Two NREL Researchers Receive Sustainable Technology Awards
Congratulations to Parveen Dhillon and Paul Torcellini
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) researchers Parveen Dhillon and Paul Torcellini have been recognized by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) for their outstanding contributions and accomplishments to sustainable technology at the 2024 ASHRAE Annual Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana.
ASHRAE is a global society that uses sustainable building technologies to promote a healthy built environment. The organization focuses on improving indoor environments by building systems and maintaining energy efficiency, indoor air quality, refrigeration, and sustainability within the industry.
The awards that Dhillon and Torcellini have received commemorate their research and joint efforts to create a more environmentally conscious future.
Science and Technology for the Built Environment Best Paper Award
Dhillon was honored with the Science and Technology for the Built Environment Best Paper Award. This prize is given out by ASHRAE to recognize exceptional research articles that have been published in the Science and Technology for the Built Environment journal.
This journal is a peer-reviewed publication that features cutting-edge research on topics related to heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigerating (HVAC&R).
“Being honored with this award was a deeply fulfilling experience,” Dhillon said. “It felt incredible to be recognized by ASHRAE, an organization I hold in high regard for its impactful contributions to society.”
The Science and Technology for the Built Environment Best Paper Award represents a significant contribution to advancing science and technology in the HVAC&R fields as well as maintaining energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality.
“This recognition was particularly meaningful because ASHRAE has been essential to my professional and personal growth over the last six years,” Dhillon said. “It was a moment of validation for my hard work and dedication, and it motivated me to continue striving for excellence in my field.”
Eunice Foote Decarbonization Award
Torcellini was the first ASHRAE member honored with the Eunice Foote Decarbonization Award for his work in reducing carbon emissions. This award is in honor of Eunice Newton Foote, who was the first scientist to confirm that specific gases warm up when exposed to sunlight. In 1856, she made a breakthrough in scientific research when she discovered carbon dioxide was a greenhouse gas.
The award is also based on another member’s documentation of activities related to decarbonizing the built environment, which includes reducing the impact of building energy consumption.
“This award was a great surprise. There are many people who work to advance energy efficiency and strive to decrease the impact of fossil fuels,” Torcellini said. “This is a shared effort with the NREL Buildings program and the DOE [Department of Energy] Building Technologies Office, who continuously support efforts to advance building science and to reduce the environmental impact of buildings without sacrificing the health and well-being of the building occupants.”
Together, NREL and ASHRAE members continue to share common goals and collaborate on research projects to develop and promote new technologies and practices for maintaining a sustainable environment.
For more information and to learn more, visit the ASHRAE website.