Insights & Articles
Greywater Recycling in Plumbing
Washing machines, bathroom sinks, and showers produce wastewater that can be recycled and reused in the home. These gently used waters are called greywater – and they’re not contaminated like blackwater (wastewater that comes from kitchen sinks and toilets). Greywater is easily recycled for non-potable purposes like irrigation and toilet flushing.
How Crete United Celebrated Earth Day 2025 with a Sustainable Initiative Supporting Clean Water Access
Earth Day offers us an important moment to reflect on the choices we make every day and the impact those choices have on the world around us. This year at Crete Untied, we turned reflection into meaningful action by launching a sustainability initiative focused on clean water access, community connection, and lasting impact.

Strategic Steps Toward Net Zero in Hospitality: Beyond Immediate Electrification
As governments and industry leaders push toward net zero targets (typically by 2040 or 2050), hotel and resort operators are under pressure to reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency. While full electrification of HVAC systems is a key part of this transition, immediate electrification isn’t always the most practical or cost-effective solution. And because most equipment installed today will be ready for replacement before the net zero deadline, high-efficiency natural gas systems that reduce energy and maintenance costs can support a phased-in approach to achieving net zero.

Spring Readiness: Key HVAC Start-Up Checks for Commercial Buildings
Preparing HVAC systems for spring startup is essential to ensure reliable performance during the peak cooling loads of summer. Depending on geography, cooling equipment may have sat idle for quite some time, while air-handling equipment has likely been working hard all winter.

Beyond Functionality: How Proper HVAC Maintenance Ensures Healthy Occupancy Conditions
When most people think of HVAC maintenance, they picture technicians changing filters, checking refrigerant levels, and cleaning coils to keep the system operational and to prevent expensive failures. While these are basic and essential goals of effective HVAC maintenance, additional diligence and expertise is required to sustain a healthy, comfortable indoor environment for building occupants.

A Leader Who Builds More Than Buildings: Mike Cox Named Most Admired CEO
We are proud to recognize our CEO, Mike Cox, for being named one of Charlotte Business Journal’s 2025 Most Admired CEOs in the Energy category!

Charlotte-Based Headquarters Has Relocated to a New Address
Crete United is pleased to announce that our Charlotte-based headquarters has relocated to a new address.

What is Sick Building Syndrome?
Understand what sick building syndrome is and how to discover if your building might be causing it to keep yourself, coworkers, and tenants healthy.

Is Your Indoor Air Healthy? A Guide to Identifying and Solving Air Quality Problems for Commercial and Industrial Facilities
Air pollution is not just an outdoor concern—it also affects the air we breathe indoors. For commercial property owners and facility managers, indoor air quality (IAQ) is a critical issue that impacts the health and productivity of everyone in the building. Whether you manage a warehouse, data center, hospital, school, or office building, poor air quality can lead to health problems, decreased efficiency, and increased absenteeism.

Solar Parking Canopies: Harnessing Clean Energy in Everyday Spaces
Solar parking canopies have emerged as an innovative and practical way to combine clean energy
generation with efficient use of parking spaces. These structures can be configured to serve multiple
purposes while providing shade and protection for vehicles and acting as a visible promotion of
environmental responsibility. The solar energy captured can be used to offset building consumption,
support EV charging, or reduce utility expenses by sending energy back to the grid. The adoption of
solar parking canopies is growing in urban areas, corporate campuses, universities, and even
residential complexes. Below, we explore the key benefits that make these solar structures a smart
investment for both the environment and property owners.

The Inflation Reduction Act: Key Highlights and Strategic Insights
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is reshaping American industries with its historic investment in clean energy and climate action. However, slow adoption could jeopardize our 2030 environmental goals. At Crete United, we advocate for proactive planning and swift action to stay ahead.

Building Maintenance Budget Plan: A Quick Guide
A Maintenance Budget Plan helps save money and keeps your property in top shape.

Business Continuity Planning and Mission Critical Systems
What is the key to maintaining a successful and resilient business when serious interruptions occur?

Greywater Recycling in Plumbing
Greywater recycling plays a major role in water conservation. Greywater recycling promotes sustainable water usage and reduces reliance on fresh water.

Types of Security Lighting:Choosing the Best Option for Your Property
Security lighting is critical in helping property owners have peace of mind.

Beyond the Cubicle: Embracing the Rewards of Skilled Trade Careers
In a world that often emphasizes traditional college paths, the skilled trades industry can go overlooked.

