President’s Message

Happy New Year ASHRAE Madison Chapter!

And with that, 2025 is last year and 2026 is now before us.  Time for resolutions and new opportunities. 

To touch on last year one last time, we had a great year with many great programs.  Many of them we are going to revisit again this year, so stay alert!  Our final meeting last year was our annual holiday share and RP fundraiser.  Thanks again to all who donated!

We’re kicking off the new year with two events right away.  The Chapter is offering Fan and Blower Applications Engineering Foundations as a supplemental educational opportunity.  The class is proctored by former Chapter president Ron Wroblewski and is typically only available to AMCA members.  It is a great opportunity for both new and experienced professionals to learn more about fan applications.

Our January meeting covers something that will is only becoming more an more salient with the rise of AI, Cooling High Performance IT Systems.  We are welcoming Russ Hoppes to discuss liquid cooling at these rack as the power density of these system increases.

Also, or CRC and CTTC committees are welcoming new members.  Both are excellent opportunities to shape the chapter’s activities and learn some skills beyond engineering!

Looking forward to seeing you this month!

James R. Vander Zanden
Madison ASHRAE Chapter President 2025-2026
[email protected]

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Meeting Announcement

January 12th 2026 REGISTRATION CLOSES NOON ON The 9th	Add Meeting To Calendar
Location: Great Dane - Fitchburg 2980 Cahill Main Fitchburg, WI 53713  Direction Link
$   30.00    Madison ASHRAE Member $   40.00    Guest (non-Madison ASHRAE member) $     N/C     Currently Enrolled Full-Time Students Only $     N/C     Board of Governors

Technical Session: 5:00 PM Overview of HPC systems/components - Russ Hoppes

Dinner: 6:15 PM

Presentation: 7:00 PM Cooling Today’s High Performance IT Systems - Russ Hoppes

In this timely presentation, Russ will guide us through the transition from air to liquid cooling technologies, explaining when and why liquid cooling becomes essential for modern high-performance computing environments, such as for AI processing. You'll learn about the key components of liquid cooling systems, including cold plates, coolant distribution units (CDUs), and rear door heat exchangers, as well as critical considerations like fluid management, filtration requirements, and system redundancy.

This session will provide practical insights into cooling solutions for rack densities ranging from 5kW to over 200kW. Russ brings over 35 years of experience in mission-critical environmental systems and provides an understanding of the infrastructure requirements shaping the future of data centers and high-performance computing.

Presenter:
Russ Hoppes, Senior Tech Sales Manager
Liebert Thermal Management
Russ is a Senior Technical Sales Manager at Vertiv, specializing in Thermal Management solutions. With more than 35 years of experience in computer room cooling and mission-critical environmental systems, he brings deep technical expertise and a practical, customer-focused perspective to every project.
Throughout his career, Russ has held roles in Engineering, Applications, International Sales, and Domestic Sales, giving him a comprehensive
understanding of thermal management challenges across diverse markets. He is committed to advancing best practices in data center cooling and championing energy-efficient, sustainable system designs that help clients maximize performance while reducing operational costs.
Russ holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from The Ohio State University and a Master of Business Administration from Ohio University.

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Research Promotion

ASHRAE Research Thank you for participating in the chapter at the December meeting, which included great prizes in the raffle.   Almost $900 was raised.

ASHRAE is actively advancing projects that strengthen resilience, improve indoor environmental quality, limit the transmission of airborne infections and viruses, increase energy performance through sustainability and decarbonization, enhance HVAC&R equipment and components, and expand tools, applications, education, and outreach for today's professionals. Some of these important projects include: 1947-RP: Climate Change Driven Extreme Temperature Effects for Efficiency and Resilience Map of Heat Pump Technology 1814-RP: Actual Energy Performance of Secondary Schools and Medium Offices Designed to Comply with ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2010 1928-RP: Improving Efficiency Test Methods to Measure Air  Cleaner Performance Against Airborne Particulate Contaminants in a Recirculating System 1889-RP: Graywater use in healthcare facilities-determining risk and appropriate design responses

This year, ASHRAE has more than $7.5 Million in research underway.  these project are shaping healthier buildings, safer systems, and a more sustainable future future entire HVAC&R community, as well as informing and updating the resources you use to do your job everyday.

For local assistance, contact Jason Boatman at [email protected]. 

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DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion)

We've already begun preparations for the 2026 Engineering Day for Kids to be held in collaboration with the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County on February 20, 2026!

Mark your calendars with the following important dates:
January 16th at 11 AM - volunteer meeting (online via Teams)
February 20th - Engineering Day for Kids!

