Mehta of WM Group named AEE Region 1 Energy Engineer of the Year

The Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) named Hemant Mehta, PE, its Energy Engineer of the Year for Region I during the World Energy Engineering Congress. Mehta is the founder and president of New York City-based WM Group Engineers. Mehta is considered an expert in utility master planning with vast experience in optimizing heating and cooling plant performance and improving plant efficiencies. He has managed more than 100 central utility projects throughout his 35-year career. His recommendations have enabled many facilities to save millions in capital and operating costs. According to AEE, the regional Energy Engineer of the Year award is presented to individuals "for outstanding accomplishments in promoting the practices, principles and procedures of energy engineering, and for superior service to the association." The recipient must be a registered professional engineer. Region I includes New York, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont. AEE has one international and five U.S. regions and has bestowed regional awards since 1982. "It's an honor to be acknowledged for saving energy and money for clients and helping to make our planet green," says Mehta. "The best part of my work is hearing how appreciative my clients are of what's been accomplished. One client - a hospital facility manager - told me that before I started consulting there he used to worry about whether his hospital could meet the peak summer cooling loads. Now that the hospital's cooling plant operation has improved and he's saving more than a million dollars annually, he says he's able to watch the morning weather report and not be concerned at all about handling the hospital's cooling needs. That kind of feedback feels good." Mehta also loves to teach. His goal is to pass on his knowledge to central and building plant operators. He believes building energy use can be reduced by more than 50 percent. Prior to receiving the regional honor, Mehta was recognized at the local level by the New York Chapter of the AEE (NYAEE), which named him 2010 Energy Engineer of the Year during its 23rd annual awards gala in June 2010 in New York City. NYAEE subsequently nominated Mehta for the regional award. Mehta founded New York City-based WM Group Engineers in 2000. The company emphasizes "smart solutions that work." Its clients include major colleges, universities, medical centers, pharmaceutical companies, and government and large building complexes. For more on WM Group, visit www.wmgroupeng.com. The Association of Energy Engineers was founded in 1977. AEE's mission is "to promote the scientific and educational interests of those engaged in the energy industry and to foster action for Sustainable Development." For more on AEE, visit www.aee.org.