ASHRAE Chandigarh hosts Net-Zero Conference, installs 2026–27 leadership team
Over 200 delegates from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and other parts of the country participate in ‘CONVERGE 2026’
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, August 2, 2026: The ASHRAE Chandigarh Chapter organised ‘CONVERGE 2026’, a technical conference focused on net-zero and decarbonisation in the building and industrial sectors, along with the installation ceremony of its new leadership team for Society Year 2026–27.
The event, held at the CII Conference Hall in Chandigarh, witnessed the participation of more than 200 delegates from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and other parts of the country.
The conference brought together architects, engineers, HVAC consultants, MEP professionals, contractors, manufacturers, developers, academicians, government officials and industry leaders to deliberate on emerging technologies, sustainable building practices and strategies for developing net-zero and low-carbon buildings.
Among the prominent speakers and dignitaries were Ashish Rakheja, President-Elect of ASHRAE Society; Pankaj Dharkar, Director and Regional Chair of ASHRAE Region XV; Richie Mittal, Region Representative of ASHRAE Region XV; Vikram Murthy, India Representative of AHRI; and Ashu Gupta, Treasurer of ASHRAE Region XV.
Through their technical presentations, the speakers highlighted global best practices, innovative HVAC technologies, energy-efficient building designs, decarbonisation pathways and the need for greater collaboration to achieve sustainability goals.
The event also marked the installation of the ASHRAE Chandigarh Chapter’s Board of Governors for Society Year 2026–27. The newly installed chapter officers included Money Khanna, Manpreet Singh, Ekta Gupta, Bhupinder Parmar, Gaurav Dhuria, Joga Singh, Balkar Singh, Rajesh Khanna, Prashant Marwaha, Abdus Salam, Amit K. Sharma, Mukul Grover, Pankaj Sareen, Anuj Agarwal, Atul Dutta and Harpreet Singh, among others.
The installation ceremony reaffirmed the chapter’s commitment to technical excellence, professional development, knowledge sharing and greater engagement with its members.
ASHRAE, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, is a global professional organisation with members in more than 130 countries. The society develops internationally recognised standards, technical guidelines and educational resources for the HVAC&R and building services sectors, while promoting energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, sustainability and decarbonisation.
The conference highlighted the growing role of buildings in addressing climate change, as the sector accounts for a substantial share of global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Net-zero buildings aim to reduce energy demand through efficient building designs, high-performance systems and the integration of renewable energy. Such buildings are designed to generate as much clean energy annually as they consume, helping reduce carbon emissions while improving energy efficiency and occupant comfort.
The ASHRAE Chandigarh Chapter said it would continue to organise technical conferences, professional development programmes and industry-academia collaborations to promote the adoption of sustainable, energy-efficient and net-zero buildings across the region.