Drawing a parallel to the historic Carolina gold rush, John A. Mullen argues that Charlotte’s shift toward thermal energy networks and geothermal infrastructure is transforming buildings into energy assets and positioning the trades at the heart of the net-zero transition.

Discover how plumbers can lead the water revolution by turning stormwater into a sustainable resource for homes, towns, and entire cities.

What if your plumbing could detect problems, fix itself, and send you a receipt—all before you even knew there was an issue? Industry veteran John A. Mullen introduces “Living Pipe,” a visionary concept combining AI, self-healing materials, and advanced sensors to create truly intelligent water infrastructure.

Key insights from a recent panel at the 2025 AHR Expo reveal how AI enhances efficiency through automation, predictive analytics and smart tools such as Meta glasses. 

Fourth-generation plumber John A. Mullen delves into the growing trend of removing fluoride from municipal drinking water and its broader implications.

Columnist John Mullen explores the transformative impact of augmented and virtual reality on skilled trades education.

Hydrogen fuel can significantly reduce carbon emissions, improving air quality and health; hybrid systems combining hydrogen with other energy sources could enhance grid stability and flexibility.

Today’s data storage centers require considerable amounts of additional energy. Air-cooled systems have been the norm for data storage; however, liquid-cooled systems can handle greater internal heat displacement. This makes them ideal for energy-hungry AI tasks and preserving electricity.