NEENAH, Wis. - Mechanical system industry manufacturers, labor unions, contractor organizations, educators, students, consultants, individual contractors and many others have joined together to form the Green Mechanical Council (GreenMech).

The founding members include Watts-Radiant, HVAC Excellence, Legend Valve, Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA), Mechanical Service Contractors of America (MSCA), Mechanical Contractors Education and Research Foundation (MCERF), the FloorHeat Co., the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA), and Ferris State University.

GreenMech, is an international not-for-profit organization formed in part, “to bring bold, decisive, and innovative action to the critical question of global warming. GreenMech members believe that no less than the planet’s future is at stake,” according to Dan Chiles, GreenMech chairman of the board of directors.

During a press conference held at the 2007 International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo), GreenMech issued a challenge to the structural mechanical system industry.

“Almost every mechanical system in the 5 million commercial buildings and 125 million homes in the United States are obsolete,” said Chiles. “The rising price of fuels, the scarcity of fresh water, the growing waste streams, and our rising impact on global warming demand improvements in our homes and our businesses.

“We can’t all build new buildings on green grassy hilltops, so we have to improve what we’ve got. This is hard and it’s complex work, and it will require the cooperation of manufacturers, designers, installers, service techs, educators, and the government.”

“We join with the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and many others by rising to the 2030 Challenge,” he continued. “We accept the challenge to meet building performance targets of a reduction in fossil fuel consumption by 60 percent before 2010,” with the end result being a goal of totally carbon neutral buildings by 2030.

Chiles went on to issue the challenge: “The mechanical system industry can significantly contribute to meeting the carbon reduction challenge sooner and more effectively than any other industry. We have the designers, installers and service technicians in position now ... today ... to affect real and significant reduction of carbon fuels and greenhouse gases. The members of GreenMech will provide a clearinghouse of information, education and networking to enable these professionals to meet the challenge.”

For more information, visit www.greenmech.org.

Publication date: 02/19/2007