Geothermal Heat Pump and Energy Recovery Applications
ASHRAE Technical Committee 6.8

The engineering profession is characterized by an environment that can stifle innovation and reward the “plain vanilla” or “safe” approach to design. This award is in memory of Kirk T Mescher, PE, an engineer who specialized in HVAC but whose real forte was innovation. Kirk’s design ideas are clever in and of themselves but the courage to implement them in projects and freely share the results underscores his exemplary service to our industry.

Kirk started GSHP design in 1993 - prior to ASHRAE publishing design criteria for GSHP. He designed and constructed his own test rig for ground thermal properties testing. He developed the one pipe distribution system for GSHP systems and extended its application from individual building to campus scale. He pioneered ground loop designs that eliminated the use of costly valve vaults and associated manifolds along with outside air handling designs that permitted the use of standard heat pumps for this duty. His GSHP designs consistently achieved DOE scores in the 90’s percentile. Active in ASHRAE at all levels he achieved Fellow status, Distinguished Service, Exceptional Service, served as chair of the Society Program Committee, Conferences Committee, TC 5.5 (Air-to-Air Heat Recovery) was a member of TC 6.8 and served as an ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer.

Applicants for the award could include Practicing Engineers interested in attending a GSHP course from ASHRAE or other provider or for purchase of design software, books, tools, etc.  Teaching faculty interested in developing course material on GSHP or otherwise providing GSHP information to students. Students interested in a career in HVAC and interested in attending an ASHRAE Conference or course addressing GSHP. Applicants could also include Practicing Engineers, Teaching Faculty, or Students who have an idea for an elegant way to be more energy efficient and could use this award to test the idea(s) and put the idea(s) into practice.

The award will be administered through the ASHRAE St Louis Chapter with support of the GWA.

The 2020 recipient of the Kirk T. Mescher Award is Alison Hall, PE

On Thursday, January 21, 2021, Alison Hall, P.E. was presented with the 2020 Kirk T. Mescher Award.

Alison is Principal Mechanical Engineer at Ainsworth Associates Mechanical Engineers in Reno, Nevada, and is in responsible charge of all engineering designs produced by the firm. Alison’s company is a small business whose accomplishments have been built on the completion of one successful project after another for many repeat clients. She is recognized for her work with Washoe County School District and other building owners in the states of Nevada and California for designing and overseeing the construction of multiple ground-source heat pump systems, which Kirk liked to market as “Simply Efficient.”

In addition, Alison is recognized for her work in her local community and with the ASHRAE Northern Nevada Section.

You'll find a link to your application for this year's Kirk T Mescher Award listed below, the deadline for submission is November 7, 2022. 

 CONTRIBUTIONS

Please make the check out to "Pershing LLC" and note ASHRAE/KTM Award on the memo line.

Then mail directly to:
Renaissance Financial
5700 Oakland Ave #400
Attn: John Bayer
St. Louis, Mo 63110 

The Kirk T. Mescher Award was established in 2015 after the tragic loss of one of the brightest and most innovative LEED certified engineers, Kirk Mescher of CM Engineering. It was Kirk's passion to find new and creative ways to make projects as energy efficient but as simplistic as possible. So in his honor, this award will be given out to professional engineers, teaching faculty, and engineering students who have that same passion. Applicants should have an idea in GSHP, HVAC, or energy efficiency that is simple and elegant and should want to put that idea to the test. The award will be administered through the ASHRAE St. Louis Chapter and is currently available to ASHRAE Members.

Please email a copy of your application to lisa@meline.com or mail a copy of your application to Lisa Meline, P.O. Box 276665 Sacramento, CA 95827. Application Form PDF download.