Building Controls and Services, Inc Blog

The Benefits of Double-Wall R-13 Insulation In Your Equipment

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 21:55:22 GMT

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In the evolving world of HVAC technology, innovation is the cornerstone of creating systems that are not only efficient but also durable and user-centric. AAON’s packaged rooftop units, designed with two-inch thick, double-wall R-13 insulation, exemplify this principle by delivering a host of benefits that elevate building performance and comfort, saving the owner energy and money. Here’s why this groundbreaking feature is transforming HVAC solutions and helping owners with their TCO-approach by extending the lifespan on their equipment.

UNMATCHED ENERGY EFFICIENCY

One of the standout benefits of two-inch thick, double-wall polyurethane foam R-13 insulation with a thermal break is its ability to enhance energy efficiency. The integrated thermal break minimizes thermal bridging, significantly reducing heat transfer between the interior and exterior of the cabinet. This innovation prevents energy loss, ensuring your HVAC system operates at peak efficiency year-round, resulting in considerable savings on utility bills.

ENHANCED WEATHER RESISTANCE & CONDENSATION CONTROL

AAON’s innovative design incorporates a thermal break to eliminate condensation risks caused by temperature differentials within the cabinet. This feature is particularly valuable in climates with extreme temperature swings, ensuring that the unit remains reliable and low-maintenance over time. The weather-resistant construction further enhances the unit’s resilience, making it an ideal choice for diverse environmental conditions.

SUPERIOR DURABILITY

Durability is a critical consideration in HVAC systems, particularly for commercial applications. AAON’s double-wall construction encases the insulation, protecting it from damage caused by external factors or system maintenance. This robust design not only extends the lifespan of the unit but also ensures consistent performance in even the most demanding environments.

IMPROVED INDOOR AIR QUALITY

Indoor air quality is a growing concern in building design, and AAON’s thoughtful engineering addresses this head-on. By encasing the insulation between two layers, the risk of exposed fiberglass fibers compromising the airstream is completely eliminated. This design guarantees cleaner, healthier air for occupants, meeting the demands of modern building standards.

QUIETER OPERATION

Noise pollution can be a significant issue in HVAC systems, particularly in mixed-use or residential spaces. The robust, double-wall cabinet design of AAON’s units minimizes noise transmission, creating a quieter and more comfortable environment both inside and outside the building.

INVESTING IN YOUR FUTURE

AAON’s double-wall R-13 insulation cabinet construction is more than just an innovation; it’s a paradigm shift in HVAC design. By prioritizing energy efficiency, durability, air quality, noise reduction, and weather resistance, these units offer a holistic solution that meets the needs of modern buildings. When it comes to choosing high-performance HVAC systems, AAON’s advanced design ensures better efficiency, comfort, and lo ng-term reliability.

Contact your BCS representative to Learn more about AAON’s cutting-edge packaged rooftop units and how they can help navigate your TCO-focused approach.

The Importance of Evaluating Total Cost of Ownership When Purchasing Rooftop Units

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 20:29:55 GMT

When purchasing new rooftop units (RTUs), the immediate focus often lands on the upfront costs: the purchase price and installation. However, a deeper look reveals that these initial expenses are only a small fraction of the overall financial commitment. To truly understand the long-term financial implications of your investment, it is crucial to evaluate the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) .

WHAT IS TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP?

TCO encompasses the complete lifecycle costs of your facility and its equipment, providing a comprehensive view of both short-term and long-term expenses. Beyond the initial purchase and installation costs, TCO includes ongoing operational expenses such as energy consumption, maintenance, repairs, and eventual replacement. By adopting a TCO-focused approach, buyers can make more informed decisions that align with their financial and operational goals.

WHY TCO MATTERS

Uncovering Hidden Costs

Many RTU-related expenses are not immediately apparent at the time of purchase. These can include:

Energy Consumption: RTUs with lower energy efficiency ratings may have lower upfront costs but can lead to significantly higher energy bills over time.
Maintenance and Repairs: Frequent maintenance or costly repairs for less durable units can add up quickly, impacting your budget.
Downtime Costs: Breakdowns can disrupt operations, leading to additional expenses from lost productivity or temporary cooling/heating solutions.
Compliance Costs: Adapting older, less efficient units to meet evolving energy regulations can result in unexpected expenditures.

