Pete Ielmini,Executive Director of the Heat and Frost Insulators LMCT, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and explained the LMCT’s new Mechanical Insulation Energy Audit Program. He also provided an update on the Mechanical Insulation Act.
The LMCT recently started a new program for Mechanical Insulation Energy Audits, Ielmini said. These audits will help to determine the amount of money a building’s mechanical system is losing by not being properly insulated with mechanical insulation. Simply put, it will evaluate the rate of return on a building once mechanical insulation is properly installed and calculate when the work will pay itself off in terms of savings. So far, these audits have found the average rate of return for mechanical insulation installation is between six months to a year.
He said two individuals will serve as the leaders of the audit teams. They will lead all audits they can physically attend and review and assess the data from all audits before the information is presented to clients. These two individuals have completed many energy audits and know how to translate the raw data from an audit into easily understandable and actionable information, Ielmini explained. To request an audit, please visit lmct.insulators.org.
Ielmini provided an update on the progress of the Mechanical Insulation Act, H.R. 4663. When Congress reconvenes in September, the Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a hearing on the bill, he said. To help ensure the bill passes a vote in the House, they used a tactic known as Noah’s Arc, which calls for the same amount of co-sponsors from each party. This is a popular tactic to ensure that a bill is passed without minimal opposition, Ielmini added.
For more on mechanical insulation energy audits, please listen to the episode above.