HPAC On The Air

Springtime For A.I., with Rob McManamy

Sat, 04 Apr 2026 14:29:17 -0300

*PODCAST* Whether you like it or not, artificial intelligence is part of this industry now and its impact is being felt more and more each day. Where is your firm on this journey? Listen to HPAC Engineering's latest take on this game-changing technology.

ENERGY STAR Gets a New Home, by Rob McManamy

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 17:15:04 -0300

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced last spring that it was considering ending or privatizing its popular, 30-year-old program for promoting energy efficiency in buildings and products across the U.S. But industry pushed back with so much bipartisan support for maintaining ENERGY STAR as is that Congress decided to keep the program in its FY2026 budget.

This month, however, EPA restarted debate and speculation when it announced that it would be transferring primary administration of the program to the U.S. Department of Energy.

The A.I. Revolution is Accelerating, with Tech Pioneer Paul Doherty

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 18:41:01 -0400

Engineering technology is now at a "watershed moment," says the Smart Cities guru. Artificial intelligence is already performing more than just administrative tasks at design firms, notes Doherty. The last remaining hurdle may be convincing clients that new designs generated in hours are just as reliable as the ones that used to take weeks to complete.

BIG Show Recap, with AHR Expo's Nicole Bush

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 13:01:41 -0400

In the wake of our industry's massive turnout in Las Vegas for AHR Expo 2026, we talk to the event's director of marketing about what was new and surprising this year and what attendees and exhibitors can expect to see next fall in Mexico and next January in Chicago.

Farewell Johnny Tundra, Hello Big Picture, with Rob McManamy

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 19:37:19 -0400

This month's editorial essay bids farewell to beloved commissioning engineer, Ron Wilkinson, creator of The Adventures of Johnny Tundra: Cold-Weather Engineer, and perhaps the only film critic who ever focused exclusively on the proper use of HVAC systems in popular movies? (Were the ducts that Bruce Willis was crawling through in Die Hard properly sized?)

But Ron's passing last month, and the glowing tributes to him that have poured in, also gives us opportunity to remember the truly meaningful impact that engineers in this industry can have on each other, as well as the public at large. At the end of the day, the reason most readers got into this industry was to contribute something larger to society.

For more, click to listen...

The Winding Road Ahead, with Rob McManamy

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 21:23:27 -0400

As we enter 2026 and prepare for our industry's biggest annual tradeshow, AHR Expo, which coincides next month with ASHRAE's Winter Conference in Las Vegas, there is palpable anxiety in the air on multiple fronts.

The daily assault of dizzying headlines and unprecedented news has left many of us unsettled and uncertain about the road ahead. But for our industry at least, there is still considerable optimism for 2026. Here, HPAC Editor Rob McManamy reviews some of the latest industry developments to offer another quick take on where the economy seems to be headed this month...

Hope Is in The Air, with Dr. Stephanie Taylor, M.D.

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 13:11:36 -0400

Expanding on her current HPAC cover story, the renowned IAQ expert, architect, and medical doctor tells us why this post-pandemic moment offers "a golden opportunity" for improving both the health of our buildings and their occupants.

Breathing Easier, with Rob McManamy

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 22:23:33 -0400

As the year draws to a close, HPAC's editor takes stock of the progress, promise, and "golden" opportunity now fueling the potential for generational change in indoor environmental quality.

Promoting Indoor Environmental Quality, with ASHRAE's Bill McQuade

Sat, 15 Nov 2025 22:57:59 -0400

Energy efficiency and decarbonization have dominated the HVACR stage in recent years, but ASHRAE's 2025-26 president is determined to turn the spotlight on IEQ before building owners forget the lessons of the pandemic.

Navigating a Data Desert, with Rob McManamy

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 14:49:17 -0400

With the government shutdown now in its second month, industry economists find themselves in an unusually precarious situation. This fall, forecasters are trying to make predictions for 2026 without the benefit of their usual monthly supply of essential government statistics. Imagine trying to read a crystal ball while wearing a blindfold. Here, Rob McManamy discusses the predicament.

Plumbing Engineers Growing Together, with ASPE's Bryan Hutton

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 15:25:56 -0300

HPAC On The Air welcomes back the president of the American Society of Plumbing Engineers to give us a halftime report on his two-year term in office. Much is happening regarding codes and infrastructure repairs, he says, but the key to it all will be project team-building and multi-discipline collaboration.