Optimizing Long-Term Savings

Investing in energy-efficient RTUs might involve higher initial costs, but these units typically deliver substantial savings through reduced energy consumption. Over time, the lower utility bills and fewer maintenance needs can offset the upfront expense, making these models more cost-effective in the long run.

Durability and Lifespan
High-quality RTUs with a longer lifespan can help delay the need for replacement, further optimizing the value of your investment. Units built for durability also tend to perform more reliably, minimizing disruptions and associated costs.

MAKING AN INFORMED DECISION

Evaluating the TCO of RTUs allows for a side-by-side comparison of different models based on key factors such as:

Energy Efficiency Ratings
Maintenance Requirements
Durability and Build Quality

This analysis helps you strike the right balance between upfront costs and long-term value, ensuring that the unit you choose supports both your financial objectives and operational needs.

THE BIGGER PICTURE: FINANCIAL & ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Considering TCO is not just about saving money—it’s also about making smarter, more sustainable choices. Energy-efficient RTUs not only lower operational costs but also reduce carbon footprints, aligning your investment with environmental stewardship and compliance with green building standards. Focusing solely on the initial purchase price of an RTU can be a costly mistake. By incorporating TCO into your purchasing process, you gain a holistic understanding of the unit’s true cost over its lifespan. This proactive approach minimizes surprises, maximizes cost-effectiveness, and ensures your investment delivers value for years to come. Before purchasing your next RTU, take the time to evaluate its TCO—your future budget will thank you.

Contact your BCS representative to explore more on Total Cost of Ownership and how we can support your financial and operational goals.

The Importance of HVAC to the K-12 Learning Environment

Mon, 09 Jul 2018 12:01:00 GMT

The average American spends 93% of their life indoors. For a school aged child, that is spent largely at school. According to National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), there are almost 99,000 public K-12 schools in America and the average public-school building in the U.S. is 42 years old. Our students are spending their days in aging facilities with physical deficiencies that may be prohibiting their learning capabilities.

Those in school planning and design have taken this as an opportunity to enhance academic outcomes by created learning environments that live up to the standards many district’s demand of their students’ academics. Clean, quiet, safe, comfortable, and healthy environments are components essential to successful teaching and learning. Rebuilding and updating outdated facilities is essential to the health of our education system. Architects, engineers and owners alike are taking a student-centric approach to modern school building. They are combating some of the biggest health issues in schools with effective HVAC design and mechanics which include poor indoor air quality, temperature and humidity, and ventilation.

HVAC-Related Health Issues in Educational Facilities

Poor Indoor Air Quality

Studies show that 15,000 schools across the US suffer from poor Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), affecting more than eight million children or one in five children in America’s schools. Poor Indoor Air Quality, or breathable air with dust, germs, bacteria and mold can cause Sick Building Syndrome. Sick Building Syndrome is associated with symptoms such as irritated eyes, nose and throat, upper respiratory infections, nausea, dizziness, headaches and fatigue, or sleepiness. The issue is simple. Sick students and teachers don’t perform as well as healthy ones.

Poor IAQ leads to increased student absenteeism. A study conducted by Smedje and Norback and Rosen and Richardson found a positive relationship between airborne bacteria and mold to asthma in children, which, in turn, increased absentee rates. Further, the American Lung Association (ALA) found that American children miss more than ten million school days each year because of asthma exacerbated by poor IAQ.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) call for fifteen and twenty cubic feet of air per minute per person to deliver more fresh air and dilute and remove contaminants. Avoiding the build up of dust, germs, bacteria and mold in the air is essential to occupant health.

Temperature and Humidity

Temperature and Humidity affect levels of bacteria and mold in a space, which directly impact your facility’s indoor air quality. Additionally, studies prove that students perform mental tasks best in rooms kept at moderate humidity levels (40-70%) and temperatures in the range of 68-74 degrees.

Thermal temperature affects occupant’s concentration, memory and learning ability. It also affects teachers’ ability to teach and overall attitude towards their work. According to a study conducted by Lowe in 1990, the winners of the state teachers of the year awards, the best teachers in the US, emphasize their ability to individually control classroom temperature.

