A Study Conducted by Jerry Yudelson

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Fossil fuels and their impacts on global warming and social order are pushing building owners and developers toward projects that mandate much higher levels of energy efficiency.  The challenge is that this efficiency needs to be provided while actively supporting the overall building project goals including architectural, operational and occupant comfort.  The result is the need for a “high performance” building where the building systems are pushed to deliver more, without necessarily costing more.  In the U.S., we are comfortable with the mechanical systems in broad use today. Other countries around the world, however…especially specific European countries, are long experienced in high-performance building systems using different concepts, technologies, products, systems.  The Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation (MCERF) is proud to sponsor this landmark study by noted “green” authority, Jerry Yudelson.

Responding to the Challenge of Our Age…the Challenge of Our Lives
In this report, Yudelson investigates several leading edge European approaches to high performance mechanical systems.  He gleaned this intelligence by going to Europe, speaking with a number of systems experts there, and looking at how European approaches could potentially be applied for use in North American markets.  Yudelson presents a number of potential options, follows it with in-depth research, and finally reports on site visits to selected projects and interviews with European experts, which he conducted in February, April and June, 2008.  

The results are interesting in a number of respects. First, we discover several potential technologies that should be considered for use on projects in North America. Each of these technologies, however, presents its own challenges. Each must not only be properly designed, but must be carefully selected based on the project type, cost considerations and environmental conditions. In many cases, the systems Yudelson encountered used familiar components and climate-control mechanisms in different ways, but he believes there is little that experienced mechanical contractors should find overly challenging.  As with all climate control systems, for example, each must be properly commissioned, serviced and maintained to ensure operation in compliance with design intent.  

MCERF believes that mechanical contractors and engineers have much to learn from the European experience, and we are pleased to bring some of this experience to your attention.