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Articles from Julian Arhire | Selfgrowth.com
- Life-cycle Costs For HVAC Systems and HVAC Equipment - by Submitted on Apr 26, 2012 from Julian ArhireComfort and control, flexibility, equipment loads, energy efficiency and reliability: Today’s business environment is placing increased demands on building mechanical systems in a wide variety of ways. At the same time, improved HVAC equipment offer many opportunities to meet these demands ...
Views: 721 - The Benefits Of An HVAC Audit - by Submitted on Mar 29, 2012 from Julian ArhireHVAC audits can be quite complex and involve dedicated personnel, or they can be less formal and folded into a preventive maintenance (PM) program. Focusing first on the biggest energy users -- chillers, boilers and fan motors -- maintenance and engineering managers can develop an audit program ...
Views: 777 - Geothermal Systems: Heating, From the Ground Up - by Submitted on Feb 22, 2012 from Julian ArhireThe demand on maintenance and engineering managers to provide comfortable temperatures and good indoor air quality while keeping a tight grip on the budget is among their greatest challenges. On top of the energy costs, there is a maintenance cost for HVAC, boilers, chillers and cooling towers, ...
Views: 631 - Boilers and HVAC Building Automation Systems - by Submitted on Jan 27, 2012 from Julian ArhireWith the newest state-of-the-art sensors, direct digital controls and computer driven expert systems, buildings now can be completely automated and remotely controlled. This article will review what such systems and their operators can and cannot do, what new risks can be created for the boilers ...
Views: 1360 - What Are The Rooftop HVAC Units? - by Submitted on Feb 22, 2012 from Julian ArhireWhen rooftop units were first introduced some 40 years ago, they were considered by system designers and building owners to be a bare bones, low cost, simple solution to low-rise building HVAC needs. Low cost was the primary driving force for both manufacturers and users. But while they were ...
Views: 759 - An Energy Upgrade Can Do More Than Just Trim Energy Costs - by Submitted on Jan 19, 2012 from Julian ArhireAn energy upgrade can do more than just trim energy costs. It can help boost productivity, reduce maintenance costs and improve overall facility performance. But success is far from assured. When planning and carrying out an energy project, the facility executive must avoid common pitfalls that ...
Views: 536 - Five Factors To Energy Efficiency - by Submitted on Jan 02, 2012 from Julian ArhireOne of the most popular ways of improving building energy efficiency today is through a lighting systems upgrade. New, energy-efficient lighting systems offer the potential of reducing lighting energy requirements by 35 to 50 percent, with additional savings being realized in reduced air ...
Views: 897 - Planning And Coordination For HVAC Upgrades - by Submitted on Dec 14, 2011 from Julian ArhireBuilding owners don't upgrade HVAC systems simply because they want the latest HVAC technologies; rather, they are looking to correct perceived shortcomings with existing systems. That means the jumping off point should be a comprehensive assessment of the existing system. A detailed survey and ...
Views: 651 - 9 Ways To Beat High Heating Costs This Winter - by Submitted on Nov 21, 2011 from Julian ArhireThe increase in heating costs will have a huge impact on facilities’ operations, and there’s no immediate end in sight. High prices may wane later in the winter if it’s severe. If there’s a high demand, prices may lower but not until after January 1, and more likely after the first ...
Views: 1085 - Home Automation: It Is Worth The Investment - by Submitted on Nov 21, 2011 from Julian ArhireIn a recent survey, more than two-thirds of the 400 U.S. builders queried offer computer networking, structured wiring and central vacuum systems with their homes. Programmable thermostats, security systems and zoned HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems top the list of most ...
Views: 966 - Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) And Health Effects of Air Pollution - by Submitted on Nov 07, 2011 from Julian ArhireEmployers, whether building owners or tenants, have found that dissatisfaction with the indoor environment can lead to a host of employee problems, ranging from lost productivity – whether through lost days or just decreased effectiveness – to outright hostility toward management. At the very ...
Views: 1065 - Contaminated HVAC Ducts: Fungal Growth And Its Role In Indoor Air Problems - by Submitted on Oct 24, 2011 from Julian ArhireOne recent study, which looked at hundreds of duct liner samples taken from "problem buildings," found that nearly half of the samples were contaminated. This presumably means that contaminated material was left in place until it either caused or contributed to ongoing IEQ problems - problems ...
Views: 1129 - Vision Of Trends In The Residential HVAC Industry - by Submitted on Oct 24, 2011 from Julian ArhireHomebuilders who have been lucky enough to find a quality HVAC subcontractor and cultivate a good working relationship may have to cope with dramatic changes ahead. The key question: Can small, independent HVAC contractors survive in a world where giants are on the march? And if so, what will ...
