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The Efficient Building Design Conference has solidified its place as a flagship event at the American University of Beirut (AUB) and the
Munib and Angela Masri Institute of Energy and Natural Resources, uniting academics, engineers, and innovators in a collective mission to drive affordable, cutting-edge, and sustainable strategies for decarbonizing the building sector.
Organized by ASHRAE, the ASHRAE Lebanese Chapter, the Munib and Angela Masri Institute of Energy and Natural Resources, and the Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture (MSFEA) at the American University of Beirut, the conference unfolded in a dynamic hybrid format on November 7 and 8, allowing attendees to join both in person and virtually. With a comprehensive two-day agenda, the event attracted over 200 industry experts and professionals, ensuring robust participation and lively engagement throughout.
The conference hosted four internationally renowned speakers, five sessions including 25 presentations by local and international speakers, and a special panel titled “COP28 and the Global 'Cooling' Pledge" dedicated to the exchange of the most recent approaches for sustainable cooling to meet zero net emission. AUB Provost Zaher Dawy, said in his opening remarks, “Even as we deal with the dire circumstances of war in Lebanon, we are aware and concerned about the mutually-faced global challenges of climate change, and the work on sustainability remains a key priority. We shall continue our commitment and effort towards human wellbeing and, through knowledge creation and sharing, we will continue to contribute to the transformation and betterment of lives, communities, and economies."
“Amid the destruction, we plough ahead. We build and we rebuild. And we bring back hope for a brighter, safer, and cleaner future," said Omar Masri, member of the advisory council for the Masri Institute. He added, “Today's conference, with its hybrid modality in these critical times, is a clear indicator of the perseverance and drive of Lebanese professionals and the international organizations."
In his closing remarks, Jack Ghosn, president of the Lebanese ASHRAE Chapter, said, “In 2022, against the odds, the 5th International Conference was successfully held here too. Today, as we gather for the sixth edition, we recognize that our progress is a sign of ASHRAE's resilience, as well as the resilience of Lebanon's engineering community. He continued, “Our hope has always been, and remains, rooted in knowledge. In a country like Lebanon, where natural resources are limited, knowledge is our greatest asset. It is the tool that will help us overcome our challenges, innovate, and compete on a global level."