The Link Between Mechanical Engineering and Green Building Certifications

Necessity has always been the mother of invention, and as the world has steadily begun to focus more on building greener, engineers are finding their roles becoming increasingly important.

Mechanical engineers worldwide play a crucial role in designing new and innovative systems that address the growing need for sustainable buildings. From the simplest mechanisms all the way to complex integrated systems, every step of a mechanical process presents the potential for someone to build greener. With these developments on the rise, it’s an exciting time to be in this field.

But how does this link to green building certifications, specifically? Mechanical engineering certifications have long been the standard for assessing whether a mechanical engineer is meeting standards. However, with a new emphasis on sustainable building reshaping the field, green building certifications have introduced a new set of standards that must be met.

Today, we’re exploring both to uncover the connection between mechanical engineering and green building certifications.

What does a mechanical engineer do?

Mechanical engineering involves designing systems that make structures more habitable, efficient, and safe. When it comes to building projects, it’s the role of a mechanical engineer to design, test, and maintain everything that sits in the guts of a building. Think heating and ventilation systems, industrial machinery, renewable energy setups, and even the plumbing and fire systems that keep buildings safe and functional.

In short, if the air you are breathing is clean, the temperature is consistent, and the systems behind the walls are operating properly, then you have a mechanical engineer to thank.

Traditionally, the core of mechanical engineering certifications was to train engineers who focus on building safe, high-performing systems. That is still the case, but with green building certifications becoming increasingly prevalent, the training of engineers has evolved to include sustainability as a core factor.

There is a massive push for greener buildings right now, and that means mechanical engineers are now central to designing low-impact, energy-efficient systems that reduce waste and support greener goals. Speaking of which…

What are green building certifications?

Green building certifications are independent standards that engineers, inspectors, and governments use to assess the environmental sustainability of a building. It’s one thing to say that a building is greener, but these certifications prove it.

There are global systems, such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), BREEAM, and WELL, all of which have set the benchmark for sustainable design and construction. In New Zealand, we have more specific systems, such as Green Star and NABERSNZ, that serve as the gold standard.

Across the board, green building certifications assess things like:

•         How efficiently energy and water are used in the building
•         The quality of the indoor environment
•         Where materials are sourced and how any waste is managed
•         How the building operates and is maintained

To achieve a certification, a building must be designed sustainably and must also perform sustainably once it’s occupied. That’s where a mechanical engineer comes in.

What role do mechanical engineers play in attaining green building certifications?

Put simply? A huge one.

Mechanical engineering certifications train professionals to be the backbone of the sustainable building process. Acquiring any of the numerous green building certifications absolutely requires having mechanical engineers on-site, as they are responsible for translating the sustainability goals outlined by a given certification system into real, practical plans that deliver the desired outcomes.

That plays out in practice in a few measurable ways, namely:

•  Devising HVAC systems that run on less energy and emit less harmful materials.
• Designing more efficient plumbing and greywater systems that reduce water waste, or even provide avenues for water to be reused.
• Creating ventilation and filtration systems that run on minimal power but create peak indoor air quality.
• Informing the commissioning process from pre-design all the way through to handover, often providing the data required for verifying that the green building certifications have been met.

In short, there is a growing overlap between these two areas. Sustainability standards are evolving, which means mechanical engineering certifications are also evolving in tandem. Engineers are now expected to understand carbon reduction, energy modelling, and lifecycle analysis for materials alongside other traditional system design principles.

As the link between mechanical engineering certifications and green building certifications solidifies even further, specialities will begin to branch out in ways that provide clients and project managers with even more choice for their teams.

One thing is certain: this is a sign that incremental change in a single industry can make a significant difference in the world’s future. With more sustainability-informed mechanical engineers informing the design of new buildings, we can raise buildings that are designed to endure without harming the world around them. That’s a future we can be proud to be a part of.

Trust our team of sustainably-informed mechanical engineers.

At Agile Engineering, we have an award-winning history of serving our clients well. We work sustainably, helping our clients to achieve green building certifications on all new projects with our qualified team of mechanical engineers.

Got a project on the horizon? Reach out today to begin the consultation process with Agile Engineering.