HVAC and the Environment

Staff -- Consulting-Specifying Engineer, 10/1/2005

From the heart of the rain forest, environmental experts recently addressed the state of global warming, HVAC, sustainable design and the status of global environmental regulations. James Wolf, vice president and chairman of Environmental Policy Council for HVAC manufacturer Trane, was one of a number of speakers who addressed international attendees from the HVAC world at the FEBRAVA 2005 Trade Show in Sao Paulo, Brazil this past month.

Wolf, who is actively involved as a business advisor at the Montreal Protocol and Kyoto Protocol meetings, shared his perspective on the role that HVAC technologies play in meeting environmental priorities. Energy-efficient HVAC technologies, he said, can be at the forefront in reducing emissions and minimizing the threat to the global climate. The green building movement, especially in Brazil, is creating a wealth of opportunities for builders, engineers, contractors and facility managers to better serve their customers and protect the environment. But that said, to facilitate the adoption of more environmentally sound HVAC equipment, life-cycle cost purchasing must be built in and this must include the total cost of the energy savings that will be realized when operating the more efficient system.