So Charles Dickens, Ferris Bueller, a chicken, and a pig walk into an HVAC article … and try to sort out proper use of outdoor air in data centers. As you might imagine, it’s not simple. But if you remember these three design absolutes and consider your client’s specific perspective, the resulting efficiencies might have you singing Wayne Newton at the prospect of repeat business.

“2011 Thermal Guidelines for Liquid Cooled Data Processing Environments” creates data center classes for liquid cooling that can enable fulltime economizers for a number of applications in many climates, according to according to Don Beaty, chair of the Publications Subcommittee of ASHRAE’s Technical Committee (TC) 9.9, Mission Critical Facilities, Technology Spaces and Electronic Equipment.

The truth is, you could have an extremely fruitful trip to the AHR/ASHRAE host city next month and never set foot on the Expo floor. Between the paid ASHRAE courses and all the free sessions hosted by various groups over at the Expo (see conveniently integrated list below), attendees may have some hard choices as they balance new products with hot topics.

In the big picture, good enough isn’t good enough.

Registration is open for ASHRAE’s 2012 Winter Conference in Chicago, where attendees will have the chance to discuss and examine the latest topics in the building industry as well as participate in technical tours, attend ASHRAE Learning Institute courses, earn professional credits, and obtain ASHRAE certifications.

Public comment sought on a proposed additional default value for the IAQ standard.

A new whitepaper that serves as the first vendor-neutral thermal guideline is available for free download.

Commercial and high-rise residential buildings, including federal buildings, must now meet requirements in ASHRAE/IESNA’s 2007 energy efficiency standard under recent rulings issued by the United States Department of Energy (DOE) that finds the standard saves more energy than the 2004 version.

ASHRAE has published its first ever eBook for use on the Apple iPad.