Petersen Engineering is a mechanical engineering consulting firm specializing in building mechanical systems, energy efficiency, integrated design, sustainable and green design.
James Petersen
James began his career in this industry in 1986 and founded Petersen Engineering, Inc. in 1992.
Passionate about energy and the environment, James has expanded his expertise from his roots in HVAC and plumbing design to include building science, enclosure design and integrated design.
A broad view of buildings, energy, and the environment has significantly changed James’ practice. The success of the sustainable design movement has created new opportunities and has elevated his role on projects as the mechanical engineer. James participates on project teams that successfully integrate the experience and expertise of all project team members that results in high-performance buildings.
James is a registered Professional Engineer in New Hampshire (#8139), Massachusetts (#36560), New York (#089372) and Maine (#7231) and is a LEED® Accredited Professional. He received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of New Hampshire.
James Parkington
James began his consulting mechanical engineering career in 1999 with Randall Lamb San Francisco. He returned to New England in 2006, working for RFS Engineering for nearly two years before joining Petersen Engineering in November 2007. He has significant experience with the design and implementation of mechanical systems for laboratories, research facilities, hospitals, clinics, theaters, colleges and universities, and high-rise structures.
James is committed to the sustainable, efficient and economical design of mechanical systems, with a particular interest in control strategies that allow building systems to react dynamically to occupant needs.
James provides project management and high level engineering for a variety of project types. Conceptual reports, basis of design documentation, specifications, control sequences, flow diagrams and on-site evaluations are just a few of the services that James provides as a “hands on” project engineer.
James received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New Hampshire in 1997. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and California and a LEED® Accredited Professional.
Sarah Carter
Sarah began her consulting mechanical engineering career in 2004 with Jacobs Engineering in Washington, DC. She returned to New England and joined Petersen Engineering in the fall of 2009. She has experience with the HVAC design of large government facilities such as: battle command training centers, maintenance facilities, laboratories, office buildings, data/command centers and military training campuses.
Sarah has developed a strong interest in highly efficient mechanical systems. This interest was inspired through her extensive energy modeling experience. She is also looking to expand her knowledge in building science, specifically high performance building enclosures.
Sarah offers engineering design skills within all aspects of the design process for many building types. Sarah also plans to take a leading role in implementing 3D Building Information Modeling into the design process at Petersen Engineering.
Sarah received her Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Vermont in 2003. She is a Registered Professional Engineer in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Virginia, a Construction Documents Technologist (CDT), and a LEED® Accredited Professional.
Chuck Dudas
Chuck began his consulting career in 2007 with Stantec Consulting in San Francisco where he gained experience with the HVAC and plumbing design of high performance office and school buildings, including multiple LEED Platinum and Net-Zero Energy projects. He moved to New England and joined Petersen Engineering in the spring of 2011.
Prior to his consulting career, Chuck was a construction manager for Whiting-Turner Contracting Company in Boston. Firsthand experience in the construction process helped shape his interest in designing mechanical systems that are highly efficient while still mindful of constructability.
At Petersen Engineering, Chuck works as a design engineer providing detailed mechanical design work to a variety of projects. Chuck especially enjoys helping integrate the mechanical systems into the overall project, either through Revit or detailed coordination between the disciplines.
Chuck is a licensed professional engineer in California, a LEED Accredited Professional and also has his Massachusetts contractor’s license. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Messiah College, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2003.
Jason Ngai
Jason joined Petersen Engineering in the summer of 2011.
Jason grew up in Hong Kong surrounded by complex skyscrapers. Despite growing up in that environment, Jason is more passionate about simplistic and passive building designs which he was exposed to as a student living in Vermont.
Prior to joining Petersen Engineering, Jason was exposed to different aspects of building architectural design and engineering, both as an undergrad and working as an assistant to the facilities manager of a Vermont hospital and gained valuable experience working on the building aspect of a master planning process for the facility. This taught him to not only think as an engineer, but also to understand the perspectives of other project team members.
Working with Petersen Engineering, Jason continues to pursue his path as a sustainable mechanical engineer. He enjoys designing effective, energy efficient, and innovative HVAC and plumbing systems while utilizing his skills he obtained from the “hands-on” style courses in college.
Jason received a Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural Engineering Technology and a Bachelor of Science degree in Sustainable Design and Technology from Vermont Technical College in 2011. He obtained his Engineer-in-Training (E.I.T.) and LEED Green Associate credentials following his graduation. He is currently working towards his Professional Engineer (P.E.) license and LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) credential.
Emily Knowlton
Emily takes care of bookkeeping and other office management tasks at Petersen Engineering on a part-time basis and is also a full-time student. Emily hopes that the small business experience she is gaining at Petersen Engineering will help her manage her own small business someday.
Emily graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 2009 with a major in Speech Pathology and a minor in Business Administration. She is currently persuing a master’s degree in Speech Pathology.
