The AREA Vice-President of International Affairs, Marco Buoni, had the opportunity of interviewing the President of ASHRAE, Bjarne Wilkens Olesen, during the last ASHRAE Winter Meeting and AHR Expo. Professor Olesen, from Denmark, is the first non-native English-speaking President and only the second who is not from North America.
This was an important meeting, where representatives form two leading global associations had the opportunity to get to know each other and discuss their common goals. A European President at the head of the American Association will clearly bring the two sides of the Atlantic closer together on important subjects, most of which are global in nature and require international support and solutions.
Important topics discussed included energy efficiency, cooperation with international organizations such as United Nation Environment, climate change and the future phase-down of high GWP refrigerants.
The three questions put to the President of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air conditioning engineers were:
- You have announced the goals of your presidency as follows: to expand the ASHRAE Community, extend technological horizons; and increase value to members. What do you think are the best methods to achieve these goals?
- How important is training in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning for ASHRAE?
- The US government withdrew from the Paris agreement and gives less importance to the subject of climate change. What is ASHRAE’s position on this topic, which is certainly important for your members?
See below the video footage of the interview
