September Lunch Meeting — Cooling Tower Applications
2025-09-09 11:30 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Willow Oaks Country Club, 6228 Forest Hill Ave, Richmond, VA, 23225, United States
Presenter: Tony Leoncini, Baltimore Aircoil CompanyJoin us for a technical session focused on cooling tower applications and design considerations. Tony Leoncini will cover:

Fundamentals of Cooling Towers – flow rates, temperature ranges, and selection criteria
Industry Codes & Standards – including ASHRAE 90.1, CTI certification, and OSHA requirements
Materials of Construction – options, durability, and corrosion resistance
Sound & Layout Design – noise reduction strategies and proper tower placement
Performance Optimization – fan selection, energy efficiency, and capacity impacts

This session is ideal for engineers, contractors, and facility managers looking to enhance system performance, comply with evolving standards, and optimize equipment layout.

42nd ASHRAE Annual BBQ
2025-09-22 17:00 - 20:00 | Extra Billy’s Smokehouse & Brewery, 1110 Alverser Drive, Midlothian, VA, 23113, United States
Click here for the 2025 ASHRAE BBQ Flyer
This is a fundraising event to award scholarships in memory of Bobby Blue, who passed away in 1998 while serving as secretary of the Richmond Chapter, and in memory of Frederick J. Weiss.
Email or pay online to make your reservations today! Reach out to Chris DeSoto at cedesoto@cjbuildingsolutions.com for more information.

October Lunch Meeting
2025-10-07 11:30 - 13:00 | Willow Oaks Country Club, 6228 Forest Hill Ave, Richmond, VA, 23225, United States
Energy & Auditing
Presented by: Chet Knaup, PE, LEED AP BD+C, BEMPPresident – Spectrum Energy LLC & Mechanical Systems Testing & Balancing (MSTB)
As energy costs continue to evolve, understanding their long-term trends is essential for designing, operating, and maintaining efficient buildings. This session will begin by examining how energy costs have changed over the years and what we can anticipate in the near future.
We’ll then shift focus to energy audits, which often serve as the first step in addressing rising utility expenses. Attendees will gain a clear overview of the three ASHRAE Energy Audit levels, their unique benefits, and how to determine which level best fits a given project or facility.
Finally, we’ll explore the connection between rising energy costs and ECM payback periods, helping participants better evaluate the financial implications of their energy decisions.

Speaker Bio
Chet Knaup, PE, LEED AP BD+C, BEMPChet Knaup brings over 27 years of experience in mechanical design, energy modeling, sustainability, and manufacturing. As President of Spectrum Energy LLC and Mechanical Systems Testing & Balancing (MSTB), he has led projects across five continents and has been directly involved in more than 1,000 energy analysis projects.
Chet’s work has supported LEED and Passive House (PHIUS) certifications for numerous high-performance buildings. He is a Licensed Mechanical Engineer in Virginia, a LEED Accredited Professional, and an ASHRAE Building Energy Modeling Professional (BEMP). His career began in Portland, Oregon—one of the greenest cities in the U.S.—where his passion for innovative energy reduction strategies was formed.

A2L VRF Design and Application
2025-11-04 11:30 - 13:00 | Willow Oaks Country Club, 6228 Forest Hill Ave, Richmond, VA, 23225, United States
As the industry transitions to low-GWP refrigerants, designers and contractors face new considerations in safety, code compliance, and VRF system application. Join us for a focused, practical session that clarifies what A2L adoption means for your projects.

What we’ll cover

A2L Transition Timeline
A2L Properties
Code Implications
ASHRAE 15 Compliance

Refrigerant Charge Limitations
Shaft / Shaft Ventilation Requirements

Speaker

Kevin Hunt, P.E. graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He spent eight years in mechanical design and construction before moving into commercial HVAC equipment sales. For the past two and a half years, Kevin has been with Mitsubishi Electric Trane US—supporting the distribution network and their customers with the design and application of VRF equipment. He’s a licensed professional engineer and a long-time ASHRAE member.
Lunch is included and will be served at noon.

