Call For Speakers
2026 ASHRAE Boston Chapter Product Show
August 20, 2026
Theme: Decarbonizing the Legacy
Introduction
As the City of Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are accelerating towards a net-zero future, the most significant hurdle remains our existing infrastructure. With BERDO 2.0 compliance timelines looming and the Commonwealth setting aggressive 2030 targets for state-owned facilities, the challenge for Boston’s engineering community has shifted from "designing for the future" to "re-engineering the past."
The 2026 ASHRAE Boston Product Show is seeking technical presentations that address the complexities of retrofitting existing mechanical systems within dense urban footprints, historic structures, and high-intensity life sciences facilities.
Technical Tracks & Themes
While we welcome any proposal that addresses the decarbonization of existing buildings, we are particularly interested in topics relevant to the Greater Boston climate and regulatory landscape. Examples of relevant topics include, but are not limited to:
Steam-to-Low-Temperature-Hot-Water (LTHW) Conversions: Engineering strategies for transitioning legacy district or campus steam systems to electrification-ready hydronic loops.
Electrification in Dense Urban Environments: Navigating utility service constraints and site-specific equipment footprint challenges.
Cold-Climate Heat Pump (CCHP) Retrofits: Real-world performance data and design hurdles for heat pump integration in existing facilities.
Lab & Biotech Decarbonization: Specialized HVAC strategies for Boston’s life sciences sector, including high-performance energy recovery and demand-control ventilation in existing lab spaces.
The "Hybrid" Approach: Technical analysis of dual-fuel or peak-shaving systems as a transition pathway toward full electrification.
Special Consideration for ASHRAE Technology Awards: We strongly encourage proposals from project teams that are submitting applications for ASHRAE Technology Awards in 2026 or have submitted applications in the past. Preference will be given to these submissions to highlight award-caliber engineering excellence and real-world performance verification. To know more about ASHRAE technology awards please click here.
ASHRAE Presentation Requirements
To ensure high-quality, technical content for our members, all presenters must comply with ASHRAE’s Commercialism Policy:
Non-Commercial Content: Presentations must be educational in nature. No marketing of specific products, companies, or services is allowed. Generic terminology must be used (e.g., "Variable Refrigerant Flow" instead of a specific brand name).
Visual Standards: Company logos are permitted only on the first slide of the presentation. Subsequent slides must be free of corporate branding, watermarks, or promotional imagery.
Disclaimer: A mandatory ASHRAE disclaimer slide must be included as the second slide, stating that the views expressed are those of the presenter and not necessarily the Society.
Submission Deliverables
Interested speakers should submit a proposal package including:
Presentation Title: A concise, technical title.
Abstract: A 250–500 word summary of the technical content and its relevance to the Boston engineering community.
Learning Objectives: Three (3) specific takeaways attendees will gain (required for PDH credit eligibility).
Speaker Bio: A professional summary highlighting technical expertise and previous speaking experience.
Important Dates
Submission Deadline: March 31, 2026
Speaker Notification: April 24, 2026
Final Presentation Slide Deck Due: July 20, 2026
Event Date: August 20, 2026
How to Submit: Please send your proposal in PDF format to the Product Show Chair at vnair@sarepta.com and Chapter CTTC Chair at catie.ball@trane.com.