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Posted in Ken’s Metaphors for Success

It’s hard to beat the value of common sense… a rarity these days.

Here’s Ken’s Metaphor for Success #7:

Resist confusing the issue with intelligence.

Being raised on a Farm with considerable responsibility early in life, driving a tractor at 12, hauling grain at 14, etc., my Father not only instilled in me the “hard work” ethic, but he was also an advocate of what he called “good old common horse sense”.  He always said, “You don’t need a College degree to tell you when to come in out of the rain”.  This is so true.

With all due respect, highly educated individuals often are a little short in the common sense area.  This reminds me of the true story about a semi tractor-trailor that became stuck under a bridge because the driver ignored the overhead clearance warning.  Traffic was backed up for miles while various engineers assessed the problem.  After hours of futile attempts to resolve the issue, a child in a nearby car rolled down his window and shouted, “Just let the air out of the tires”.  A fine example of “common sense” trumping “intelligence” and ruling the day.

Kens Metaphors

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Posted in Energy Management

Big Thing AheadDerby ISD, a school district in Kansas, was faced with failing HVAC and steam units, high energy bills, and other maintenance issues that threatened a number of their schools.

Instead of hiring a group of traditional contractors to handle the various projects, they chose Performance Solutions to create and implement a cost efficient program that not only fixed the issues but reduced future maintenance costs.

The Work

Performance Solutions conducted a complete assessment of Swaney Elementary, Derby Middle School and Derby High School.

We developed a program that fixed every maintenance issue, trained staff to follow proper maintenance protocol and guaranteed annual energy savings of $272,665 per year with a total of $3,972,132 over a 12 year term.

Work will include:

  • Interior and exterior lighting retrofit
  • Water conservation retrofit
  • Installing steam to hot water conversion
  • Installing steam to Roof Top Unit conversion
  • Implementing 300 seats of network-controlled computer power management application
  • Building automation upgrades
  • HVAC Recommissioning & Maintenance
  • Implementation of our Building Intelligence Program on all chillers, boilers, pumps, AHU’s, RTU’s, and Terminal Units
  • Analysis of real-time energy and equipment performance
  • A Performance audit of all facilities

The Progress

When we agree to a project, we are dedicated to completing it on time and on budget. A project with this scope requires months of hard work and will be completed by December 31, 2015.

As of August 17, 2015:

  • Water improvements are complete, district wide
  • Lighting is 85% complete
  • Steam system replacement is 85% complete

The Benefits

Even though we are months away from completing our most comprehensive program to date, Derby ISD is already experiencing the benefits of comfort and savings.

“We have seen an immediate improvement in building comfort levels,much lower energy bills and, most of all, grateful students and staff.” – Tom Snodgrass, Director of Operations, Derby Schools

Let us help you with your next facility optimization project by visiting our Contact Page.

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Posted in Energy Management

Close-up view on conceptual keyboard - Optimization (green key)There are two ways to handle problems at your facility. You can hire a traditional contractor to discover a project they can cash in on, or you can hire Performance Solutions to uncover a maintenance plan that keeps money in your pocket.

Does Cost Matter?

Yes Our Program Approach

A Performance Solutions tech inspects your A/C unit and the rest of your facility with a focus on Asset & Facilities Optimization. They discover that you’re A/C is failing because it’s being overworked. Instead of replacing the unit, the tech develops a maintenance program providing you with budget predictability.

No Project Approach

A traditional contractor is looking to replace an entire A/C unit. This big-ticket item eats up your entire budget so you cross your fingers that the rest of the quarter comes no surprises.

Do You Need a Quick Fix or a Solution?

Solution Our Program Approach

Performance Solutions looks at the item that’s broken and discovers the root cause and finds a permanent solution rather than a temporary fix.

Quick Fix  Project Approach

A traditional contractor looks at the item that is broken, determines cost and replaces it. Five months later, it breaks again and they are happy to come back out.

Does the Solution Need to Last?

Yes Our Program Approach

Performance Solutions develops a maintenance plan that keeps your equipment at design intent so it not only performs better but it lasts longer.

No Project Approach

A traditional contractor fixes a big-ticket item and marks on their calendar when they expect it to break so they can return for the same project next year.

Do You Really Need an Upgrade?

Let’s Upgrade Project Approach

A traditional contractor’s record shows that your unit is 4 years old. Due to age, they suggest that you replace it with the newest model.

Let’s Check Our Needs Our Program Approach

Performance Solutions does a complete inventory and discovers that some of your equipment is reaching its last leg. We develop a prioritized plan to replace your equipment based on what fits your facilities needs.

The Conclusion

The Wrong Way Project Approach

Traditional contractors want to replace the most expensive piece of equipment and hope that they are able to service it a few times before your next suggested upgrade.

The Right Way  Asset & Facilities Optimization Program Approach by Performance Solutions

Performance Solutions wants to help your facility run efficiently. We uncover the root cause of your problems and develop a complete maintenance plan that meets your needs and your budget. In addition to our best practices maintenance program we also offer ongoing training and education for your facilities staff so things continue to run smoothly.

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Posted in Ken’s Metaphors for Success

“Work hard…. Work smart”!  How many times have you heard that advice?  There are many among us that work awfully hard, but unfortunately have little to show for it.  Likewise, there are some pretty sharp individuals that accomplish amazing things, once they get off the couch.