YEA Happy Hour at River City Roll
2025-11-13 17:30 - 19:30 | River City Roll, 939 Myers St, Richmond, VA, 23230, United States
Join us on Thursday 11/13 from 5:30-7:30 for food, fellowship, and bowling at River City Roll! We have reserved lanes and high top tables. Drinks, apps, and bowling will be provided. This is a great opportunity to collaborate with fellow peers in the Richmond engineering community and network. We hope to see you there! This is a free event sponsored by Young Engineers in ASHRAE!

December Lunch Meeting
2025-12-02 11:30 - 13:00 | Willow Oaks Country Club, 6228 Forest Hill Ave, Richmond, VA, 23225, United States
Building Envelope Commissioning (BECx): Ensuring High-Performance Buildings
Join us for an insightful presentation on Building Envelope Commissioning—a critical quality-assurance process that verifies a building’s enclosure (walls, roofs, windows, and doors) performs as intended to deliver energy efficiency, durability, occupant comfort, and moisture control.
This session provides a practical overview of what BECx is, why it matters, and how early testing and verification can dramatically reduce risk, increase performance, and improve occupant comfort. Learn why BECx is rapidly becoming an industry expectation for high-performance facilities and what owners, contractors, and design teams should know to implement it on their projects successfully.

Presenter: Dave January, Vice President, MSTB Commissioning Group
Dave January brings over 20 years of experience in Testing & Balancing and Building Systems Commissioning. His background spans K-12, higher education, healthcare, data centers, research laboratories, and military facilities. He holds NEBB certifications in Building Systems Commissioning (BSC), Testing and Balancing (TAB), and Sound & Vibration Testing. Dave has served on NEBB’s Education and Marketing Committees and is passionate about mentoring the next generation of commissioning professionals.

2026 ASHRAE Winterfest
2026-02-21 17:00 - 22:00 | Richmond Marriott West, 4240 Dominion Boulevard, Glen Allen, VA, 23060, United States
In 2025 we had 98 door prizes for the ladies including jewelry, electronics, luggage, restaurant gift certificates, and a luxury getaway. Having to buy 98 door prizes is a challenge so we need your HELP!
Please complete this form and send back to Christopher DeSoto at cedesoto@cjbuildingsolutions.com. Visit the ASHRAE Richmond Chapter website at https://richmondashrae.org/ and pay for your reservation and donation by using PayPal.
2026 ASHRAE Winterfest
Live entertainment by “Mental Note”, featuring our very own Jerry Candrilli!

February ABC/ASHRAE Joint Panel Discussion
2026-02-24 17:00 - 19:00 | Henrico Sports & Events Center, 1 All Star Blvd, Glen Allen, 23059, United States
Registration is being handled through ABC Virginia and can be found at abcva.org/ASHRAE26

April Lunch Meeting
2026-04-07 11:30 - 13:00 | Henrico Sports & Events Center, 1 All Star Blvd, Glen Allen, 23059, United States
Building codes and standards set minimum requirements — but meeting minimums isn’t the same as designing well. This session uses physics-based simulation and CFD analysis to show how airflow patterns directly impact indoor air quality, thermal comfort, and the spread of airborne contaminants, and what that means for how you design.

What we’ll cover

Limitations of prescriptive code compliance
How HVAC layout controls airborne contaminant spread
Human-centric design principles
Airflow pattern impacts on thermal comfort and IAQ
How advanced analysis tools inform better design decisions

Speaker

Kishor Khankari, Ph.D., Fellow ASHRAE is President of AnSight LLC in Ann Arbor, MI, where he provides engineering solutions through physics-based simulation and CFD analysis. With expertise spanning displacement ventilation, natural ventilation, radiant systems, smoke exhaust, and indoor air quality optimization, Kishor has delivered more than 150 Distinguished Lecturer presentations worldwide. He is a past Director-at-Large on the ASHRAE Board, past President of the Detroit ASHRAE Chapter, and recipient of the Louise & Bill Holladay Distinguished Fellow Award and ASHRAE Exceptional Service Award.
Networking begins at 11:30 AM. Lunch is included and will be served at noon, followed by the program.

