“Good buildings come from good people, and all problems are solved by good design.” — Stephen Gardiner

A great deal of planning and design is involved in constructing a building. However, the depletion of natural resources is pushing the construction sector to put more focus on innovative designs that make a structure environmentally friendly. MEP engineering plays a big role in solving this global issue by creating designs that utilize resources and reduce waste. If you have a construction or renovation project in Houston, anywhere in Texas or other states in the US, here are some ways that MEP engineering can benefit both an existing building and/or a new construction project.

1. Compliance with Building Codes

Building codes and local laws regulating construction projects are imposed by local governments which when violated bring not only legal but also financial consequences to the owner. MEP engineers can check these issues/codes and provide you with design solutions that are approved by the local building department.

2. Energy Efficiency

Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing installations use up a lot of energy. MEP engineering employs carefully selected energy conservation measures that will not take away from the system’s performance. In HVAC installation, for example, an MEP engineer does load calculations in order to choose a unit that provides both comfort and efficiency. When it comes to lighting, using eco-friendly light fixtures and adding motion sensors can decrease lighting consumption by up to 60%.

3. Water Conservation

Plumbing is a particularly important aspect of a building be it residential or commercial as it involves water and waste management, and fire suppression among other things. With an optimized plumbing system, you can save money and help conserve water. MEP engineers do so by creating a layout that decreases the length of pipes and conduits used. Aside from that, they make sure to choose the right material such as low-flow fixtures, as well as consider alternative water sources like grey-water systems, and rainwater harvesting design.

4. Indoor Environment

Having good indoor air quality contributes directly to the comfort and health of people in a building. When a room is poorly ventilated, hazardous particles may stay suspended in the air which causes health risks to people who go in and out of the room. MEP engineers can help increase the ventilation with outdoor air, and upgrade filters to improve the indoor air quality of a building.

5. Use of Sustainable Materials and Plan for Easy Maintenance

MEP engineering design considers the location of a building and uses its natural advantages as the first step to sustainability. It takes into account factors like wind, direction, and weather to come up with a design that optimizes energy efficiency. For easy maintenance, MEP engineers design systems that don’t require much energy, and water, after which, they can gather all the data needed to create a maintenance plan and schedule.

6. Building Automation

As technology advances, many houses and buildings are turning into smart homes and automated buildings. A professional MEP engineering firm handles electrical and mechanical issues in building automation with ease. They can also take care of the requirements and legal documents necessary to automate a building.

The bottom line? MEP engineering revolves around creating systems that make buildings exteriorly sustainable for human occupancy and ensures that the construction project maximizes its performance with minimum cost and long-term value.

Source2Load provides A-rated MEP engineering and consulting services in Houston and surrounding areas. We are licensed in Louisiana, Florida, Texas, as well as Alabama. Give us a call at (713) 497-5114 or send us a message through our email info@source2load.com to help you with your construction project.