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The article discusses how societal expectations push students towards traditional four-year degrees over vocational paths like HVAC, using a TikTok video as an example to advocate for more engaging career guidance through compelling storytelling.

The article highlights the importance of considering total energy usage in commercial water heating technology for engineers aiming at decarbonization goals. It discusses the rising interest in heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) among specifying engineers, the need for hybrid solutions to balance energy costs and grid strain, and the industry's shift towards providing resources and education to support energy-efficient practices.

The article highlights the value of learning from diverse Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) engineering practices encountered during travel, encouraging professionals to broaden their perspectives. Topics discussed include the significance of observing regional variations, embracing different approaches to HVAC system design, and the learning opportunities presented by diverse geographical locations.

The article announces that Amy Al-Katib has joined the Engineered Systems team as the new editor-in-chief.

The article focuses on the concept of recurring patterns in nature, such as the Fibonacci series, and explores how engineers can apply these patterns to improve the design of mechanical systems for energy efficiency and optimal performance. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing and utilizing the principles of unified design theory in the built environment.

The article reports that Legence, owned by private investment banking company Blackstone and an Energy Transition Accelerator, has acquired Shadpour Consulting Engineers Inc., design-build mechanical contracting firm Trinity Process Solutions Inc. and mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering solutions provider KLOK Group. Focus is given on the significance of the acquisition to strengthening Legence's expertise in decarbonization of the built environment and sustainability services.

The article offers insights on approaching network security in a cost-effective way in 2023. Topics covered include the necessary assumption that network security has already been hacked for simplicity and economy, the sound isolation of building automation systems from the web, a security design that would slow down break-in if the system gets breached. Also noted is the importance of an emergency contact person, up-to-date controller backups, and network diagrams for continuing operations.

The article presents a message from Rebecca T. Ellis, president of Questions & Solutions Engineering Inc. and outgoing contributor to the magazine's Commissioning column. She looks back at how building systems commissioning evolved in the 1990s and how it influenced building system performance and sustainable operation. She cites how the industry has reached maturity along with the need for leaders to focus on standards, certification and expansion of commissioning.

The article features Tim Morales & Associates Inc., a Mobile, Alabama-based heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration (HVACR) manufacturer's representative that was chosen by the journal in 2022 as Ambassadors of Efficiency Manufacturers' Representative of the Year. Topics discussed include the establishment of the company in 1957, comments from company president, Tim Morales, and information on the Ambassadors of Efficiency contest.

The article points out the need for consulting engineers to always start a project with the end in mind. Topics covered include the project delivery methods in a client's building program, such as design-build, construction management, and integrated project delivery, the project's close out requirements and the requirements that should be submitted to the consulting engineer within 45 days after equipment submittal approval.

The article offers information on the roundtable discussion of mechanical engineering leaders on the challenges in the engineering industry, as of 2022. Darin Anderson of Salas O'Brien talked about how his firm addressed the challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Keith Esarey of McClure Engineering cited that his company focused on developing and investing in entry-level positions to address the shortage of skilled workers. Rick Hombsch of HGA discussed his firm's 2022 goal.

The article is intended to explain aspirating smoke detection as a viable alternative to typical spot smoke detectors that have magnetic components and cannot be used and provide some initial tips on how to represent it in an engineering design to be issued for solicitation of bids. It explores the approach as focused on MRI rooms.

The article presents the limited number of HVAC systems within a pharma building make operation, maintenance, and energy conservation performance demanding but easy when compared to health care applications. Topics include the pharmaceutical industry has touted high-performance IAQ long before COVID emerged, the product going out the door of pharma production facilities, and the occupants have always mandated restrictions the health care community has struggled to embrace and enforce.

A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experience of being familiar with ASHRAE's position document on refrigerants and its responsible use, but was unaware that AirConditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) formed a refrigerant transition taskforce.

The article reports that DDC application engineers have a brave new world of topics to explore and familiarize themselves with as they intuit what owners really need and deliver designs for the solution. Topics discussed include colleague shared a story where a project was in the late phases of work and being started up, and a question came up about appeared to be missing flow switches in a heating hot water system; and these were not straightforward pieces of instrumentation to retrofit.