HPAC On The Air

With the government shutdown now in its second month, industry economists find themselves in an unusually precarious situation. This fall, forecasters are trying to make predictions for 2026 without the benefit of their usual monthly supply of essential government statistics. Imagine trying to read a crystal ball while wearing a blindfold. Here, Rob McManamy discusses the predicament.

HPAC On The Air welcomes back the president of the American Society of Plumbing Engineers to give us a halftime report on his two-year term in office. Much is happening regarding codes and infrastructure repairs, he says, but the key to it all will be project team-building and multi-discipline collaboration.

This month's editorial focuses on a new push among some of the best construction lawyers to help engineers, contractors and owners to prevent project disputes BEFORE they actually happen. After that, the cost to the bottom line and to relationships is almost always just too high. Listen up for more details about to become a part of the 'dispute prevention' movement...  

Recent outbreaks in New York City, Ohio, and Iowa remind us that water-borne pathogens in water systems are still out there. And water conservation efforts today even require heightened scrutiny. Listen to these insights and more from Dr. Abe Cullom, Director of Water Safety and Management at the Special Pathogens Laboratory in Pittsburgh.

We dive into the latest update to the AIA Consensus Construction Forecast and see what 10 industry experts are now predicting for next year. Not surprisingly, many expectations hinge on the durability of the market's capacity for more and more data centers...

Our latest editorial looks at the impact of engineering on international relations and the cooperative example that ASHRAE and other global industry groups are still setting in these most divisive times...

Jim Pauley is worried. The CEO of the National Fire Protection Association was already concerned that complacency and overconfidence were raising risk levels across our buildings stock. But now the latest wave of deregulation has forced NFPA to launch its first-ever national publicity campaign.

Just days after a massive new federal funding package was signed into law this month, new data showed inflation returning and higher than expected tariffs taking effect. Here, HPAC Engineering reviews some of the wide range of emotions our industry has been expressing so far.

The ACEC Research Institute's executive director walks us through some encouraging recent data from the American Council of Engineering Companies. She also invites our audience to participate in additional ongoing research.

The signs are everywhere. Artificial intelligence will have its biggest impact yet on our industry in 2025. This month's episode of HPAC: Editor's Notes looks at compelling new data on the growing use of AI in engineering, design and construction. Are you ready?

'HPAC On The Air' welcomes veteran engineers Jennifer Leach and Keith Hammelman, who will both be presenting this June at the 2025 ASHRAE Annual Conference in Phoenix. Their topic? Next-generation engineering talent. "How to Get'em; How to Keep'em." 

The economic news has been fast and furious this spring and more than a few headlines are in conflict. Here, we briefly review the latest from Fed Chair Jerome Powell and other industry voices as we try get a better picture of the road ahead.

At this time of extraordinary economic disruption, 'HPAC On The Air' welcomes back longtime industry analyst Richard Branch for his take on how design and construction firms can manage best in the face of a potential recession.

In March, the Environmental Protection Agency announced plans to roll back more than 30 regulations and de-emphasize the monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions. Since our industry is already heavily invested in decarbonization, we spoke with a number of key engineering leaders to gauge their reaction.

HPAC 'On The Air' welcomes back cybersecurity expert Nick Espinosa to discuss the latest onslaught of technology threats and how engineers and contractors can best protect themselves in this constantly changing environment.

In this extraordinarily turbulent month, especially regarding tariffs and their tangible effect on our industry, we take a look at what industry economists are seeing in the latest data...

The new board chair of the American Boiler Manufacturers Association is not only the first-ever woman to fill that role, she is also the first non-U.S. member to lead the 137-year-old trade group. Here, Simoneau joins us to discuss the unique perspective and infectious energy that will drive her leadership for the next two years. 

With the U.S. now out of the Paris Agreement once again, questions are swirling around the state of our industry's sustainability efforts. USGBC Senior Policy Counsel Elizabeth Beardsley joins us to discuss that, as well as the recent COP29 conference in Azerbaijan. Much progress is still happening on many fronts, she says.

Infrastructure and data center projects will drive our industry this year. But new variables are mounting regarding potential disruptions to construction labor and the supply chain.