What is Engineering Day for Kids?  It's an opportunity to introduce kids to the wonderful world of engineering, sparking an interest in the next generation!  Middle and high school-aged kids will participate in various hands on activities led by real-world practicing engineers.  Email [email protected] if you'd like to get involved!

Caryn Rader, P.E., LEED AP BD+C
DEI Committee Chair

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Membership

January is Employer Recognition month!  This is an opportunity to say thank you to those employers that support ASHRAE members by funding membership dues and/or meeting fees.  If you've already responded to the survey, Thank You!  A second survey was emailed on 12/30.  You have until 1/5 to respond!!

We'll be recognizing employers at the Chapter meeting on January 12th!

Summary of Chapter Membership:

Are you looking for ways to get more involved with your Chapter?  The Membership Promotion Committee is a great place to serve, providing opportunities to grow both personally and professionally.  And we need your help!  Please contact me if you'd like to learn more!

Contact the Madison Chapter Membership Chair,  [email protected] if you have questions or comments about ASHRAE Membership.

Caryn Rader, P.E., LEED AP BD+C
Membership Promotion Committee Chair

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AHR Show and Meeting

“The ASHRAE Winter Conference is where ideas become action,” said 2025-26 ASHRAE President Bill McQuade, P.E., CDP, Fellow ASHRAE, LEED AP. “It’s a place for thought leaders, engineers, and practitioners to exchange knowledge, explore the future of building performance, and transform innovation into practical solutions. Attendees will leave not only with fresh technical insights, but also with the relationships and inspiration to move their projects forward.”

Key sessions include:

•  AI in Action: A Real-World Application of AI for Campus Energy Optimization (Seminar)
• Development of a Building Services Cybersecurity Profile (Workshop)
• Next-Generation Refrigeration Systems for Supermarkets: Performance, Safety Requirements and Implementation Challenges (Panel)
• Human-Centered IEQ: Advancing Health and Performance in Modern Spaces (Seminar)
  
  

The ASHRAE Learning Institute (ALI) will also offer 21 courses, all approved for continuing education credits toward maintaining P.E. licensure. A highlighted addition is Fundamentals of District Cooling System Design (MENA), designed to engage practitioners in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia with region-specific content delivered in dual units (SI/IP).

Four additional new courses are being offered:

• Laboratory Controls - Devices and Strategies for Proper Airflow
• Designing Residential Ventilation Systems to Meet ASHRAE Standard 62.2
• Demystifying Dehumidification: Designing Efficient and Effective HVAC Moisture Removal Systems
• Decarbonization Tactics: Making Buildings Grid-Interactive

For the full technical program, registration and additional information, visit ashrae.org/2026Winter.

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Student Activities

Five Reasons to Love Engineering
1. Engineering Is Open to Everyone.
Engineering teams are made up of several
different positions―specialists and technicians
with associate degrees to technologists with
bachelor’s degrees and professional engineers—
that work collaboratively to invent, design, and
create things that matter.
2. Earn a Big Salary.
Engineers, technicians, and technologists earn
a lot of respect and a lot of money! Even the
starting salary for entry-level jobs is impressive.
Engineering may be your path to financial freedom.
3. Make a Difference.
Everywhere you look you’ll see examples of engineering having a positive effect
on everyday life. Things like cleaning up ocean garbage, developing sustainable
and clean energy sources, and redesigning highways and roadways to reduce
accidents.
4. Be a Creative Problem Solver.
Engineering is a great outlet for the imagination—the perfect field for independent
thinkers. Creative problem-solving will take you into uncharted territory, and your
colleagues’ ideas will expose you to different ways of thinking. Be prepared to be
fascinated and to have your talents stretched in ways you never expected.
5. Work in Teams.
Engineering takes teamwork, and engineers work with all kinds of people inside
and outside the field. Whether they’re designers or architects, doctors or
entrepreneurs, engineers are surrounded by smart, inspiring people.
Learn More about Careers in Engineering.
DiscoverEngineering.com

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Meeting Minutes

Recent BOG Meeting Minutes:

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Treasurer’s Report

Recent Treasurer's Reports:

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Meeting Schedule

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Society News Releases

Recent ASHRAE News:

ATLANTA (November 6, 2025) The Buildings XVI Conference, organized by ASHRAE and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), will take place December 8–11, 2025 in Clearwater Beach, Florida.

2026 ASHRAE Winter Conference Technical Program Now Live – Innovation, Resilience and Healthy Buildings Take Center Stage in Las Vegas
ATLANTA (October 20, 2025) The full technical program is now available for the 2026 ASHRAE Winter Conference, to be held January 31 – February 4, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada, with the AHR Expo running concurrently February 2–4 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. 

For more information, follow HERE.

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