Articles by Austin Keating

Pipefitters, welders, and electricians face uphill battles and legal hurdles when breaking ties with unions. Recent cases highlight how complex, costly, and drawn-out “leaving the union” can be for sheet metal and HVAC pros.

A new Boiler Trade Program launched in 2024 trains the next generation of boiler technicians through a blend of hands-on classroom instruction and supervised fieldwork.

From liquid cooling and insulation to modular construction and regulatory risk. Here are the top data center MEP design trends that a panel of experts, convened on an ES NEWS webinar, are seeing.  

Inside the real-world headaches, maintenance procedures, and wins of Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF)/ technology. 

Copper update: Trump’s last–minute exemption for refined copper metal sends prices tumbling nearly 20% overnight.

As small towns and exurbs invest millions in new sports facilities, the real MVPs might be behind the scenes – where advances in HVAC insulation technology help keep crowds comfortable and city budgets in the black.

Both groups see unfinished business on the table. SMACNA flagged disappointment that several contractor-friendly residential tax credits (25C, 25D, 45L) are set to expire after 2025 or 2026. ABC is pushing for continued momentum on regulatory reform to help contractors stay competitive.

University of Florida researchers advance orbital manufacturing by testing precision metal fabrication techniques for spacecraft assembly.

Beyond 179D, the letter also presses Congress to preserve residential energy efficiency credits — Sections 25C, 25D, and 45L — which are set to expire under both the House and Senate bills. 

The OMB memorandum clarifies that federal agencies must use PLAs on major construction projects unless they can demonstrate — through market research — that such agreements would significantly reduce competition or drive up costs beyond government budgets.