MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions Signs the MEP 2040 Challenge in Latest Environmental Sustainability Effort
MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions has committed to the MEP 2040 Challenge.
By adopting the MEP 2040 commitment, the company confirms that it will:
- Establish a company plan to reduce and measure operational and embodied carbon across mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems on all projects, targeting zero carbon emissions by 2040.
- Request low-global warming potential refrigerants when designing systems to reduce or eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from refrigerants.
- Request Environmental Product Declarations in project specifications for MEP system components.
- Participate in forums to share lessons learned and contribute to the growing body of knowledge.
MacDonald-Miller is working on several major sustainability projects for clients in the Pacific Northwest, including Microsoft’s carbon-free energy center on the nearly completed campus expansion. The company helped design and install the thermal energy center system that provides heating and cooling for 18 buildings by using 875 geothermal wells drilled 550 feet into the ground and utilizes the constant temperatures below the Earth’s surface to heat and cool the buildings. The 100% electric system incorporates heat pumps, chillers, thermal energy storage and 220 miles of pipe running throughout the campus in Redmond, Wash.
Another impactful project is the ongoing design of a district energy system at the Providence-Swedish Medical Center First Hill campus in Seattle. This district energy system is designed to share energy between the hospital and nearby buildings that need more heating or cooling. By using ambient piping loops piped between buildings near its hospital, the hospital can reduce wasted energy by capturing waste heat and using it to supplement its facilities without consuming additional energy or emitting waste heat into the environment.