Refocusing on Safety During National Safety Month
The recent tragic events in Baltimore Harbor remind us of the importance of workplace safety and the potential risks each of us takes working in the commercial mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC fields.

What the New SEC Climate Regulations Mean for Facility Managers
Since the SEC’s new Climate Disclosure rule was announced in early March, the debate about the value of emissions reporting – and exactly how it should be done – has intensified significantly

Electrical Considerations For Commercial Spaces
If you are a commercial building owner or are considering investing in one, you know that there are many things to manage in order to keep the building running at its peak performance. One of the most important things to consider is the electrical status — or lack thereof — of the building.

Helping Schools Breathe Better
Students of all ages spend significant time (potentially one-quarter of each day) inside the classroom.

What are the pros and cons of ductless HVAC?
Ductless heating and cooling continues to rise in popularity as a high-value, flexible solution for both commercial and residential HVAC needs.

What do Gaming and Plumbing have in common?
Seems like a funny question. Well, turns out there’s a lot. Because
the future of both lies in the world of augmented reality (AR) and
virtual reality (VR).

HVAC+R: Cooling Tower Water Use
Cooling towers are used in many commercial and industrial buildings to remove heat from processes or spaces.

Carbon Credits, Offsets, and Their Markets
Carbon credits are a tradable financial instrument that represent a reduction of one metric ton of carbon dioxide or carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.

Why Do Companies Go Solar?
Commercial and Industrial (C&I) businesses have been going solar at a rapid rate… but why?

Catalyst Case Study
The CATALYST Stand-Alone was applied to 10 packaged rooftop HVAC units serving a multi-use campus in Greenlawn, NY during September of 2023.

What’s a Commercial Refrigeration Condenser Retrofit?
An air-cooled condenser is the equipment located outside the building that uses fans to reject the heat absorbed in the refrigeration system.

LED: Phasing Out of Fluorescent Bulbs
Fluorescent light bulbs have been the most common lamp type available to consumers for many years.

The IRA is Reshaping the World in its First Year
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), signed into law in August 2022, has had a transformative impact on the U.S. economy and global clean technology markets since being enacted.

Fed Rate Increases will Impact Cost of Borrowing for Businesses
This week, the U.S. Federal Reserve (“Fed”) increased the Federal Funds Rate to a 22-year high, bringing its key rate to 5.25% – 5.50%.

EV Charging & Freight Trucks: Revolutionizing Product Delivery
Electric vehicles (EVs) are transforming the way we transport goods.

IRS Releases Guidance on Transferability of Tax Credits
On June 14th, the IRS released new guidance on the expanded tax credit market, offering clarity on various aspects, including:

How AI Can Help Improve MEP Design for Efficiency, Cost Savings
Artificial Intelligence is changing the way we ALL work. The MEP and energy efficiency categories are benefiting from AI-assisted design leading to more effective and economical MEP distribution plans.

New Standards and Grants Released for EV Charging Network
On Wednesday, 2/15/2023, the Biden-Harris Administration announced new standards and updates aimed at creating a more reliable electric vehicle (EV) charging network across the USA, through the deployment of 500,000 EV chargers along U.S. highways throughout the nation.

Decoding the New GHG Regulations
In recent weeks, the federal government has come out with a variety of new rules in an effort to reduce the impact the buildings have on the climate. The Department of Energy (DOE) laid out building-sector decarbonization plans, created new lightbulb standards, and finalized new appliance energy efficiency rules in the month of April alone.

How to maintain building compliance in design-build projects
In design-build mechanical projects, the significance of code compliance cannot be overstated. Ensuring that mechanical systems comply with the necessary regulatory standards and codes is not just a matter of fulfilling legal requirements; it is about guaranteeing safety, reliability, and quality in construction projects.

Energy Procurement: What you need to know
One of the most important pieces to effective energy management is your energy procurement strategy. Particularly crucial for energy-intensive businesses seeking to mitigate risks and secure competitive pricing, a well-crafted procurement strategy ensures that your chosen suppliers and services align seamlessly with your budget, enhance operational efficiency, and resonate with your overarching vision.

ASHRAE Publishes First Zero Energy and Carbon Building Standard
ANSI/ASHRAE’s Publication Standard 228-2023, Standard Method of Evaluating Zero Net Energy and Zero Carbon Building Evaluation Performance, marks a significant step forward in the global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change.