May Lunch Meeting
2026-05-05 11:30 - 13:00 | Henrico Sports & Events Center, 1 All Star Blvd, Glen Allen, 23059, United States
Traditional chilled water systems rely on control and balancing valves that complicate design, demand significant commissioning effort, and often underperform in the field. This session introduces a modern distributed pumping approach that replaces those valves with intelligent, demand‑driven pumps — simplifying design, reducing commissioning time, and improving energy performance.

What we’ll cover

Distributed pumping concepts and how they differ from traditional designs
Control strategies for demand‑driven pumping
Replacing control and balancing valves with intelligent pumps
Improving ΔT and reducing pump energy consumption
Real‑world results: streamlined commissioning and operation

Speaker

Chris Ireland has 19 years of industry experience, including 13 years with Grundfos, and holds a Bachelor’s in Construction Management with an emphasis in technology from Utah Valley University. Specializing in distributed pumping and project management, Chris manages training at the Sustainable Buildings Academy and leads a team of subject matter experts overseeing Grundfos’ key products and initiatives. He has earned recognition such as the Grundfos MVP award. Outside of work, he is dedicated to family activities, home projects, and gardening.
Networking begins at 11:30 AM. Lunch is included and will be served at noon, followed by the program.

YEA Event at Carmax Park
2026-05-07 17:30 - 21:00 | Carmax Park, 2929 N Arthur Ashe Blvd, Richmond, VA, 23220, United States
Notice
Registration for this event is now closed
Thank you for your interest. We hope to see you at a future YEA event.

Date
Thursday, May 7, 2026

Gates Open
5:30 PM

First Pitch
7:05 PM

Venue
CarMax Park, Richmond VA

Join fellow Young Engineers in ASHRAE for a night out at brand new CarMax Park as the Richmond Flying Squirrels take on the Akron RubberDucks. This is a great opportunity to connect with other young engineers and engineering professionals in the Richmond area in a relaxed, fun setting.
A private suite has been generously donated for our group for the evening. Food and beverages will be provided in the suite, and additional items will be available for purchase at the ballpark. Whether you are a lifelong baseball fan or just looking for a good reason to get out and meet people in your industry, this is an event you will not want to miss.

What Is Included

Private suite access (generously donated for the chapter)
Food and beverages provided in the suite
Game ticket included with suite seating
Networking with ASHRAE Richmond YEA members and guests

Seating is Limited to 20 YEA Members
Registration is first come, first served. Once the 20 spots are filled, the event will be closed. Register early to secure your spot.

Questions? Reach out to the ASHRAE Richmond Chapter YEA Committee through the chapter website.

2026 ASHRAE Golf Tournament
2026-06-22 10:00 - 17:00 | Hermitage Country Club, 1248 Hermitage Rd, Manakin-Sabot, VA, 23103, United States
SALES ARE CLOSED FOR THIS EVENT
Join us on Monday June 22, 2026 at Hermitage Country Club for the 2026 Louis Hite ASHRAE Golf Outing! We have both the Manakin & Sabot Courses this year. Starting gun goes off at 12:00 PM.
Four Man Captain’s Choice:
Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 teams on each course. Closest to the pin and longest drive contests will be awarded as individual prizes.
Schedule:
11:00 PM Box Lunch, Registration & Driving Range Open
12:00 PM Shotgun Start
5:00 PM Dinner followed by the award ceremony
Sign Up:
2026 ASHRAE Golf Outing
Sign up using the tickets below, or by sending the attached flyer to Chris DeSoto cedesoto@cjbuildingsolutions.com or mail form to:
Chris DeSoto c/o C&J Building Solutions
4955 Cox Road
Glen Allen, VA 23060
Make checks payable to ASHRAE Richmond Chapter