Preventing Conflicts, Preserving Relationships, with Rob McManamy

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 14:59:33 -0300

This month's editorial focuses on a new push among some of the best construction lawyers to help engineers, contractors and owners to prevent project disputes BEFORE they actually happen. After that, the cost to the bottom line and to relationships is almost always just too high. Listen up for more details about to become a part of the 'dispute prevention' movement...

Legionella and Beyond, with Engineer Microbiologist Dr. Abraham Cullom

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 00:56:26 -0300

Recent outbreaks in New York City, Ohio, and Iowa remind us that water-borne pathogens in water systems are still out there. And water conservation efforts today even require heightened scrutiny. Listen to these insights and more from Dr. Abe Cullom, Director of Water Safety and Management at the Special Pathogens Laboratory in Pittsburgh.

10 Forecasts for 2026, with Rob McManamy

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 16:40:39 -0300

We dive into the latest update to the AIA Consensus Construction Forecast and see what 10 industry experts are now predicting for next year. Not surprisingly, many expectations hinge on the durability of the market's capacity for more and more data centers...

Our Industry's Universal Language, with Rob McManamy

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 13:58:19 -0300

Our latest editorial looks at the impact of engineering on international relations and the cooperative example that ASHRAE and other global industry groups are still setting in these most divisive times...

Igniting Fire Protection Urgency, with NFPA's Jim Pauley

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 15:45:53 -0300

Jim Pauley is worried. The CEO of the National Fire Protection Association was already concerned that complacency and overconfidence were raising risk levels across our buildings stock. But now the latest wave of deregulation has forced NFPA to launch its first-ever national publicity campaign.

Inflation, Tariffs, and One Big Beautiful Pulse Check, with Rob McManamy

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 20:15:00 -0300

Just days after a massive new federal funding package was signed into law this month, new data showed inflation returning and higher than expected tariffs taking effect. Here, HPAC Engineering reviews some of the wide range of emotions our industry has been expressing so far.

Engineering 'Lightning Poll' Results, with ACEC's Daphne Bryant

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 11:42:20 -0300

The ACEC Research Institute's executive director walks us through some encouraging recent data from the American Council of Engineering Companies. She also invites our audience to participate in additional ongoing research.

AI's Inroads into Engineering, with Rob McManamy

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 15:27:07 -0300

The signs are everywhere. Artificial intelligence will have its biggest impact yet on our industry in 2025. This month's episode of HPAC: Editor's Notes looks at compelling new data on the growing use of AI in engineering, design and construction. Are you ready?

Attracting Engineering Talent, with ASHRAE's Jennifer Leach and Keith Hammelman

Sun, 01 Jun 2025 01:09:09 -0300

'HPAC On The Air' welcomes veteran engineers Jennifer Leach and Keith Hammelman, who will both be presenting this June at the 2025 ASHRAE Annual Conference in Phoenix. Their topic? Next-generation engineering talent. "How to Get'em; How to Keep'em."

On The Economy, with Rob McManamy

Thu, 15 May 2025 16:28:56 -0300

The economic news has been fast and furious this spring and more than a few headlines are in conflict. Here, we briefly review the latest from Fed Chair Jerome Powell and other industry voices as we try get a better picture of the road ahead.

Navigating Uncertainty, with Economist Richard Branch

Thu, 01 May 2025 14:04:00 -0300

At this time of extraordinary economic disruption, 'HPAC On The Air' welcomes back longtime industry analyst Richard Branch for his take on how design and construction firms can manage best in the face of a potential recession.

EPA Resets, Engineers Stay Focused, with Rob McManamy

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 19:22:19 -0300

In March, the Environmental Protection Agency announced plans to roll back more than 30 regulations and de-emphasize the monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions. Since our industry is already heavily invested in decarbonization, we spoke with a number of key engineering leaders to gauge their reaction.

Protecting Your Business, with Nick Espinosa

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 11:21:10 -0300

HPAC 'On The Air' welcomes back cybersecurity expert Nick Espinosa to discuss the latest onslaught of technology threats and how engineers and contractors can best protect themselves in this constantly changing environment.

Economics Pulse Check, with Rob McManamy

Sat, 15 Mar 2025 15:13:12 -0300

In this extraordinarily turbulent month, especially regarding tariffs and their tangible effect on our industry, we take a look at what industry economists are seeing in the latest data...