Ventilation

The purpose of ventilating classrooms and school buildings, at a minimum, is to remove or dilute contaminants that build up inside. Contaminants come from breathing, skin, clothes, perfumes, shampoos, deodorants, building materials and cleaning products, pathogens, and from a host of other agents that can be harmful in certain concentrations.

Children breathe a greater volume of air than the average fully-grown adult based on body weight, making proper ventilation essential in schools. Most educational facilities have much less floor space per person than found in most office buildings. The problem lies in the high cost of conditioning and ventilating air to comfortable temperatures before it starts circulating. Due to budget restraints, neglect, poor maintenance or some combination of these factors, many designers and operators are unwittingly creating ineffective learning environments due to inadequate ventilation.

What You Can Do to Improve Learning Environment Health

Watch for Symptoms

Building occupants often associate health symptoms they experience with poor environments. However, determining if health symptoms relate to IAQ problems can be difficult. Acute, or short-term, symptoms are typically similar to cold, allergy and flu. The symptoms below may be an indication of underlying IAQ issues:

Chest tightness or shortness of breath
Chills
Cough
Diagnosed infection or clusters of serious health problems
Dizziness
Eye, nose and throat problems (congestion, swelling, itching or irritation)
Fatigue, drowsiness, dizziness or lethargy
Fever
Headache
Nausea
Shortness of breath
Sinus congestion
Skin irritation
Sneezing

Take Action to Ensure that Schools Are Well-Maintained

As school budgets tighten, school boards and administration often consider the maintenance budget as an expense to be cut without affecting the core academic program needs. However, a good maintenance program is integral to ensuring that school health and academic programs achieve their fullest potential. An effective maintenance program can reduce both energy costs and long-term repair costs.

Sources:

http://www.ncef.org/pubs/outcomes.pdf

http://www.ncef.org/pubs/teacherretention.pdf

https://www.epa.gov/iaq-schools/indoor-air-quality-high-performance-schools#how

https://www.epa.gov/iaq-schools/evidence-scientific-literature-about-improved-academic-performance

https://www.epa.gov/schools-air-water-quality/healthy-schools-and-indoor-air-quality

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Performance Solutions Earns Top Project of the Year Award from Energy Manager Today

Wed, 16 May 2018 05:34:00 GMT

We are thrilled to announced that our Strategic Energy and Maintenance Program with St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City, Kansas received a Top Project of the Year Award in the Energy Manager Today Product & Project Awards. The project was recognized for excellence in improving environmental and energy management while increasing the bottom line.

One judge said of the award win, “This project allowed the facility to become compliant with regulations, saved money and allowed the facility to operate while meeting critical care conditions for the hospital. It is impressive that the hospital undertook such a large-scale project to really look at improving the internal environment while also minimizing the effects upon the external environment. Hospitals are not typically known for implementing green projects. St. Catherine should be commended for being a leader in making improvements that will help not only their patients, but also our planet.”

Another added, “This was a great application of a building maintenance intelligence system to help with critical infrastructure, like a hospital, improve energy efficiency management without needing to spend significant capital to upgrade the facility’s central power plant. It’s a great model for other older facilities to follow.”

Scores were determined by a panel of independent judges headed by Peter Bussey of LNS Research and also including judges from: Ball Aerospace, Best Buy, Black Ink Consulting, BSI Group, CandA, Caesars, Consultant Ben Larkey, Harbec, Kellogg, LNS Research, Marriott, Miller Coors,Nike, Novartis, Sears Holdings Corporation, Strategic Sustainable Consulting, Sustridge, Tesla, Wellborn Cabinet, and Vincit Group.

With rapid advancements and a continuous rate of change in the field, sustainability and energy professionals have the daunting task of choosing products to help their companies increase energy, environmental, and sustainability performance. The Environmental Leader and Energy Manager Today Product & Project Awards give companies a solid base of products, vetted by experts, from which to choose, as well as a variety of successful projects to illustrate how sustainability and energy management is helping companies improve.

“With a highly respected (and critical) judging panel and a strict set of judging criteria, entrants faced an extremely high bar for the level of product or project to qualify for an award,” says Tim Hermes, publisher of Environmental Leader parent company, Business Sector Media. “Those who entered needed to bring their A-game to get even a sniff of award-nirvana. And they delivered.”

