Since 1919, ASHRAE has supported research to improve the quality of life. ASHRAE Research impacts the industry by improving the way HVAC&R systems work, how they are applied and allow development of technical information to create standards and guidelines, which serve as the basis for testing and design practices around the world. 

The Society funds thousands of projects addressing topics such as sound, duct design, the effect of oil in refrigerants, load calculations, thermal conductivity, simplified energy analysis procedures, weather data, refrigerant property data, fire and smoke control and solar design. The most significant ASHRAE research is in the areas of human comfort and the properties of materials and systems used in buildings and refrigeration systems.