Breaking Barriers, Listening to Customers, with ABMA's Nancy Simoneau

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 20:45:29 -0400

The new board chair of the American Boiler Manufacturers Association is not only the first-ever woman to fill that role, she is also the first non-U.S. member to lead the 137-year-old trade group. Here, Simoneau joins us to discuss the unique perspective and infectious energy that will drive her leadership for the next two years.

Green Building Pulse Check, with USGBC's Liz Beardsley

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 14:00:34 -0400

With the U.S. now out of the Paris Agreement once again, questions are swirling around the state of our industry's sustainability efforts. USGBC Senior Policy Counsel Elizabeth Beardsley joins us to discuss that, as well as the recent COP29 conference in Azerbaijan. Much progress is still happening on many fronts, she says.

2025 Forecast Bullish, Despite Angst, by Rob McManamy

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 10:21:02 -0400

Infrastructure and data center projects will drive our industry this year. But new variables are mounting regarding potential disruptions to construction labor and the supply chain.

Divided Nation, Focused Industry, with Rob McManamy

Sat, 14 Dec 2024 23:25:55 -0400

Our latest Editor's Notes looks back on a trying election cycle that has redoubled this industry's determination to make 2025 a resilient success.

Finding Meaning and Purpose, with ASHRAE President Dennis Knight

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 12:23:48 -0400

HPAC On The Air this month welcomes ASHRAE's 2024-25 President, who describes how youth and new technology are enhancing the Society's global mission.

Inspiring Women to Lead, with Rob McManamy

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 14:08:39 -0400

EDITOR'S NOTES: "Firehose of solidarity?" This fall's first-ever ASHRAE Women in Leadership Symposium was truly extraordinary. Our editor-in-chief was there and explains why this meeting was so different.

Fitting Connections, with New ASPE President Bryan Hutton

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 09:40:43 -0300

Our guest this month is Bryan Hutton, the very new president of the American Society of Plumbing Engineers. A chemical engineer atop his own composites manufacturing firm, Hutton is also the first-ever African-American to lead ASPE. Listen to his refreshing and positive perspectives here.

Making New History, with Rob McManamy

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 13:44:52 -0300

Our latest Editor's Notes podcast explains the vintage design of our new print issue, announces some overdue changes to our Editorial Advisory Board, and takes the pre-election pulse of a very healthy U.S. economy.

Fall Flashback to 1929, with Rob McManamy

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 17:08:19 -0300

This month's episode of HPAC Editor's Notes looks at the three editorials from the September 1929 issue of Heating, Piping and Air Conditioning magazine. Observations note how "technical interests stimulate business"; how Chicagoans were "amazed" to see a German zeppelin (no, not that one) sail over Lake Michigan; and how engineering schools all over the world were starting to do more scientific research.

HPAC History, ASHRAE 241, and Engineering Education, with Bill Bahnfleth

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 22:57:01 -0300

This month, HPAC 'On The Air' welcomes back Dr. Bill Bahnfleth, ASHRAE past president, former chair of its ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force, and longtime professor of architectural engineering at Penn State University. Bahnfleth's father Donald also served as editor of HPAC Engineering throughout the 1960s, and later became ASHRAE president, himself. So there is much to unpack in this wide-ranging episode...

Helping Each Other, with Rob McManamy

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 15:32:43 -0300

A thunderous brushback by a burst of nighttime tornadoes reminds our editor-in-chief of the importance of community and the inescapable fact that we are all in this together.

Certifying Fans and Blowers, with AMCA's Mike Wolf

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 12:33:19 -0300

'HPAC On The Air' this month welcomes longtime Greenheck Fan Corp. exec Mike Wolf, PE, the 2023-24 president of the Air Movement and Control Association (AMCA) International, where he will also serve as the group's 2024-25 chairman. Now in his 39th year at Greenheck, Wolf today is the manufacturer's director of regulatory business development. He speaks with us here about a subject near and dear to him: product certification. Along the way, Wolf and host Rob McManamy also reflect on our industry's amazing evolution over the last four decades...

Modern Parallels to July 1929, with Rob McManamy

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 12:49:08 -0300

This month, we again revisit HPAC's first year in service to our industry with a fascinating time capsule from 95 years ago. Listen to some of our editorial commentary then on improving air quality in cities, the engineering value of journeyman input, and the need to create piping codes across the U.S. that conform with one another...

