NEW JERSEY ASHRAE THERMOGRAM

FEBRUARY 2025

The theme for the 2024-25 ASHRAE Society Year is “Empowering Our Workforce: Building a Sustainable Future.” 

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This Month's Meeting

This Month's Topic: controls and a2l refrigerants 

When

VICTORIA DESPIRITO

Presenter's Bio:

Presenter Bio:

Tori DeSpirito: Tori DeSpirito is a graduate of the University of Delaware, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. During her undergraduate studies, Tori gained valuable experience conducting energy audits, which involved analyzing energy consumption and identifying opportunities for efficiency improvements. This early exposure to energy management laid the groundwork for her future career, blending technical expertise with a focus on sustainability.

Upon graduating, Tori embarked on a professional journey with Ernst & Young (EY). Over the course of five years, she served as a Cost Segregation Engineer within the National Tax department. In this capacity, Tori specialized in the intricate analysis and reclassification of property assets to optimize tax benefits for clients. Her work at EY was deeply rooted in the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), particularly Sections 48, 168, and 263A. Tori's expertise in these areas enabled her to provide invaluable insights and strategies to clients, ensuring compliance while maximizing tax savings. She was instrumental in helping clients qualify for energy credits under Section 48, accelerate depreciation schedules under Section 168, and accurately capitalize costs under Section 263A.

For the past year and a half, Tori has been serving as a Controls Account Manager at Trane. In this role, she leverages her engineering background and analytical skills to manage and optimize control systems for clients, ensuring efficient and effective HVAC solutions. Her responsibilities include overseeing project implementations, maintaining client relationships, and providing technical support to ensure customer satisfaction.

As she continues to advance in her career, Tori remains dedicated to leveraging her expertise to drive value and innovation in her field.

Michael Dunham: Michael Dunham is a dedicated professional with a strong background in mechanical engineering and extensive experience in the HVAC industry. He graduated from Penn State University in 2018, earning a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. Following graduation, Michael began his career at Trane, where he initially worked as a Controls Estimator. In this role, he honed his skills in project estimation, specializing in HVAC control systems, contributing to the successful planning and execution of numerous projects.

After a few years, Michael transitioned to the position of Applications Engineer at Trane. In this capacity, he applied his industry expertise to develop and implement innovative HVAC solutions tailored to meet client needs. Today, Michael serves as an Account Manager at Trane, where he leverages his technical knowledge and industry experience to build and maintain strong client relationships, ensuring customer satisfaction and driving business growth.

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Calendar of Events

Chapter Dinner Meeting - February 18, 2025 - Controls and A2L Refrigerants

Chapter Dinner Meeting - Tuesday March 11, 2025 - Airflow Measurement for High Performance Buildings

Chapter Dinner Meeting - Tuesday April 8, 2025 - Sustainability: Redefining Success in a Changing World

Chapter Dinner Meeting - Tuesday May 13, 2025 - Humidification 101 and Controls Problems

ASHRAE Golf Outing - May 2025 - Fox Hollow Golf Club

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President's Report

ADAM R. CARAVAGLIA, P.E.

ASHRAE New Jersey Chapter President 2024-2025

We made it to February and I hope all of you are keeping warm as we continue to get blasted with frigid, wintery weather. I hope everyone had a good time last month at the joint NJ MCA/ASHRAE/ASPE meeting. The event was well attended and I thank all who came out to network with our mechanical contractor and plumbing engineering friends. Among other things, February is the month of Saint Valantine, and with love in the air I would love to see all at this month’s meetings.

This month’s dinner meeting will be held on Tuesday February 18, 2025 at the Delta Hotel located at 515 US-1 South, Iselin, NJ. Cocktail & networking hour starts at 5:00 PM followed by our dinner meeting and technical presentation starting at 6:00 PM. This month’s topic is on Controls and A2L Refrigerants presented by Tori Despirito and Michael Dunham from Trane.  One of my chapter goals for this year is to increase meeting attendance so I hope to see as many of you at this month’s meeting as possible for a great topic! If you plan on attending, please make sure RSVP early as possible on our chapter’s website so that we can coordinate space and dinners. I Hope to see you there!

Calling all artists and wine enthusiasts out there among the NJ ASHRAE crowd and beyond. Our DEI committee will be having their first event of the year where you can kickback, sip and paint the evening away. Come join us for the Women in Engineering Networking wine and paint night event which is scheduled to be held on Thursday March 6, 2025 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Canvas & Grapes Experience, LLC located at 2595 Woodbridge Avenue, Edison, NJ. There is no event cost for NJ ASHRAE members, and a non-members fee of only $20 per person. Make sure to get there by 5:30 PM for Hor d’oeuvres and refreshments! Anyone interested please make sure to RSVP by Monday, March 3, 2025 on our NJ ASHRAE website. If you have any questions about this event, please contact Clara Merino at [email protected].

Thanks again to all our committed volunteers, committees, members and guests. I hope to get membership way up this year so please spread the word to friends and colleagues to considering becoming members if they are not already. I hope all of you stay warm out there. Soon spring and then summer will be upon us and we will need to turn on our air-conditioners and cooling systems.  

Thanks,

Adam Caravaglia, P.E.