Here’s #6:

Hard Work vs. Intelligence

This is another area where people tend to fall in one category or another.  They’re either “hard workers” or “intelligent”.  Blending the two assures your best chance for success.  If I had to pick one over the other, I’d pick “hard work” every day of the week.  The world is full of unrewarded geniuses.  There’s one in every corner bar, and usually one, or two, somewhere in our social circles.  They are usually quite vocal, stating that they “could’ve had it all”, except for some ridiculous circumstance that held them back.  If you’re going to leave your career legacy with one trait that people remember, be known as a “hard worker”.

Kens Metaphors

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When I was a young man, the notion of getting plenty of rest was “good work if you can get it”, while raising kids and striving to get ahead.  After all, Winston Churchill once said that “four hours a night was all a chap should need”… well, maybe during the intense moments of WWII.  With the benefit of hindsight being 20/20, I would have to say, that without the benefit of quality rest, not much else is possible, long term.  Honestly, one of the best things that happened to me was, buying a Fitbit.  Now, it’s hard to hide from the truth, at least as it relates to sleep.

Here’s #5:

Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.

As hokey, and simplistic as this phrase may sound, it certainly hits home with me.  Virtually everyone that I know, personally, that has experienced significant financial reward has been an early riser that gets plenty of rest.  Rising early is settling for the soul, as it allows you to plan your attack for the day, leading the effort, as opposed to simply taking what comes, essentially playing defense all day, seemingly never catching up.  Getting your rest is a no brainer, yet most people ignore the fact.

KensMetaphors

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Posted in Company News

New location annoucement for web jpeg
Building Controls and Services, Inc. (BCS) has expanded to a new location in Kansas City, Missouri. The office (9237 Ward Pkwy, Suite 108 Kansas City, MO 64114) is scheduled to be fully functioning by August 19, 2015. BCS will employ several full time employees out of the Kansas City office while continuing to grow in Wichita, Kansas.

BCS has experienced rapid growth in the past year and expanding to the Kansas City market was a straightforward decision. BCS has doubled in size in the past two years and our growth is reflected in our sales success, expansion was the next logical step.

BCS recently merged with Custom Air & Power Systems of Overland Park, KS. Custom Air will sell the AAON product line under the BCS name in the Kansas City area. Custom Air’s Equipment Sales Engineers, Allen Leet, Jim Conaway, and Doug Gephart, bring a knowledge of the product and industry that is invaluable.

Operating out of the Kansas City office, BCS Performance Solutions offers facility and asset optimizations programs. The Performance Solutions subsidiary develops prioritized plans to address deferred maintenance, delivers a financial model that reduces existing costs and lowers your Total Cost of Ownership, and creates a more predictable energy, capital, and facilities budget for the short and long-term. Performance Solutions has successful programs all over the state and hopes to continue this momentum as they expand into the Kansas City area.

Sales Engineers Brandon Bulla and Dane Pletcher will be representing KMC Controls and Dunham Bush and will conduct trainings in Kansas City in the future.

Building Controls and Services Vice President, James Herrman, expresses his excitement, “We are thrilled for the opportunity to service the Kansas City area. Building Controls and Services is well equipped to expand product lines and locations.

Building Controls and Services, Inc. provides high value products and services enabling facility managers and building owners to operate buildings safely, comfortably, and efficiently. Our employees provide technical expertise and support to assist in making the right facility decisions. BCS has served the Wichita, KS market for 30 years representing high quality product lines such as Siemens, AAON, LG, CDI, Cook, Ruskin, Titus, and Dunham-Bush.

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Posted in Energy Management

new brandBack in 2013, when Performance Solutions officially became its own division of parent company BCS, we knew we had something special to offer our healthcare, education, government and commercial clients.

But we never could have guessed how quickly we would grow.

Being an independent division has allowed us to deliver comprehensive asset and facilities optimization programs that create both short- and long-term financial benefits for our clients — leveraging the buying power of BCS when it is the best business decision, but giving us the freedom to offer other industry solutions when they are a better fit.

The strategic energy and maintenance programs we have delivered to clients have been so well received, Performance Solutions has outgrown not only its original location, but also its brand.

So we have two big announcements to make.

Our New Office

First, we would like to announce the grand opening of our new office in Kansas City. Our new office will enable us to serve a wider audience while continuing to grow our experienced team.

You can now find Performance Solutions at:

9237 Ward Parkway, Suite 108

Kansas City, MO 64114

Our New Brand

Second, you might have noticed that our website has a much different look and feel from our parent company, BCS. As Performance Solutions has established itself as a leader in asset and facility optimization, we have grown into a strong company in our own right – one that needs its own brand.

We wanted our new brand to convey the message that the old way of managing facilities operations with performance contractors is no longer the most optimal way to manage buildings and campuses. There is a better way – a more comprehensive and cost-effective solution: an asset and facilities optimization program from Performance Solutions.

Better Performance Solutions for YOU

Big things are happening here at Performance Solutions. We are excited to be on this fast growth trajectory – but we are also excited by what it means for our clients. We can now serve more organizations, and provide better tools and more expertise to help them realize bigger savings, more budget predictability and better decision making.

Contact Us

Learn more about our services and offerings.

Service Requests

Our team is ready to assist. Please use one of the options below to submit your service request:

Warranty Claims

You can now submit warranty claims online via our fast and convenient online warranty process.

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Become an expert in building intelligence. Save money by lowering the total cost of ownership of your facility equipment. Sign up to receive helpful tips, tricks, and insights to facility management from people who’ve dealt with it all.