How to Be a Sustainable Engineer, with Larry Clark

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 11:22:59 -0300

'HPAC On The Air' welcomes back the longtime Clark's Remarks columnist to talk about heat domes, environmental regulation, and how he "walks the talk" of his sustainability evangelism.

Women in HVACR History, with Rob McManamy

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 09:13:31 -0300

EDITOR'S NOTES: Women are playing an increasingly vital role in our industry today. Here, we take a look back on the path of that progress, in HVACR and society, over the 95 years of HPAC Engineering's existence.

Women Marching Forward, with ASHRAE's Nancy Kohout

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 14:38:41 -0300

This fall in Chicago, ASHRAE will hold its first-ever national symposium for Women Engineers. Event chair Nancy Kohout, P.E., joins us for a preview, as well a discussion of the unique challenges women managers still face, even as our industry ramps up next-generation recruitment...

Honoring Our Roots, with Rob McManamy

Wed, 15 May 2024 13:51:28 -0300

As HPAC Engineering this month celebrates its 95th anniversary, we look back on our first words to readers in 1929, along with a guest commentary by Willis Carrier, himself.

Advancing Fire Safety, with NFPA's Jim Pauley

Wed, 01 May 2024 11:28:42 -0300

The National Fire Protection Association is on a mission to share its updated codes and standards as far and as wide as possible. NFPA President and CEO Jim Pauley returns to HPAC On The Air to detail the group's ambitious plan to better educate our industry on life/safety solutions via acquisitions and even a new subsidiary.

Standing Strong with Rob McManamy, Notes from HPAC's Editor-in-Chief

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 11:41:25 -0300

To celebrate our 95th year of publication, HPAC Engineering launches its new monthly podcast, HPAC Editor's Notes, commenting on important issues of the day, as viewed by Editor-in-Chief Rob McManamy.

Previewing BOILER 2024 with ABMA's Scott Lynch

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 13:12:22 -0300

Boiler manufacturers are headed for the Rockies this May. We discuss what they'll find there at ABMA's second big show for the entire boiler supply chain. Scott Lynch and Shaunica Jayson give us a preview.

ASHRAE's Next Generation, with YEA's Top Leaders

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 11:34:39 -0400

The challenges facing young engineers today are more complex than ever, but our guests this month reassure us that the energy, skills, and organization are already coming together to meet them head on.

COP28 Recap, with USGBC's Liz Beardsley

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 22:59:51 -0400

Frustrations ran high at the annual global climate summit in Dubai in December, but our guest says there were still more than a few positive takeaways for our industry. U.S. Green Building Council senior policy counsel Elizabeth Beardsley returns to give us her report...

2024 Forecast, with Dodge’s Richard Branch

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 12:13:58 -0400

With last year now in the books, we chat with Dodge Construction Network's chief economist about his upbeat outlook for 2024. How did we manage to avoid that long-predicted recession? What potential roadblocks are still out there? Listen in for all the details!

Episode XXX: New Refrigerants Deadlines, with ICC’s Jim Cika

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 15:45:03 -0300

The long-awaited, federally mandated switch to A2L refrigerants is now upon us, set to take effect on January 1. Jim Cika of the International Code Council (ICC) returns to HPAC On The Air to update us on the flurry of activities now under way to help our industry prepare for these major related code changes.

EPISODE XXIX: Climate Challenge Accepted, with ASHRAE’s Ginger Scoggins

Sun, 01 Oct 2023 13:18:47 -0300

HPAC 'On The Air' welcomes back Ginger Scoggins, since June the new 2023-24 President of ASHRAE. A mechanical engineer, Ms. Scoggins is a principal at Engineered Designs Inc., in Cary, NC, and past chair of ASHRAE's Building Headquarters Ad Hoc Committee. She also led ASHRAE's delegation to the United Nations' COP26 Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in late 2021. She first appeared on this podcast early last year to help us recap that event.

Here, Ms. Scoggins talks about ASHRAE's newly vital role on the world stage and the vital role next-generation engineers are already playing.

EPISODE XXVIII: CyberSecurity Wake-Up Call, with Nick Espinosa

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 20:35:15 -0300

Our returning guest this month is Nick Espinosa, a nationally renowned cybersecurity expert, author, podcaster, TEDx speaker and a member of the Forbes Technology Council. In 2015 outside Chicago, Nick started his own consulting firm, Security Fanatics, from which he has been monitoring the broader internet, as well as the Dark Web, and consulting to a number of industries, including our own for engineering and construction. We last spoke to Nick on this podcast in early 2021 and he hosted a webinar for HPAC readers on cybersecurity later that year. He rejoins us now for an always urgent update...