About the award-winning project:

St. Catherine Hospital partnered with Performance Solutions to address temperature and humidity compliance issues in critical care areas, decrease energy costs and save time responding to issues. PS conducted a detailed condition assessment and identified improvements to ensure the building systems were working efficiently. To solve issues in critical care areas, a central plant and building analysis discovered an underperforming design and recent modification that caused insufficient flow to parts of the hospital. Piping modifications, equipment repairs, and new building technologies optimized chiller plant and surgical suites operations. The improvements resulted in regulatory compliance, capital cost avoidance, chiller plant and critical care optimizations, and confidence in chiller capacity keeping redundancy. To improve hospital data analytics, St. Catherine’s implemented the PS Building Intelligence Program (BIP). Maintenance staff monitors, analyzes, and runs reports in real time, enabling staff to make informed facility operations decisions and improve service quality.

Using the facility systems and data already in place, we conducted a gap analysis and comprehensive facility assessment. Armed with information, St. Catherine and Performance Solutions assessed the root cause of immediate, budget draining, facility issues and fixed them while addressing waste and consumption. We provided a complete inventory and prioritized plan to improve facility conditions and a best-practices ongoing maintenance plan. The staff trained on efficient operations strategies and in using the Building Intelligence Platform (BIP), a platform that overlays all facility automation systems to track real-time performance data. A financial model was prepared that focused on reducing existing costs. This resulted in a budget neutral program for the hospital after facility improvements were implemented.

Performance Solutions continues to track program results with real-time monitoring and regular report findings for future cost-saving opportunities and to identify facility issues before they arise, creating a more proactive approach to energy management.

In this critical 132 bed hospital, the successful Strategic Energy and Maintenance Program saved the hospital $199,800 in the first year and $1 million in cost-avoidance by avoiding the expansion of their central plant. The hospital’s key challenges of maintaining proper temperature and humidity in critical care areas, reducing energy cost and deferred maintenance, and improving building technologies were fulfilled. They now have the tools to monitor these areas and proactively eradicate problems before they occur while utilizing the BIP to its full potential- tracking trends and utility bill data to identify future projects.

Three years after implementation, the projected savings continue to be on track, exceeding projections. In fact, the hospital submitted for an Energy Star certification. The program’s success is boosting the utilities budget, making it possible to prepare for future facility upgrades and enabling the staff to focus on what matters most, the patient.

Many firms told St. Catherine’s expansion of their central plant to address the regulatory challenges was a necessity. We partnered with hospital staff to take data measurements on real-time system operations. Upon determining the plant should support the load requirement, the teams focused on optimizing the plant rather than trying to sell hospital equipment.

After repairing existing equipment, upgrading the controls system to enable more data and visibility, and setting KPI’s, the system is running effectively. It is running at 1/3 the previous flow and the maintenance team has moved from reactive to a proactive maintenance philosophy. The nurses in critical care areas were provided dashboards that show real-time performance. They can quickly check compliance levels and notify staff of any issue.

These tailored solutions go much farther than traditional performance improvement. The team created a low-cost operations strategy that paid for itself in cost-avoidance and continues to perform well. Learn more

About Energy Manager Today

Since 2006, Energy Manager Today’s websites and daily email newsletters have provided the definitive and objective voice in reporting on business-related energy, environmental, sustainability, and energy and energy management issues. Visit: www.energymanagertoday.com/

About the Energy Manager Today Product & Project Awards

In its sixth year, the Environmental Leader Product & Project Awards recognize excellence in products and services that provide companies with energy and environmental benefits, or in corporate projects that improved environmental, sustainability or energy management and increased the bottom line. It is a five-point rating system designed to offer companies feedback and recognition. Third-party judges came from the following companies: Ball Aerospace, Best Buy, Black Ink Consulting, BSI Group, CandA, Caesars , Consultant Ben Larkey, Harbec , Kellogg, LNS Research, Marriott, Miller Coors,Nike, Novartis, Sears Holdings Corporation, Strategic Sustainable Consulting, Sustridge, Tesla, Wellborn Cabinet, and Vincit Group. For a complete list of winners, visit www.energymanagertoday.com/

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Benefits of Underfloor HVAC Technology

Mon, 07 May 2018 10:43:00 GMT

Underfloor Technology, or Underfloor Air Distribution (UAD/UFAD) , is a method of delivering space conditioning in offices and other commercial buildings. It uses open space between a structural concrete slab and the underside of a raised access floor system to deliver conditioned air directly into an occupied zone of a building. The air is delivered through a variety of supply outlets located at floor or desk level. This method of heating and cooling is quickly growing in popularity due to its potential advantages including improved thermal comfort, increased indoor air quality, and energy use reduction.