President, NJ Chapter

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Committee Updates

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Variable Refrigerant Flow Final Rule and SNAP Notice 39 Signed

On December 6, 2024, The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a refrigerant flow rule entitled, “Phasedown of Hydrofluorocarbons: Restrictions on the Use of HFCs under the AIM Act in Variable Refrigerant Flow Air Conditioning Subsector.” The rule provides for Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) equipment using a refrigerant with a global warming potential above 700 to be installed until January 1, 2027, or January 1, 2028, depending on the date of the approved building permit. The rule was published in the Federal Register on December 12, 2024, and it takes effect on January 13. To final rule is available to view here.

New York issues final HFC Regulations

At the end of December, New York State issued a final version of its HFC regulations, which restrict high-GWP (global warming potential) refrigerant gases in the state, with increasingly strict limits, to 2034. This update was proposed last year in order to ensure that the HFC restrictions were aligned with the state’s existing Climate Act and emissions reduction goals. A complicating factor is that, unlike other states, NY uses a stricter methodology for calculating GWP – it considers a 20-year time horizon instead of 100 years - which means that its requirements are effectively stricter than the federal-level requirements in the AIM Act. New York is one of the only states, in addition to Maryland, that uses a 20-year rather than 100-year methodology for tracking its climate goals. More information can be found on the NY state page here.

About Consigli Construction Co., Inc.   Consigli Construction Co., Inc. is a leading construction manager in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Consigli services clients across all markets, including academic, healthcare, life sciences, institutional, energy, corporate and federal. Founded in 1905, Consigli is now a 100% employee-owned (ESOP) company, providing its people a direct benefit of its success and creating a culture of accountability. The company has offices in Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., Maine, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, New Hampshire and the Caribbean. Consigli has received numerous awards for its craftsmanship and employment practices, including national recognition as a Forbes Best Employer.     For more information, visit consigli.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

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Upcoming DEI Event

March 6^th, 2025  |  6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

The Canvas & Grapes Experience LLC

2595 Woodbridge Avenue

Edison, NJ, 08817

Women in Engineering Networking Event

Your Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion group of ASHRAE New Jersey Chapter invites you to join us for a wine and paint night at The Canvas & Grapes Experience.

International Women’s Day is March 8^th, 2025, and we’d love to take this time and have an event for women engineers to get together. This event is open to everybody and is limited to the first 20 people to sign up.

Please RSVP by Monday, March 3^rd, 2025, registration will start in February.  Hors d'oeuvres and drink tickets will be provided.  Come join us for a fun night!  This is a great opportunity to socialize and network with your fellow ASHRAE Members.

DATE: Thursday, March 6^th, 2025  

LOCATION: 2595 Woodbridge Avenue Edison, NJ, 08817

COST: FREE for ASHRAE members, $20 for non-members

TIME:   6:00PM – 8:00PM

Hor d’oeuvres and drinks will be served at 5:30, painting begins promptly at 6:00pm.

Please pre-pay and register through the website registration link. If you have any questions or food concerns, please contact: Clara Merino at [email protected]

Tickets

$0 Member Registration

$20 Non-Member Registratiom

Register here!

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Chapter Officers

Chapter Officers

board of governors

committee chairpersons

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Scholarships

Scholarships are awarded based on the following and for the academic year following the application deadline beginning with the fall semester.  Re-applications will be accepted from former scholarship applicants and recipients provided they meet current scholarship criteria. Students may only receive one Society scholarship in any given year. Scholarship amounts awarded shall not exceed the direct annual cost of attending the educational institution (i.e. tuition, books, supplies, room and board, etc.) through graduation.

1. A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on a scale where 4.0 is the highest and/or a class standing of no less than the top 30% evidenced by an official transcript of grades or written statement from a school administrator.
2. Three letters of recommendation, including one from an instructor or faculty advisor, a current or past employer, and another character reference.  In the case of schools with an ASHRAE student branch, a letter from the faculty advisor of that branch may be one of the three letters of recommendation. 
   Visit https://www.ashrae.org/communities/student-zone/student-branches  for a list of ASHRAE student branches.
3. Potential service to the HVAC and/or refrigeration profession.
4. Financial need
5. Excellence, Character, Leadership (Fully describe academic achievement and other leadership roles)
6. Service to community & others (Detail participation in the arts/music, athletics, volunteerism, environmental/humanitarian groups, or other service organizations)

Presidents Scholarship (Annual Application Deadline: December 1)

Undergraduate Engineering Scholarships (Annual Application Deadline: December 1)

University-Specific Scholarships (Annual Application Deadline: December 1)

ASHRAE Society Chapter Scholarships (Annual Application Deadline: December 1)

Regional Scholarships (Annual Application Deadline: December 1)

Engineering Technology Scholarships (Annual Application Deadline: December 1)

High School Senior Scholarships (Annual Application Deadline: May 1st)

Freshman Engineering Scholarship (Annual Application Deadline: May 1st)

To learn more or apply, visit: www.ashrae.org/scholarships

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Resource Goals

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Job Postings

Looking for Employment?

Visit the NJ ASHRAE website for up to date job listings within our community here.

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PAOE Points

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