EPISODE XXVII: Celebrating 10 Years of Clark’s Remarks

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 18:56:20 -0300

In this episode, HPAC 'On the Air' welcomes back environmental engineer Larry Clark, author of our popular Clark's Remarks sustainability column, which this summer is celebrating its 10th anniversary with HPAC Engineering. Based in South Florida, Larry is a small business owner, a longtime member of ASHRAE, and a member of our Editorial Advisory Board. He was also our first guest on this podcast more than two years ago. Here, Larry reflects on both his column and the growth of the sustainability movement over the last tumultuous decade.

EPISODE XXVI: Legionella Update, with Dr. Janet Stout

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 11:37:06 -0300

In this episode, HPAC 'On the Air' welcomes Dr. Janet Stout, founder of the Special Pathogens Laboratory and an associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering. An infectious disease microbiologist, Dr. Stout is recognized worldwide for her pioneering research in Legionella and now, after three decades, remains on a mission to End Legionnaires’ disease. She updates us here on where that mission is today.

EPISODE XXV: Finding The Right Balance, with AMCA’s Mark Bublitz

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 13:14:49 -0300

In this episode, HPAC 'On the Air' welcomes Mark Bublitz, new board president of the Air Movement and Control Association, International (AMCA). He discusses the whirlwind of regulatory changes now on the horizon for both commercial and industrial fans and takes us behind the scenes of a truly global association in an era of renewed focus on air movement technology.

EPISODE XXIV: Boilers Take Center Stage, with ABMA

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 10:39:43 -0300

HPAC 'On the Air' this month welcomes back Scott Lynch, President and CEO of the American Boiler Manufacturers Association, based in Vienna, VA. Scott has served in that role since June of 2014. He is joined by ABMA Director of Communications Shaunica Jayson. Much is going on with the organization this spring and summer, so we asked the two of them to fill us in.

Episode XXIII: Decarbonization in Action, with ASHRAE’s Kent Peterson

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 16:09:14 -0400

This month's guest is Kent Peterson, the new chair of ASHRAE's Task Force on Building Decarbonization, which is now in its second year. In the wake of ASHRAE's Winter Meeting in Atlanta and the recent COP27 Climate Conference in Egypt, we discussed how the task force is now gaining momentum and leveraging the efforts of more than 100 volunteers to share the information it has gathered with every corner of the global society.

EPISODE XXII: AHR Expo Preview, with Nicole Bush

Tue, 17 Jan 2023 15:16:58 -0400

HPAC On The Air's first guest of 2023 is Nicole Bush, press officer for AHR Expo, our industry's premier annual trade show, set to jumpstart the new year next month in Atlanta. Based in Connecticut, the AHR Expo show office runs year-round, so Nicole is here to preview the big event and give us a bit of a behind-the-scenes look at how it all comes together...

EPISODE XXI: COP27 Recap with USGBC’s Elizabeth Beardsley

Wed, 21 Dec 2022 16:19:54 -0400

Just back from Egypt, the U.S. Green Building Council's lead emissary to the latest United Nations Climate Conference, aka "COP27", fills us in on the global event's most relevant news for our industry, as well as its likely impact on broader sustainability efforts.

EPISODE XX: Pandemic Pulse Check, with ASHRAE’s Bill Bahnfleth

Tue, 22 Nov 2022 12:35:49 -0400

We are pleased to welcome back this month our first return guest to HPAC On The Air, Dr. William Bahnfleth, P.E., former chair of ASHRAE's recently ended emergency Epidemic Task Force, and current vice chair of the society's Environmental Health Committee. He updates us on the latest pandemic-related guidance for indoor air quality (IAQ) and reflects on the state of our industry as it still strives to make both new and existing buildings healthier for their occupants.

Episode XIX: Honoring the Profession, with ASPE’s Jim Zebrowski

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 12:26:28 -0300

Our guest this month is Jim Zebrowski, P.E., new president of the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE), and a plumbing /fire protection engineer with DLR Group. Zebrowski has been an active member of ASPE for 36 years now and was elected to the top spot for a two-year term this September in Indianapolis. He spoke with us about the goals of his presidency and his views on the role of character in all that we do.

