Overview Mehrdad Alipour, PE, from Therma led a workshop on modern data center HVAC design. He explained how HVAC has changed as computing demand has grown. He also covered higher power densities and the fast rise of cloud and AI. Mehrdad connected core mechanical engineering ideas to real site conditions. He showed how HVAC supports […]
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Eighteen ASHRAE Club members, as well as advisor Lauren Rueda, traveled to the San Jose area to learn about the HVAC&R industry. The first stop was the ASHRAE San Jose Chapter Student Night, which included a presentation from past presidents of the chapter, advice from industry professionals to current students, and plenty of time to […]
The annual HVAC&R Industry Showcase drew an impressive turnout this year, with over 300 students and 33 companies in attendance. Representatives shared insights into real-industry experiences in areas such as energy efficiency, sustainable building solutions, and much more. Overall, the event demonstrated the growing importance of HVAC&R in addressing global needs, including energy and sustainability […]
The HVAC&R 20th Annual Event weekend kicked off with an ASHRAE/Women in ME dinner. More than 60 students attended, as well as several industry professionals and faculty members. The event included a networking session and an industry panel, as well as dinner. During the panel industry professionals with six months to 15+ years of experience shared […]
Click the link here to view the Cal Poly HVAC&R third place winners for the 2025 HVAC System Selection and Setty Family Foundation Applied Engineering Challenge. […]
Read More… from Two Senior Design Teams won 3rd Place in the 2025 ASHRAE Competition!
For this ASHRAE Student Design Competition project, students were challenged to select an optimized HVAC system for a new three-story medical office building in Manchester, England. The team evaluated three system options—two VAV systems with reheat (paired with water- or air-cooled chillers) and a VRF system with heat recovery and dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS). […]
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This project focuses on improving student understanding of air-handling systems and psychrometric processes through two newly developed lab experiences for ME4456. In the physical lab, students use a custom-built air-mixing apparatus connected to a DX refrigeration trainer to measure and observe mixed air conditions and their affect on cooling coil performance. The practical lab explores […]
Read More… from Enhancing HVAC&R Education Through Experimental Psychrometric Labs
This project supports the transition to semesters by creating a new load calculation labs for ME 3355, a course focused on the fundamentals of HVAC&R systems. Working with industry-standard software platforms like DesignBuilder/EnergyPlus and HVAKR, students developed a three-part lab series exploring building envelope modeling, zoning, and sensitivity analysis and the differences between the radiant […]
Read More… from Developing a Load Calculation Lab for ME 3355: Hands-On HVAC&R Learning at Cal Poly
This project explores a novel retrofit approach to carbon capture in HVAC&R systems, with the goal of reducing building-related CO₂ emissions. Students worked with guidance from faculty advisor Dr. Steffen Peuker to design a modular system that captures carbon from natural gas boiler exhaust using a combination of temperature swing adsorption and potassium hydroxide scrubbing. […]
Five Cal Poly mechanical engineering students were honored with scholarships totaling $19,000 by the ASHRAE Southern California Chapter on May 6. The students are all members of the ASHRAE Student Branch at Cal Poly and wrote essays regarding why they are planning to pursue careers in HVAC&R as part of their application process. Roha Ali, […]
Read More… from Congratulations to Our 2025 ASHRAE SoCal Scholarship Recipients!
23 ASHRAE club students, joined by club advisor Lauren Rueda, traveled to the Los Angeles area for a two-day trip packed with educational and professional development opportunities. The students toured ACCO’s Pasadena office, beginning with a welcome from ACCO President and CEO Jeffrey Marrs, who was himself a member of the ASHRAE club during his […]
More than 30 students attended the Womxn in ME/ASHRAE Dinner on April 22, 2025. In alignment with the CENG Mental Wellness Fair that took place on April 23, the event focused on practices that support mental wellness. Attendees had the opportunity to color mandalas, create window hangings, and write postcards to the Letters of Love […]
You don’t realize how much you appreciate something until it’s gone. On Thursday, April 10, 24 students and their advisor from the ASHRAE club at Cal Poly had the privilege to attend a tour of the Kennedy Library construction. Representatives from Frank M. Booth, a mechanical contractor in the Bay Area, led a tour of […]
We had four dedicated Cal Poly HVAC&R students represented our program at the 2025 IIAR Conference! Attending the conference introduced them to cutting-edge refrigeration technologies, sustainability best practices, and industry connections. […]
Over 30 women students attended the Women in ME/ASHRAE Dinner on January 23, 2025. Lindsey Rowell, Chief Sustainability Officer-Office of Energy, Sustainability & Transportation at CSU, gave a presentation on decarbonization and the CSU path to a carbon free future. […]
Six mechanical engineering students and ASHRAE Club officers – Gabriella Aclan, Aryaman Bhargava, Ashley Corona, Katherine Hennig, Julia McMorrow, and Max Scott – recently traveled with club advisor Lauren Rueda to the ASHRAE Winter Conference in Orlando, Florida. At the conference, the officers had the opportunity to attend sessions geared towards students preparing to enter […]