Improved Thermal Comfort
This system gives individual users control over their local thermal environment compared to traditional systems. Because ventiliation accessibility, individual comfort preferences can be accommodated. Research evidence shows that occupant satisfaction and productivity can be increased by giving individuals greater control over their local environment. Additionally, UFAD introduces supply air at a higher temperature than overhead systems, reducing the likelihood of cold sensation.

Increased Indoor Air Quality
Three items affect the increased indoor air quality experienced by UFAD users- increased ventilation effectiveness, removal of pollutants out of the breathing zone, and the ability to effectively maintain floor plenums. Ventilation effectiveness is due to the proximity of diffusers to an individual’s breathing zone. The overall floor-to-ceiling air flow pattern provided by UAD systems more efficiently remove contaminants from occupied spaces. In other words, air from the floor sweeps pollutants up and away from the breathing zone and reducing cross-contamination. Effectiveness is also increased in cases where users have the ability to relocate/add diffusers to match use patterns of the facility. Ventilation can be increased proportionally to need without awaiting thermal demand.

Energy
Taking into consideration factors such as ventilation effectiveness, stratification savings, higher supply temperatures and split task/ambient conditioning, UAD systems can identify between 5-25% energy consumption savings due to use of higher supply air temperatures. These air temperatures allow the use of economizer cycle for longer time, especially in mild climates. For systems that have split task ambient conditioning, savings can occur if task-conditioning operation is flexible and occupancy sensors in use. In addition, UFAD conditions only use the first six feet of space in a room, reducing supply air requirements and chiller and primary fan capacity as a result.

Cost
By combining all aspects of the HVAC system into one easily accessible service plenum, flexibility is increased and potential costs are avoided associated with re-configuring building services. Facility management costs decrease due to reduced occupant comfort complaints. These benefits allow for reduction in facility staff requirements and give the team the opportunity to complete preventive maintenance tasks .

Growth for this cost-effective technology has been relatively slow as with any unfamiliar technology. The perceived high risk to designers and building owners, lack of available information and standardized guidelines, and the perceived higher cost of a raised floor drive the resistance to implement UFAD technology.

Feeling unsure about its application? American AgCredit applied UFAD technology to their regional headquarters in Wichita, Kansas and experienced increased employee comfort compared with their previous facility’s traditional system. The award winning system design called for the use of a complementary unit that had the ability to provide very dry, comfortable, underfloor air that cooled slightly into the 60’s. American AgCredit utilized AAON DPAC units because of the product’s ability to efficiently cool all underfloor air while only dehumidifying a portion to lower humidity levels. Learn more.

Interested in how Underfloor Technology could benefit your facility? Contact us to learn more.

Source: Center for the Built Environment: https://www.cbe.berkeley.edu/underfloorair/techoverview.htm

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BCS Partners with Siemens Technologies to Bring Hands-On Solar Energy Learning to Goddard Public Schools

Wed, 25 Apr 2018 12:33:00 GMT

BCS partnered with Siemens Building Technologies to bring an understanding of energy efficiency to local Kansas school district, USD 265 Goddard Public Schools. BCS’s Steve Mankins, spent three days in sixth grade classrooms engaging students in hands-on activities about renewable energy sources. We incorporated the district’s recent energy efficient HVAC, lighting and infrastructure upgrades into the discussions, hoping to give students a better understanding of the changes to their schools.

Students used solar panels, battery packs, and hydrogen to generate enough energy to power a light and fan motor. They learned about the strength of each energy source, their applications, and how to build sustainability and conservation into their daily routines. Most importantly, sixth graders at Discovery and Challenger Intermediate learned about the importance of energy efficiency to their school and planet. Steve had this to say about spending three days in Goddard classrooms: “The kids learned about sustainable energy sources in a hands-on way that hopefully helped them better understand how alternative energy applies to their day-to-day lives and future. They were engaged and asked intuitive questions- many about how to use less energy in their daily lives. It is vital to engage students in discussions about renewable energy- we’ve just scratched the surface! These kids will be the ones to take us into the future.”

