Emissions decisions

Engineered Systems, June, 2005 by Robert Beverly

Now and then, if you're lucky, you get in a room with a bunch of really, really smart people. That's what happened to me last month in our nation's capital, at a Climate-Tech 2005 afternoon event honoring this year's recipients of the EPA's annual Climate and Ozone Protection Awards.

Even better, you'll be pleased to know that some of those people came from the HVACR world. While those in attendance covered a wide spectrum of perspectives, our own industry enjoyed healthy representation, Johnson Controls, York, and United Technologies Corporation were on hand, and the luncheon itself was sponsored by Danfoss Turbocor, who has been recognized for the past two years at this event.

DIFFERENT NAMES, SAME TEAM

What was the point of the session? That we need to figure out how to transcend the usual immediate concerns to collaborate on a strategy for curtailing climate change, and for dealing with the consequences that are too late to avoid. After a couple of regretfully convincing presentations from the EPA and the World Resources Institute (think water levels, crop yields, disease), this collection of private, nonprofit, and governmental minds discussed big goals and little tactics that have proved helpful in their own fields.

This interaction dovetailed with the point of speaker Dr. Durwood Zaelke, who proposes that the situation requires innovation and, more unusually, interplay among scientists, governments, private entities, et al. We will need a new spirit of mutual respect between government and business and environmental interests, he said, replacing the "logic of consequence" with a "logic of appropriateness" that promotes what he calls the rational actor model.

From there, it's obviously a short leap to the part where new technologies come in, developing products good for the environment and for the bottom line as well. For this to happen, he noted, we need brilliant engineers inspired to pursue sustainable technologies, a commitment from management to these ideas, and for some elements of the green movement to alter a stereotypical anti-market posture.

(Dr. Saelke is also involved in a "climate neutral campus" initiative, which sounds interesting, and he's co-written Industry Genius, featuring profiles of people and inventions protecting the climate and including chapters on Energy Star and Trane.)

The intersection of public and private involves other ideas discussed by the group, including rebates, regulations, emissions trading, and so forth. Even the occasional humorous pitfall came up, including the tale of how a Michigan effort to encourage the purchase of energy-efficient refrigerators actually led to more energy consumption. Why? Because often, it was discovered, a resident wouldn't get rid of the old refrigerator--he would put his new "spare refrigerator" in the garage and use it to keep the beer cold.

So even human nature can be an obstacle, but this was exactly the kind of forum that can improve the chances that both humans and nature can prosper and move forward, making the most of (and even making money from) the current situation while avoiding a more difficult future.

ADVISORY ADDITION

Finally, and appropriately given the above topic, this month we are very pleased to welcome Kevin Dickens, P.E. to our editorial advisory board. As you may recall, Kevin's first appearance in ES came via his "Sustainable & Attainable" column. There, he proved prescient in seeing how prominent the topic of green design would become in our industry, while remaining practical in his philosophy on bringing sustainability into everyday design work. Since then, he has shifted focus to feature articles on a range of topics. Regardless of the subject at hand, he explores issues green and otherwise by joining 16 years of experience with a lively writing style that often includes cameos from the "patient woman" who is his wife.

Regarding particulars, Dickens is a graduate of the University, of Missouri--Columbia. Today he is the Deputy Director of Mechanical Engineering for the St. Louis office of Jacobs Facilities, a subsidiary of Jacobs Engineering Group. He has worked on projects ranging from community centers and public schools to top secret command and control centers. While he is a LEED[R] AP, he reports that his green pedigree "goes back to my formative days working under former ASHRAE president and energy guru Bill Coad." We are especially glad Dickens finds as much time to contribute as he does, seeing as how he is also a father to three sons. Look for his article on underfloor air and IAQ, coming up next month.