Views: 2047 - How To Approach Insulation And Duct Contamination - by Submitted on Oct 24, 2011 from Julian ArhireLet's look at what we do know. First, insulation in ducts provides noise control - and this is an important consideration. Air quality isn't the only thing that affects the indoor environment; noise is an important issue as well, and excess noise can lead to a general dissatisfaction with IEQ ...
Views: 573 - An Overview Of Corporate Security Policies - by Submitted on Aug 09, 2011 from Julian ArhireAccording to a survey of facilities professionals conducted last year 77 percent of companies have formal, written security policies, while 52 percent review and/or modify these policies at least once per year. How these policies are developed and who's creating them, however, can vary based on ...
Views: 859 - Choosing Between Carpet And Hard Surface Flooring - by Submitted on Aug 08, 2011 from Julian ArhireThe choice of floor covering products usually is made on the basis of cost, durability, maintenance, and aesthetics. Commercial carpet and hard-surface flooring, such as vinyl, must be assessed on the basis of installation, cleaning, and maintenance, plus frequency of removal and replacement due ...
Views: 656 - Success Of The Office Place Revolution - by Submitted on Aug 04, 2011 from Julian ArhireTeaming has been applied to everything from the formation of strategic alliances to the creation of facilities designed specifically to help reduce product cycles and bring goods to market faster. Reducing the product cycle has obvious corporate benefits since the cost of development is reduced. ...
Views: 716 - The New Alternative Officing Solutions - by Submitted on Aug 02, 2011 from Julian ArhireWhile such things as computer and telecommunications systems have traditionally been outside the designer's responsibility, they are fundamental elements of alternative design. Designers must become technology-savvy to truly serve their clients and offer real alternative officing ...
Views: 914(1 vote) - What Is The Symbol For Corporate Identity? - by Submitted on Aug 01, 2011 from Julian ArhireGraphics of all types, but signage in particular, are a worthwhile investment for a number of reasons. They can create an immediate feeling about an organization's character. Environmental graphics are the first impression you get. From any facility, you are going to receive mental feedback, and ...
Views: 571 - Spotlight On Best Practices For Facilities Managers - by Submitted on Jul 29, 2011 from Julian ArhireSome argue that benchmarking and best practices are essentially two sides of the same coin. The search can result in companies in like industries swapping FM information, or one company ferreting out best practices through nose-to-the-grindstone research. Many measures of success After ...
Views: 593 - Benchmarking And Expert System Software Can Help Companies Quantify Their Security Programs - by Submitted on Jul 27, 2011 from Julian ArhireMeet Company X. It has no formal, written security procedures and essentially handles security-related incidents on an ad hoc, case-by-case basis. Our next contestant is Company Y. This organization has a formal security program in place and has distributed written procedures to all its ...
Views: 649 - Innovative Green Roofs For Healthy Green Buildings - by Submitted on Jul 26, 2011 from Julian ArhireBreathing clean, oxygen-rich air is easier on the respiratory system, and the vegetation on green roofs helps to re-oxygenate the air through the photosynthesis process of transforming carbon dioxide into oxygen. At higher temperatures, dry air can make breathing difficult, even when the air is ...
Views: 625 - One Size Does Not Fit All When It Comes To The Applicability Of Code Issues And Compliance - by Submitted on Jul 25, 2011 from Julian ArhireWhether using one of the model codes or a site-specific code, such as New York City's Building Code, the task of analyzing and applying the applicable code requirement for a particular situation is best suited to a professional code consultant who understands the variations in codes from ...
Views: 737 - How to Choose the Correct Water, Drop By Drop - by Submitted on Jul 22, 2011 from Julian ArhireThere is no single solution to all water-quality concerns; the best response is the safest and most cost-effective approach for your facility. When questions about water quality arise, the first step is diagnosis. Start by getting a free copy of the latest water-quality report from the local ...
Views: 685(1 vote) - How Dimmers Save Energy - by Submitted on Jul 21, 2011 from Julian ArhireThe magnetic dimming systems first introduced in the 1970s were cumbersome, noisy, and inefficient. And the electronic fluorescent dimming ballasts produced in the late 1980s were cost prohibitive and often excluded from Demand Side Management program rebates. However, today's systems provide a ...
Views: 601 - What Does Internet-Enabled Mean To The Average Construction Professional? - by Submitted on Jul 18, 2011 from Julian ArhireExpanding your usage of Internet tools, like intranets, will bring your business new opportunities to work smarter, and in certain cases, generate new revenue streams. Is it something that must be provided for and demanded from software providers? Not necessarily. Software providers can ...
Views: 804 - For Facility Executives, The Bottom Line Can't Be Measured Only In Dollars And Cents - by Submitted on Jul 10, 2011 from Julian ArhireWhen it comes to the bottom line, there are two ways that organizations can look at the facilities they occupy. The traditional approach is to see facilities as a cost. This focus on the inputs to a business process leads naturally to cost control and expense cuts as organizations strive to ...
Views: 769(1 vote)