This lesson supplemented the district’s participation in the hands-on education program, Project Lead The Way, a non-profit organization empowering students to develop and apply in-demand, transportable skills by exploring real-world challenges and technologies in science, engineering and biomedical sciences.

Participating sixth grade teachers, Cheryl Congleton and Stephanie Ryan, say that students enjoyed a hands-on opportunity to learn about solar energy. “I can say that this was a fantastic experience for my students, and that [BCS] provided an educational opportunity that normally would not have been possible. My students were talking for days/weeks about what they learned, and how much fun they had when Steve was teaching. It was fun to see the reactions of students as they witnessed the transfer of electric energy into hydropower. The conversations and questions about how to apply this technology on a large scale were amazing, and my students had a “Hands-On” experience to really show them how renewable energy can work.” -Cheryl Congleton

“[The lessons] really got them excited about the possibilities of alternative energy sources. With the hand-on aspect the concepts we learned clicked for a lot of the students. The kits could not have fit more perfectly with our Project Lead The Way unit of Energy and the Environment. I feel so privilege to have had this opportunity for my students.” -Stephanie Ryan

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How to Effectively Implement LEED Certification Design

Fri, 06 Apr 2018 13:29:00 GMT

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) certifications are globally recognized as a symbol of achieving building sustainability. As defined by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. It provides a framework for all building projects to apply healthy, highly efficient and cost saving strategies. LEED certification provides a roadmap to sustainability that takes the mystery out of the ethereal concept of “Green Design” and gives building owners tangible financial benefits and incentives.

While the concept of Green Building is increasing in popularity, its cost, cultural and structural resistance, lack of know-how, expertise, funding and awareness keep its growth slow. Organization’s fear of implementing new and imperfect concepts, keep them from trying green building. Renowned green architect William McDonough makes a good point. The job of green design is not for everything to work perfectly at first, but to stimulate improvement, learning and best practices throughout the facility’s life. LEED certification is not an exact blueprint. Green designers focus should not be on certification alone, but how building performance leads to certification. Building for certification alone hinders the purpose of sustainability, tampering a facility’s efficiency and sustainability potential in the long-run.

Another LEED trap to avoid is gaming the system for easy returns. By making one-off, incentivized adjustments to your facility in lieu of developing a wholistic strategy, you’re forgoing long-term savings and actual environmental benefits.

As these practices become more mainstream and more businesses adopt them, designers and developers will begin to blindly follow requirements without questioning or improving them at all. It’s vital to your LEED design to encourage forward-thinking planning and future improvements.

When done correctly and in partnership with talented, qualified engineers, architects, and building owners with experience, an LEED standard building strategy is beneficial to the owner’s budget, equipment life, the organization, and the health of its occupants. While initially expensive, an effective strategy will focus on the life-cycle evaluation of a building and its performance data, prioritizing long-term financial and environmental benefits.

Green, LEED certified facilities are a worthwhile option for organizations willing to take a risk to continue improving innovative technologies and applications that truly benefit all stakeholders. When a dedicated team and plan is in place to keep operations running inline with LEED requirements, continued improvement and long-term benefits are a guarantee.

Sources:

https://www.usgbc.org/help/what-leed

https://grist.org/article/green-building/

http://www.zdnet.com/article/top-pros-and-cons-of-leed/

https://www.archdaily.com/227934/where-is-leed-leading-us-and-should-we-follow?ad_medium=widget&ad_name=navigation-prev

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6 Features Your Building Systems Need to Pass the Next School Bond

Mon, 26 Mar 2018 12:34:00 GMT

Your 30-year old heating and cooling system is taking up more and more of your facility team’s time to keep running. It’s past time to consider its inevitable replacement. The cost of shutting down school to fix a chiller, air handling unit, or boiler is not in the budget. The district is ready to pass a bond and is willing to include 20% for mechanical upgrades. Before you start rallying the community around a bond issue, you must consider how you are going to sell the value of your facility upgrades and rally support from your board and community. You must also be prepared to safeguard your budget. When your upgrade project starts to creep overbudget, facility equipment is the first to suffer because its effects are not visible to the public.

