AWARDS 2009
THE INAUGURAL
GREEN MECHANICAL
Green Mechanical Contractor, along with the Green Mechanical Council and our sponsor, Rheem, is proud to present the
;rst annual Green Mechanical Awards (GMAs).
Since we started Green Mechanical Contractor in 2008,
we’ve been inundated with story ideas for terrific green
building projects. It is time to recognize that work.
The GMAs recognize and salute the mechanical and
plumbing contractors and design/build ;rms that are creating the most fuel- and cost-e;cient systems in residential
and commercial applications. ;e winners and runners-up
were announced and honored at the November 2009 Greenbuild Show in Phoenix. ;e 1st Place winners are featured
here in this issue.
The Green Mechanical Awards are destined to become
the industry’s top honor for excellence in mechanical
systems design and installation. Many of the projects submitted, along with the winners, will be featured in upcoming
issues of Green Mechanical Contractor. The online link
to the current digital edition of GMC and Web site is
www.greenmechanicalcontractor.com or can be accessed
from the homepage of www.contractormag.com.
We had some outstanding judges for this competition.
Besides the sta; of GMC, the industry-recognized contractors who served as judges for the GMAs were:
★ Dave Yates, owner of F.W. Behler, York, Pa., and
plumbing columnist for GMC’s sister-publication,
CONTRACTOR Magazine. One of the greenest plumbing and heating contractors around, Dave is an active
board member of the Radiant Panel Association and
is currently getting his accreditation as a certi;ed solar
installer…for both Solar ;ermal and PV. Dave also is a
member of the Green Mechanical Council.
★ Bill Erickson, chairman of C.J. Erickson Plumbing,
Alsip, Ill., and chairman of the Green Technical Committee for the International Association of Plumbing
& Mechanical O;cials. Bill is also a past Contractor
of the Year for CONTRACTOR Magazine.
★ Mark Eatherton is a Denver-area hydronic heating guru and outside-the-box thinker, who
is the monthly hydronic heating columnist for
CONTRACTOR Magazine. Many contractors
across the country look to Mark for knowledgeable
advice on mechanical systems and products. He is
a well-respected “elder statesman” in our industry
whose opinion matters to many.
★ Dave Kruse, president of mechanical contractor L.J.
Kruse Co., Berkeley, Calif., and another past Contractor of the Year for CONTRACTOR Magazine. A past
president of the Mechanical Contractors Association
of America (MCAA), Dave spearheaded the MCAA’s
Green Opportunities Conference and has been a constant source of inspiration to us and the industry.
Quali;ed entries were judged based on the following
three criteria: Presentation, Technical Merit, and Overall
Impression. In addition, the judges looked at the following
categories: Energy and/or Water E;ciency, Application of
System (right sizing of system to building), Innovation/
Creativity, Economic Justification, and Proposal to the
Building/Homeowner.
Thanks again to our sponsors, Rheem and the Green
Mechanical Council! We’re already excited for the 2010
GMAs. So keep building those outstanding projects and
submit them for the 2010 Green Mechanical Awards —
starting now!