Episode XVIII: Construction Technology Outlook, with Burcin Kaplanoglu

Fri, 12 Aug 2022 16:47:53 -0300

Our guest this month is Dr. Burcin Kaplanoglu, VP of Innovation at the new Oracle Industry Lab in Deerfield, IL. An avid technologist blessed with energetic curiosity, Kaplanoglu previously spent 15 years with Lendlease and holds multiple degrees in civil engineering and construction management. Today, he also serves as an adjunct professor at Northwestern University and chairs an advisory committee to the A.I. in Construction Institute at the Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Episode XVII: Our Smaller World, with ASHRAE’s New President

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 14:56:25 -0300

Our guest this month, joining us from Dubai, is the newly elected 2022-2023 President of ASHRAE, Mr. Farooq Mehboob, the society's first Asian-born president. An accomplished mechanical engineer with more than 50 years of industry experience, Mr. Mehboob is the founder and owner of his own engineering firm, S. Mehboob & Co., based in Karachi, Pakistan. There, he is also a founding member and current chair of the Pakistan HVACR Society. Here, he speaks with us about the theme of his presidential year, "Securing Our Future," and the urgent necessity of international cooperation and collaboration among engineers to solve our planet's most pressing problems.

Episode XVI: Refrigerant Standards Update, with ICC’s Jim Cika

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 12:06:46 -0300

As we enter an already steamy summer, our subject this month is refrigerants, and our guest is Jim Cika, director of PMG technical resources for the International Code Council, where he serves as a subject matter expert on plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas and swimming pool and spa codes. Jim represents ICC in federal and state coalitions, task forces, committees, and councils where expertise in I-Code subjects is required. With more than 20 years of industry experience in manufacturing and construction, including time as an HVAC design engineer, he holds a mechanical engineering degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. Here, he previews major code changes on A2L refrigerants that will impact our industry much sooner than many may realize...

Episode XV: Fire Protection Pulse Check, with NFPA President Jim Pauley

Fri, 20 May 2022 17:26:08 -0300

Our guest this month is Mr. Jim Pauley, President and CEO of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), where he also chairs the NFPA Research Foundation. Prior to joining NFPA in 2014, Pauley had spent 30 years in the electric and energy industry, serving the last several of those years as a Senior Vice President at Schneider Electric. An electrical engineer by training, he has also served the industry in a number of other leadership roles, perhaps most notably as Chair of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Episode XIV: Updating ASHRAE Standards on Ultraviolet Testing, with Dean Saputa

Wed, 20 Apr 2022 14:57:47 -0300

Our guest is Dean Saputa, an HVAC industry veteran of more than 30 years, and vice president and co-founder of UV Resources, based in Santa Clarita, CA. He helped to start that firm in 2005. Saputa also has been very active in ASHRAE, where he is a member of the ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force and past chair of the group's Technical Committee 2.9 on Ultraviolet Air and Surface Treatment. He is the current chair of ASHRAE Standards Committee 185.2, which has been particularly active since the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic in early 2020. Our discussion focuses on that committee's ongoing work, which is about to involve some significant updates.

Title: Episode XIII: ’HPAC On The Air’ Celebrates Women in Engineering

Mon, 21 Mar 2022 15:36:16 -0300

This month's guest is ASHRAE's Ginger Scoggins, who has run her own engineering firm in Cary, NC, for the last 25 years. She also recently represented ASHRAE at the UN Climate Conference in Scotland, and led the committee overseeing the building of the organization's new Net Zero headquarters outside Atlanta... all during the pandemic!

Episode XII: ASHRAE’s New Focus on Decarbonization

Mon, 14 Feb 2022 14:38:26 -0400

HPAC 'On The Air' welcomes two past presidents of ASHRAE, Dr. Donald Colliver of the University of Kentucky, and Thomas Phoenix, of Mechanical Contractors Inc. in Charlotte NC. Last spring, they were named as co-chairs of ASHRAE's new Task Force for Building Decarbonization (TFBD), an important new effort they will detail for us in this podcast.

Episode XI: Prepare for BOILER 2022, with ABMA

Fri, 14 Jan 2022 19:31:40 -0400

Delayed by the pandemic, the American Boiler Manufacturers Association's big new show on the supply chain is finally near. ABMA's Shaunica Jayson and Webster Combustion Technology's Eric Graham explain why that's such a big deal.

