The Great ASHRAE Debate: IEQ vs Decarbonization

The ASHRAE Society Theme for the Year is “Healthy Buildings: Designing for Life”, which focuses on Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ). 2025-2026 ASHRAE Society President Bill McQuaide states, “Balancing energy efficiency with good IEQ ensures that buildings are not only environmentally sustainable but also conducive to the health and productivity of their occupants, creating a win-win situation for both people and the planet.”

The theme highlights some of the tradeoffs between IEQ and other industry goals, like decarbonization. More outside air, higher filtration, and greater humidity control all require more energy than the current baseline. For our January Chapter Meeting, we have assembled a team of the Puget Sound's Top Engineers to debate which side our industry should prioritize more: Decarbonization or IEQ.

The Debate Team:

Brian Cawley, PE, LEED® AP BD+C. Principal, Mechanical Engineering/Refrigeration, Hargis

Dan Luddy, PE, LEED AP. Building Performance, Affiliated Engineering, Inc.

Megan Messick,  PE. Senior Mechanical Engineer, Arup

Lewie Thomson, PE, Principal Engineer, MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions.

Darren Schwend, PE, HFDP, LEED AP BD+C. Design Principal, P2S

The Debate will be moderated by Lynndy Hedgcoth, ASHRAE Puget Sound Chapter President-Elect.

Approximate Schedule:

• 05:30 PM – 06:00 PM    –   Registration and Buffet Dinner
• 06:00 PM – 07:00 PM    –   Announcements and Debate
• 07:00 PM – 07:30 PM    –   Opportunity to Network

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