All too many times a bid is turned in only to be told, “We need to look at VE options.” There are plenty of mechanical units that can be downgraded, architectural features that can be sacrificed, or peel back every division to see what can possibly be optimized for that extra dollar.

Whether driven by rigorous state and local regulatory mandates, or simply the desire to live more sustainably, the demand for a smaller carbon footprint and greater energy efficiency is growing in both the residential and commercial building and renovation markets.

Gonzales worked with Bayside Plumbing and local Navien representatives to install a new tankless water heater system that consists of five compact Navien NPE-240A2 ultra high-efficiency condensing tankless water heaters.

No doubt, it’s a scenario you have encountered — and successfully managed — on any number of occasions: A building owner wants restroom facilities or a commercial kitchen space where plumbing does not exist, or the nearest plumbing line is 10 or more feet away.

From the street, Bayview Tower in downtown Seattle looks like many other 1970s-era affordable housing apartments found across the U.S. This 13-story, 100-apartment property, run by the Seattle Housing Authority (SHA), provides an affordable senior-housing option to Seattle’s financially at-risk community. But, around the back of the building exists a domestic hot water (DHW) system, which is anything but 1970s.

PM Engineer Columnist John Siegenthaler guest-stars on PBS’ “Ask This Old House.”

With new and emerging water management standards, critical environments such as health care facilities must retool their systems and retrain their workers to provide better care quality and ensure patient safety throughout the built environment.

A little water conservation can go a long way. And as the second-most visited space in commercial buildings — just behind the lobby — the restroom and its water-saving fixtures can help lead the way when it comes to cutting back consumption.

Having completed its inaugural Water Quality Matters column series focusing on the theme, “Hot Topics in Water Quality,” the AWWA Water Quality and Technology Division’s committees look to extend the conversation by responding to a common question: “What keeps your committee members up at night?”

The biggest project Jordan Haugtvedt has worked on lately ended up getting a big helping hand, thanks to Viega ProPress and MegaPress technology.