Build “value engineering” into your budget by finding ways to spend less on mechanical systems without sacrificing functionality. Value engineering is the review of products during the design phase to reduce costs and increase functionality to increase the value of the product. If you purchase a piece of high quality equipment, you can reduce other parts of the budget as a result. For example, if you are purchasing for longevity and product support, your Total Cost of Ownership should be reduced because you can plan to spend less on maintenance, replacement parts and service.

A school bond financially affects the local community, so proposing the purchase of systems without explaining their worth, both financial and tangible, could hurt your chances of it passing. Stewarding community and district funds is daunting, but when you are choosing facility equipment that really is best for students and staff, you have the tools you need to craft a winning message. Your strategy should be two part: selecting facility systems that produce the most benefit to students and staff and then effectively communicating those system’s value to the public from a relatable angle.

What attributes do facility equipment like building automation systems, HVAC equipment, and fire and security systems need to encompass to truly be the best for your building’s occupants? And what is the best way to communicate these benefits externally? Share comfort and health benefits. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, children spend 90% of their time indoors, the majority of that time spent in school. Schools in exemplary physical condition report improved academic performance while schools with fewer janitorial personnel and higher maintenance backlogs report poorer academic performance. In fact, a study of the costs and benefits of energy efficient equipment in K-12 schools in Washington State estimated a 15% reduction in absenteeism and a 5% increase in test scores.

The facility systems you select play an enormous role in the quality of your education. Your community will gladly vote yes for facility upgrades that benefit their children, especially when you can prove the tangible benefits to learning.

When it comes to building systems, here are the six most important features your systems need to build comfortable and healthy environments. These items should make it easy to prove your district is being a good steward of public funds for its infrastructure.

Flexibility
To accommodate student schedules and after-school activities, you need systems that will fit your unique needs. Not only do you need individual spaces heated and cooled at different temperatures, you need the flexibility to keep certain parts of your facility running for various times and numbers of people. Your equipment should be able to create comfortable spaces for any need by its ability to handle different loads, whether it’s gym class for eight hours or a 3-hour basketball practice for 10 people. You should also be looking for equipment that will run both heating and cooling efficiently, monitoring the environment to maintain temperature to prevent discomfort or distraction.
Quiet Operation
Your job is to maintain environments conducive to learning, but a noisy heating and cooling system is disruptive. Choose HVAC equipment that has industry-leading sound levels to keep students focused on what’s important. The highest efficiency modulating compressors tent to be a little noisy. In your project’s design phase, be sure to place your energy efficient equipment away from classrooms and insulate it.

Safety
School violence has only increased over the past several years, and both students and parents are feeling the uneasiness associated with it. When staff and students are on campus, you are responsible for their wellbeing. Why not keep them the safest they can be with state-of-the-art fire and security systems?Install a security system in your school that will protect your students and faculty, increase their sense of protection and get help to them fast in the event of an emergency. You can’t always prevent violence, but you can decrease the odds that it will happen at your school and help protect your students if it does. This doesn’t only mean having access controls, but a holistic safety plan that includes video surveillance and automation that integrates with your access controls. The community will resonate with the urgency to upgrade outdated security systems to keep their loved ones safer.Find a provider that can help you plan a fire-safety plan, check all requirements and deliver regular testing and maintenance to keep everything in compliance. Implement cutting-edge systems that, for example, connect directly to the fire station or panic alarms that communicate with the police force. These products bring a faster response time to emergencies with little more than the press of a button.

Efficiency
Not only should you expect your facility equipment to run, providing comfort to its occupants, it should deliver a return on investment. By upgrading to more energy efficient equipment, your upgrades could pay for themselves in the long-term, especially when properly maintained and controlled.In 2016, Hays Middle School in Hays, Kansas used community funds to add a 21-square foot gymnasium and upgrade an antiquated boiler/chiller system with AAON Equipment. Their utility bills did not increase. Learn more about their stories now: https://bldgcontrols.com/works/hays-middle-school/

Controlling and Monitoring
To enhance efficiency and increase the profitability of your facility equipment, it is essential to implement a Building Automation System to integrate and control all building systems as efficiently as possible, all in one place.Building Automation Systems improve efficiency by reducing the power used during off-hours automatically. They monitor temperatures during the day and adjust to keep things comfortable at reduced power output levels. Additionally, they can tie into your security system and keep access to your buildings under tight control.

