Dr Yashkumar Shukla
Center Head and Principal Researcher
CEPT University
K. L. Campus
Navrangpura, Ahmedabad
India
+919913318333
Region: At Large
Honorarium: None
yash.shukla@cept.ac.in yashdshukla@gmail.com
Shukla

Dr. Yashkumar Shukla is Center Head and Principal Researcher at the Centre for Advanced Research in Building Science and Energy (CARBSE). He has over twenty years of research and consulting experience in high-performance buildings. He has led several ground-breaking research projects, including low-energy cooling and ventilation systems in Indian residences, evaluation of innovative cooling technologies, and benchmarking of Indian buildings. He is also associated with the Master of Technology in Building Energy Performance (MBEP) program at the Faculty of Technology, CEPT University, where he offers several courses and guides capstone projects. Dr. Shukla's current research includes calibration of simulation models, smart grids, low cooling energy systems, performance characterization of the novel envelope and air conditioning systems, and development of next-generation control algorithms. He is presently the team leads on the technical assistance program by Asian Development Bank on building disease-resilient, smart, energy-efficient air conditioning systems in developing member countries.

Dr. Shukla possesses several professional certifications, including certified measurements and verification professional (CMVP), Home energy rating system (HERS), GRIHA Trainer, and ECBC Master Trainer. He is an active member of the Indian Society of Heating Refrigerating Air conditioning Engineers (ISHRAE), the American Society of Heating Refrigerating Air conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), and the International Building Performance Simulation Association (IBPSA) societies. He is currently serving as a regional vice chair of student activities for region-at-large (RVC-SA, RAL) and a voting member of the residential building committee (RBC) in ASHRAE. He also holds several leadership positions in these societies and chairs technical committees at national and international forums.

Dr. Shukla joined CARBSE in July 2011 after working for seven years in the building energy efficiency domain in the USA and worked as the technical director at the center till April 2021. His prior work experience also includes the execution of sophisticated building automation systems, conducting building energy audits and providing technical support on demand-side management (DSM) programs for electric utilities throughout the USA. He has completed a Doctor of Philosophy from CEPT University, Ahmedabad; a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A & M University, College Station; and a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from Nirma Institute of Technology, Ahmedabad.

Topic
Control of Infectious Aerosols
ASHRAE, through its Epidemic Task Force, provided timely leadership in responding to the COVID19 pandemic from March 2020 through June 2022. At the request of the White House, ASHRAE undertook its own project Warp Speed to build on that expertise for the future. In December 2022, the ASHRAE Board committed to quickly writing a standard to make buildings more resilient against infectious aerosols ahead of the next epidemic. In only four months the project committee created and won approval for ASHRAE Standard 241-2023. In this Lecture a member of the 241 project committee will provide a summary of the standard including its purpose, scope, and key requirements with supporting background.
Thermal Comfort and Indoor Air Quality Strategies in Affordable Houses
The occupants of affordable houses are the most vulnerable to the impact of climate change. Hence, it is essential to educate professionals about design and operation strategies that can help achieve good thermal comfort and indoor air quality in affordable houses. The presentation starts with the fundamentals of thermal comfort and indoor air quality in buildings. It then explains various design strategies, including natural ventilation (NV) and mixed-mode (MM) strategies, and construction techniques that can be used to achieve desired thermal comfort and indoor air quality with minimal energy use. Further, it shares the knowledge of low-energy cooling strategies and their applicability in various climates. In the end, the presentation covers example case studies to educate professionals about applying thermal comfort and indoor air quality strategies.
Performance monitoring of Buildings
Performance monitoring is key to understanding and optimizing the energy use of a building while maintaining a healthy and comfortable indoor environment. This presentation educates the professionals about scientific methods that can be used to monitor building performance during the operation phase. The presentation also details the instruments and techniques used by professionals and researchers for indoor environment quality and energy monitoring. Finally, the presentation shares a few examples to assist professionals in interpreting and communicating relevant performance monitoring data to facility managers, building owners, and occupants.