for it. Finding out that peers incorporate the tool into their day-to-day truly changed my perspective on its impact, and admittedly, re-energized me to continue developing resources like this. So, if you are curious about refrigerant emissions, stay tuned for what’s coming next and let’s connect!
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Exciting things ahead for the industry
The last few years in sustainability and energy efficiency have been hard. But we don't stop. We can't stop. We need to continue questioning assumptions, empowering our clients, supporting one another, and reminding ourselves that what we do matters. Whether you are working on a building or a portfolio, working on a small project or a data center: every project matters, every building matters, every contribution matters. For all professionals out there, keep pushing. Great things are coming and, most importantly, wonderful things are already happening. We just need to leave our computers from time to time and connect!
One final thought
I want to express gratitude to everyone I got to know at this year’s ASHRAE Annual Conference, whether it was a business card exchange, a one-on-one meeting, coffee chat, lunch break, or happy hour. I met truly remarkable people, and I cherish every interaction I had with each of you. I realize continuity matters a lot. This was my third ASHRAE event in five years (my second as a speaker), and while I still met many new people, it has also become an opportunity to catch up with familiar faces. Austin likes to say, "Keep Austin Weird." After this week, I have one request for our community: Keep ASHRAE Weird. Keep bringing together different cultures, different perspectives, different disciplines, and people willing to challenge each other while enjoying a beer afterward. That's what makes this community special. See you at the next conference.
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