Whoever said green building has no impact on the sheet metal industry clearly wasn’t thinking about the relationship between this work and mechanical systems. Two key areas of focus in the development of LEED buildings – energy efficiency and improved indoor air quality – offer 32 different categories in LEED where points are awarded, and of those, roughly twelve address issues conquered by mechanical contractors.

The higher levels of LEED certification typically call for a 35 percent or better energy efficiency over ASHRAE 90.1, meaning the use of economizer cycles, variable air-volume systems, carbon dioxide monitors, occupancy sensors, higher efficiency cooling systems, high-efficiency condensing boilers, variable-speed drives, and other technologies, some typical and others not so much.

But there are other technologies well on their way to becoming the norms, including displacement ventilation, chilled beams for radiant cooling, radiant cooling and heating systems, solar systems, ground source heat pumps and geoexchange systems, thermal energy storage systems, fan-assisted natural ventilation systems, higher level air filtration, and on-site power systems involving co-gen, microturbines, and others.

The nice thing about these changes is that they come with a design and building focus that involves integrated systems and co-ordination of contractors, designers, and more and more often, tradespeople right from the beginning. The obvious implications are cost-saving by avoiding problems or over-runs later in the project, and more importantly this process gives everyone adequate time to get on board.

In the meantime, it wouldn’t hurt contractors to stay on top of the latest in green technologies and what their integration will mean to the overall project. Making a commitment to sustainable building practices means learning what architects and engineers are doing to reduce power, improve indoor air quality, and source on-site power. LEED and environmental sustainability are great areas for training opportunities and certification carries a lot of weight. And finally, any company can find ways to green its own operations – there’s nothing like a living example.

On another note, it’s come to my last completely-in-charge issue of Sheet Metal Journal, as I will be slipping away at the end of March to have my second child. It feels like only yesterday Lara was passing the Sheet Metal Journal baton and I eagerly ran with it, relying heavily on the kindness of SMACNA contractors to carefully guide me as I felt my way around a new industry.

I know everyone will show the same help and kindness to my replacement, Julie, who has already started part-time and will be taking over full-time April 1. Julie is a graduate from Vancouver Island University. She has worked as a news and feature writer, as an editor-of-all-trades, and on a freelance basis with various publications. Julie also completed her internship with us last year.

Julie is bright, talented, and eager. Please welcome her. And all my very best to you for the year to come.