Throughout New England, the northeast and the nation, government officials, developers, owners and contractors more than ever before are now promoting environmentally friendly buildings as the rule, not the exception. But there is a saying among the Mechanical Insulation Industry Professionals: “Green construction has been our standard for over 100 years.” Mechanical insulation is the time-tested and proven technology of jacketing mechanical systems with insulation. It has been proven, time and time again in major projects, to provide many benefits, including reducing energy costs, enhancing the performance of mechanical systems, providing safety protection – and immediately reducing greenhouse emissions. American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) research shows that insulation does protect the environment. The ASHRAE states rather simply but emphatically in its literature that insulation reduces the number of tons of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.
In a December 2010 study, “Pipes Need Jackets Too,” HB Lanarc Consultants surveyed peer‐reviewed research and trade journals and interviewed a range of mechanical-insulation professionals and “identified actions that can be taken … that can save millions of dollars and eliminate thousands of tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year.” The report stated that mechanical insulation, “as one of the many components of a building energy system, plays an important role in improving energy efficiency, thereby mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and moving toward sustainable energy use.” Additionally, the report’s case studies indicated that energy savings associated with mechanical pipe insulation “can account for a significant proportion of overall building energy consumption.” This shows that without proper mechanical insulation, buildings consume more energy and, therefore, produce more greenhouse gas emissions than necessary. That is why the Mechanical Insulation Industry Professionals (MIIP) are prepared and trained to ensure that all insulation construction projects are LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified based on the LEED ecology-oriented building certification program run under the U.S. Green Building Council.
To help create a LEED-compliant sustainable environment in any new construction, the adequate and proper design, installation and thickness of insulation on all mechanical systems, such as hot water heating pipes and air ducts, dramatically reduces energy consumption and allows for more efficient and environmentally friendly buildings. For example, if a simple valve is properly insulated with 2-inches of insulation, the results are immediate. Within a year, that building would save 49 million BTU’s of heat loss, 7,600 pounds of CO2 emissions and 15 pounds of nitrogen oxide emissions. Many recent local construction projects are incorporating mechanical insulation within their specifications; working with MIIP, these buildings are targeted to attain green, environmentally friendly construction through the use of mechanical insulation. Harvard is rapidly pursuing construction of its science project in Allston, which would incorporate mechanical insulation installations performed by MIIP. The 500,000- to 600,000- square-foot health and life science center will be home to 500 stem-cell scientists, bioengineers, and support staff.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals new 18-story office towers on Fan Pier in Boston and the Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. 22-story, $300 million tower at the intersection of the Back Bay, South End, and Bay Village neighborhoods in Boston also are employing the green benefits of mechanical insulation.
For existing buildings, an energy audit provides facilities with a true maintenance program for management of piping and equipment – providing methods to realize the environmental advantages available through proper insulation maintenance. MIIP is a labor-management insulation industry organization in which member contractors and its skilled insulation workforce partner to enhance industry training and best practices.
Jack Lister is director of Mechanical Insulation Industry Professionals