Author: bldgcontrols

There are certain expenses we all accept as the cost of doing business. One of those common costs is our energy bill. While we can’t unplug our workplaces, we can take some steps to make sure we’re getting the most out of the energy we are using.

Tip #1: Stop Vampire Energy

When you leave some devices plugged-in, even if they’re turned off, they’re still using power. For example, your phone charger is sucking energy from the socket to keep the power light on. Whenever possible, use a surge protector that you can shut off with a single flip of a switch. This also provides additional electricity protection for your devices.

Tip #2: Upgrade with an Eye Toward Efficiency

If you take a look around your workplace, there are all kinds of upgrades you could make. For example, are your lights still old-fashioned incandescent bulbs? Fluorescent or LED bulbs are more energy-efficient and longer lasting. Are your desktop computers old but serviceable workhorses? Chances are they’re guzzling electricity. Newer, sleeker models would use less power, and likely take up less space too. Everything from your water heater to your refrigerator should be evaluated and the cost of keeping it should be compared with the cost of upgrading.

Tip #3: Timers and Sensors are your Friends

Automating your workplace functions can save a great deal of energy. For example, a programmable thermostat can cut down on wasted energy, making sure the building isn’t overly heated or cooled when empty. Using sensors in place of light switches in closets, bathrooms, and other rooms reduces risk of leaving the lights on, cutting down considerably on energy use. If your building has exterior lights, sensors can trigger when the sun goes down, ensuring they won’t be left burning throughout the day.

For more tips on how you can increase your energy efficiency, contact us today!

Going green isn’t just a public relations stunt. It’s a movement that reaps its own rewards for years to come. To help start the process, these four steps can help you strategize your plans towards becoming a greener company.

1. Do Your Research 

Before implementing a green initiative at your facility, make sure you understand everything that going green entails. Decide what initiatives are a good fit for your company to start with. Are there green programs that might require more time and money than your organization can commit now? Put those lower on your list. It’s a good idea to start with something easily actionable that will yield quick results and get people excited immediately. Then move to more difficult initiatives.

You’ll also want to check within your organization and see whether anyone else is already leading a green program. Partner with them if you can!

2. Evaluate Everything 

Green is a big business these days. Companies know they can make more money by including the word on their product or program. Make sure you look into every claim. Utilize the research you did in the first step to make sure you are investing your time and money in a truly green product.

3. Invest in Green Cleaning Supplies

Green cleaning is a great way to get people in your organization excited right away, especially with the growing number of individuals with chemical sensitivities. Just make sure that once again you evaluate every claim! Don’t spend money on cleaning supplies that claim they are green but really aren’t any better than the products you already use.

4. Run the Numbers 

You’ve done your research. You’ve found a green initiative to start on. Now it’s time to run the numbers of different service providers. With the amount of competition in the green movement, you should get a fair price. Going green shouldn’t cost big bucks.

At BCS Performance Solutions, we are committed to helping you realize the benefits of going green. For more information, contact us.

What is Retrofitting?

The term retrofitting refers to adding new technology to an already-existing building or facility, an existing building, or an already-existing piece of electrical equipment. Adding this improved technology helps improve the efficiency of the facility and produces a higher output. Updating through retrofitting has many benefits including saving money on capex while benefitting from the new technology, optimization of existing objects by improving their performance, adaptation of the object to create new/improved products or output, and guarantee of parts availability as technology improves and older parts become “outdated.”

What is Recommissioning?

Recommissioning (RCx) is a re-optimization process that ensures that existing buildings or facilities are operating optimally. Recommissioning involves a rigorous investigative process that ensures the upgrades are fixing any current facility issues and is the best way to fix any identified problems. Recommissioning is being studied as it may be the most underutilized, yet single most cost-effective way to reduce the use of energy used and lessen greenhouse gas emissions.

What is the Difference Between Retrofitting & Recommissioning?

It is worth noting that while both retrofitting and recommissioning are great ways to update technologies within buildings or facilities that already exist. There are benefits and considerations for each as well.

Retrofitting is also known as “existing building commissioning” which is a process that identifies and implements operational and maintenance improvements to ensure that a building continues to perform well over time.

Recommissioning, on the other hand entails running “diagnostic tests” on the existing building or facility to see what is wrong with the building in the first place. Once the building or facility’s shortcomings are determined, the building can be retrofitted with more current, recent technology to help improve the performance and viability of the facility for the future.

In the end, the processes of recommissioning and retrofitting based on test results go hand in hand. Both procedures ensure the future viability of a building or facility moving forward and that the building can operate appropriately.

Both processes can also help a facility to run without burning extra energy, help ensure no extra greenhouse gasses are being emitted into the atmosphere and save extra energy costs as the building will use the energy more efficiently.

“If the repair and maintenance cost gets way too high, just replace it” This phrase, which we have all heard, represents the currents attitude in people about capital asset management. Unfortunately, this is what our business schools are teaching.

From a financial standpoint and at face value, the phrase sounds correct, but until you take a deeper look at all the factors that come into play when making such a decision, you will never understand why this phrase is an indication of ignorance. The myriads of factors to take into consideration necessitate the need for you as a manager to do a proper data analysis before concluding on whether to replace or repair. Here are some things you need to do to help you do the analysis.

Analyze the Costs

As a manager, you will need to understand that the expense of a new asset is not just the cost of purchasing the asset. Other costs include operating cost, expected life cycle cost, potential salvage value and the increase in revenue that it will bring. On the other hand, for the current asset, you need to understand its sunk cost, repairing cost, remaining service life, current market value, and future salvage rate. With this data, you will be in a position to do a proper data analysis enabling you to make an informed decision

Consider the age of the capital asset

Since assets do not age gracefully, their age is directly proportional to their repair cost. The older an asset is, the more it will cost you to fix. Further, with age, the asset will give you fewer returns on your repair investment.

Consider the downtime

For an old asset that is often under repair, it leads to a considerable amount of downtime that leads to a loss of productivity over many hours. Nevertheless, you should also consider the amount of time it will take for you to replace the asset. Remember that replacing means waiting for the new asset to arrive. On arrival, its installation, staff training, and commissioning will also consume time, which will still be downtime. The goal is to ensure that your institution does not lose too much in productivity.

These are only three of the many things you need to consider before deciding whether to repair or replace a capital asset. At Performance Solutions we are committed to helping you optimize your assets and you should therefore feel free to contact us for more information.