P2S Thought Leadership Series
Decarbonization goes beyond established notions of sustainability , marching into previously overlooked territory like embodied carbon and refrigerants . But the fact remains that using less energy reduces your carbon footprint , and seasoned energy efficiency experts like our own Cindy Callaway are well-positioned to guide building owners if their goals are to reduce energy consumption , embrace renewables and start or continue on a path toward carbon neutrality . We asked Cindy to give us her thoughts on some of the current carbon-related issues in the engineering design industry .
Cindy , how has MEP design changed in response to sustainability and carbon reduction demands ?
Most building owners have always been conscious of their energy use . I think most try to be as efficient as possible with the resources available to them , if only for their bottom lines . So , the focus on energy-efficient MEP systems isn ’ t new . What ’ s new is that more building owners and more of the general public are aware that buildings emit a lot of carbon , which is driving climate change . In response , MEP design is becoming even more efficient and is beginning to address the issue of embodied carbon in equipment and construction . We ’ re combining passive sustainable design principles that have been around for decades , like natural ventilation , thermal insulation , daylighting and shading , with the latest equipment and adding on-site renewable energy for buildings that use much less energy and emit less carbon .
Things like that weren ’ t front of mine for many building owners in the past , but the change in mentality has been widespread . Owners still want to save money , but they also want to talk about how energy-efficient their facilities are and how far they are on their roadmap to reduce or eliminate their carbon emissions .
How is new technology changing the way you design mechanical systems ?
FEATURING Cindy Callaway
Senior Mechanical Engineer
AI in control systems , electric heat pumps , heat recovery , improved energy analysis software , smart sensor vents and other new and emerging technologies are expanding design possibilities , but they ’ re not changing the underlying principles of sustainable HVAC design . New equipment drives higher energy efficiency in the systems and makes it easier for owners and facilities staff to monitor their building ’ s energy use .
ASHRAE has been talking more about the role refrigerants play in the climate problem . How do mechanical systems designers minimize the risk of refrigerant leakage ? Are there alternative refrigerants with less impact on global warming ?
Whether it ’ s because of the environment , equipment failing or just time passing by , leaks happen in all sealed pressure systems . Leaks are too small to measure at first , but given the right conditions and stress , they can become larger leaks that can be measured . Following the most up-to-date best practices in mechanical design reduces the probability that large , detectable leaks will occur . Our goal is to design systems that operate within normal operational parameters for the entirety of their useful life — so 10 , 15 or even 20 years of operation without refrigerant leaks affecting the system ’ s performance .
There are newer refrigerants , called hydrofluoroolefins ( HFOs ) that have lower global warming potential . There are also existing natural options like ammonia and propane that have benefits and drawbacks . New equipment and technology are appearing in the market , and owners concerned about the issue can discuss their options with their consultant .
With new technology , we try to figure out how to best integrate it into the systems we design . If we establish design standards and best practices , we can get better outcomes by knowing the optimal way to deploy new equipment . 6 P2S MAGAZINE
WINTER 2025