Episode X: COP26 Report from USGBC‘s Elizabeth Beardsley

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 14:03:39 -0400

Our guest today is Elizabeth Beardsley, senior policy counsel for the U.S. Green Building Council, which she represented in November at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, or 'COP26', for short. A longtime environmental advocate, Liz holds a civil engineering degree from Stanford University and a law degree from the University of Virginia. She speaks here on key COP26 takeaways and also highlights important climate components in the new federal infrastructure funding.

Episode IX: Connecting with ASHRAE President Mick Schwedler

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 17:27:47 -0300

This month's engaging guest is Mick Schwedler, P.E., the 2021-2022 President of ASHRAE, installed last June. Now in his 40th year at Trane, Mick is passionate about the next generation and ASHRAE's stated commitment to serve humanity, especially during this extraordinary time. Here, we speak with him about ASHRAE's evolving role through the global pandemic and its new focus now on decarbonization and organizational equity and inclusion. Listen and learn how that all fits in to the theme for his ongoing year as society president: “Personal Growth. Global Impact. Feed the Roots.”

Episode VIII: How Cyber Secure Are You? with Nick Espinosa

Mon, 04 Oct 2021 10:29:23 -0300

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, so our special guest is online "security fanatic" Nick Espinosa, the Mechanical Contractors Association of America's go-to consultant and a member of the Forbes Technology Council. A sought-after speaker across multiple industries, Nick is a prolific podcaster and social media thought leader focused 24/7 on business vulnerabilities and how to reduce growing cyber risks, both at work and at home. Oh, and if you think your engineering firm has nothing to worry about, you are almost certainly wrong, he says.

Episode VII: Inside the Epidemic Task Force, with Dr. Bill Bahnfleth

Thu, 02 Sep 2021 17:18:50 -0300

This month, ASHRAE's pandemic point man takes us behind the scenes for a fascinating look at the last 18 months of urgent collaboration, research, recommendations, and now hope, all fueled by a global public health emergency that is still ongoing.

Episode VI: Airborne Health Strategies, with Dr. Linsey Marr

Mon, 02 Aug 2021 09:26:33 -0300

In our new podcast, columnist Larry Clark interviews Virginia Tech engineering Prof. Linsey Marr about her extraordinary year in the COVID spotlight as one of our industry's most quoted (and respected) experts on indoor air quality.

Episode V: Buildings Wellness Check, with Rick Fedrizzi

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 16:09:27 -0300

In our latest episode, the Carrier alum who co-founded USGBC and helped to launch both LEED and WELL Certification now tells us how "engineers are at the center of the storm" in the post-pandemic race to make buildings healthier.

Episode IV: Riding the Winds of Change with AMCA International

Fri, 28 May 2021 13:35:57 -0300

In our latest podcast, AMCA's Mike Ivanovich and Aaron Gunzner discuss the global group's challenging journey through the pandemic and the profound changes that will now shape the future of air movement and control in the built environment.

Episode III: How Boiler Firms Have Survived and Thrived, with Scott Lynch

Mon, 19 Apr 2021 15:25:39 -0300

In our latest podcast, ABMA President Scott Lynch talks about the many challenges his group has faced in the last year and the shifting strategies that so far have managed to succeed.

Episode II : Our Year of Living Digitally, with ASHRAE President Chuck Gulledge

Fri, 19 Mar 2021 17:55:27 -0300

For our second podcast, HPAC Engineering's Rob McManamy chats with ASHRAE President Chuck Gulledge, to discuss the international engineering group's extraordinary year of digital transformation during an all-encompassing crisis.

Incredibly, even before 2020, Gulledge had already chosen the "Digital Lighthouse" as the theme of his presidency. Little did he know that we would ALL be living that concept remotely for most of last year and into the foreseeable future. Here, Gulledge reviews how his 53,000-member professional organization and its 198 chapters worldwide pivoted to a new, virtual reality, while opening a new headquarters outside Atlanta, and amassing its expertise to advise governments everywhere on the indoor air quality risks and recommended remedies for operating buildings safely during this once-per-century pandemic.

Our earlier interview with Gulledge from last fall...

https://www.hpac.com/association-solutions/article/21145587/ashraes-digital-lighthouse-now-a-beacon

Episode I : The Current State of Sustainability, with Larry Clark

Tue, 16 Feb 2021 16:37:09 -0400

For our first podcast, HPAC Editor Rob McManamy sits down with the author of Clark's Remarks, our popular bimonthly column on all things sustainability.