William McCary’s Journey to Energy Engineering Excellence

McKinstry Senior Building Energy Engineer, William McCary, discovered his career passion as a child during a memorable week with his grandfather, a mineral rights lawyer in Oklahoma. During this time, they struck a deal: if William watched Westerns with his grandfather, his grandfather would take him to see the latest Star Wars movie. While watching the Westerns, his grandfather shared stories about the oil boom and the impact of rising gas prices, sparking William’s interest in the energy sector at an early age.

This experience, coupled with his desire to pursue mechanical engineering, set the foundation for his future career. After completing his undergraduate degree and playing football at Ohio State, William attended graduate school at the University of North Texas.

“Returning home for grad school, I embraced the incredible opportunity to become the vital link connecting the Department of Mechanical Engineering, the Office of Sustainability and the Facilities Maintenance department,” he shared.

William’s thesis on wind turbines became a pivotal moment and set the tone for his professional career.

Making an Immediate Impact

William recently showcased his ability to communicate complex metrics in his field.

“Last fall, I gave my first presentation at an international conference,” said Wiliam. “The most rewarding part of this was seeing the direct results and understanding.”

The presentation highlighted the benefits of incorporating strategic facility planning without silos, ensuring all departments within an organization communicate effectively for the best results.

“Presenting a holistic view that includes energy, sustainability, finances and capital planning is crucial,” he conveyed.

Using simple color codes — red for bad and green for good — he connected with a diverse audience and created a universal understanding of the bigger picture.

“It was particularly gratifying to see colleagues from different regions interact and endorse my message and McKinstry,” explained William.

Ensuring Long-Term Sustainability

William played a pivotal role in future-proofing Garland, Texas’ facilities. Construction is currently underway at multiple sites and new assets are being installed, upgraded and replaced.

William’s team will return to commission these new installations to ensure they align with the city’s sustainability goals. He is looking forward to seeing the project come full circle and updating the Facility Condition Assessment (FCA) information to reflect the improvements, reducing the number of critical issues.

“I am proud that this project promises long-term benefits for the city and its community members,” he said.

Modernizing History

Part of William’s job has also includes upgrading older municipal buildings.

One memorable project involved an energy efficiency overhaul in a century-old courthouse in Ellis County, Texas. His team spent two years updating the HVAC, plumbing and lighting systems. This project allowed William to blend modern sustainability practices with the preservation of historical architecture.

“Despite the challenges of working in buildings that are still in use, it’s extremely fulfilling to upgrade them while preserving the historical essence,” he explained.

The courthouse was later featured in a national TV show, which was a particularly gratifying moment for William.

Innovative Repurposing

William is also proud of his work in repurposing old municipal plants to support clients’ sustainability and resiliency goals.

In one instance, he assessed various municipal buildings, including traditional ones like City Hall and fire stations, as well as older plants, like water treatment and sanitation facilities. Faced with the decision of whether to bulldoze or repurpose these structures, William and his team found innovative ways to convert them into storage spaces, addressing the municipality’s storage needs.

“While it can be a tricky process, I want to put forward solutions that help clients showcase their sustainability and resiliency efforts,” said William.

Promoting Climate Literacy Through Resiliency

William believes encouraging climate literacy and civic engagement can be achieved by focusing on the concept of resiliency.

“The winter storms in Texas really captured everyone’s attention,” said William.

William believes extreme weather events highlight the importance of understanding energy sources and grid independence.

“They can spark opportunities for crucial conversations about energy sourcing, billing, and peak demand,” explained William. “It’s about finding solutions that make sense for everyone and outlining the practical steps to get there.”