Longevity
You’re using the community’s money to upgrade your facility, so you want to purchase equipment that is built to last with the highest quality materials, most innovative and efficient features with a strong reputation.Investing in the best facility systems that come with built-in organizational support like service, maintenance and compliance testing and then effectively promoting your plan to the community, in terms of improved educational standards will earn you unprecedented support for your next bond issue.

Contact us for your bond issue facility system needs- our equipment checks all the boxes. We’ll help you find the best way to communicate with local constituents to get the vote.

Sources:

More information about the affects of a healthy environment on students here: https://www.epa.gov/schools/impact-performance-and-health-schools

More about Value Engineering: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/v/value-engineering.asp

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Secure Your School with an Integrated Fire and Life Safety System

Mon, 26 Mar 2018 06:11:00 GMT

The post Secure Your School with an Integrated Fire and Life Safety System appeared first on Building Controls and Services, Inc. .

Company Policy Habits to Reduce Energy Consumption

Mon, 26 Mar 2018 03:13:00 GMT

There are endless reasons for a business to concentrate on energy efficiency in the work building. Electricity costs are rising. Customers want the businesses they buy from to be environmentally friendly. A green company culture is desirable from potential employees. However, when it comes down to the brass tacks, many organizations find it difficult to identify ways to become more reduce energy consumption and be efficient. Consider these workplace policy improvements to help your building operations cut down on energy use.

Be Smart About Windows and Light

Businesses should use the windows that they have. Far too many office buildings are lined with windows but have shades closed at all times. Inside the building, every light switch is turned on, filling rooms with artificial illumination. This is not only unnecessary, but it is also wasteful. Depending on what direction windows are facing, shades could and should be open for a majority of the day. During cooler months of the year, natural light’s energy can both bring warmth and visibility to offices. During hotter months, shades can be adjusted, so light still enters the building. Trees, both outside and inside, can help to disperse light, so that offices are not too bright or too warm.

Let Your Computers and Laptops Rest

Most people leave their computers and laptops on; it is just a habit. It is easier to keep programs that are being used open and running. While this might save a couple minutes each day, it wastes a lot of electricity over time. Companies should implement policies to not only shut down devices when the workforce leaves the office, but even unplugging power cords and chargers to avoid waste to phantom power . Be conservative with energy during work hours too. For example, computer and laptop settings can be changed to go into automatic sleep mode if they are left unused for more than 15 minutes. Not only is it good to give the machine a break, but it will also reduce the amount of energy wasted and electricity costs.

Use A Retail Energy Supplier

To run a business successfully, a million balls need to be juggled. There is always something to do, improvement to be made, or new advancement to incorporate. Sometimes, to make sure all components of the business are on track, it is best to delegate tasks.

Businesses can incorporate similar delegation with their energy needs. For companies in a deregulated market, they can switch to a retail energy supplier and see tremendous benefits. Not only will they get the best natural gas and electricity rates, but they will also get price protection for those rates, unparalleled customer service, and real cost savings. Additionally, a retail energy supplier will regularly update its clients on the latest technology and methods for reducing energy use and waste.

Set Better Energy Goals

What gets measured gets improved . If a business wants to start wasting less energy, they should first assess what they are doing and where they are most wasteful. This might start simply by looking at the energy bill and setting a goal of a lower number for the next month. It might, however, be more involved, including an energy audit and getting an analytics system set up, so the business can more precisely review how much energy they are using and where the energy use is concentrated. A thorough analysis is conducted, and further details pinpoint where a business building is most wasteful, including the time of day, day of the week, particular machine operations, and more.

Relax the Dress Code

In summer, energy bills see a spike when the outdoors heat up, and HVAC systems run constantly to maintain a comfortable indoor environment. Constant outdoor heat can be accentuated by strict office dress codes, when people are required to wear heavy, long pants; long sleeves; full suits; uniforms; and more. For most days of the year, this type of dress may be unnecessary. Many offices rarely see clients or suppliers come into the office, and much work includes virtual communication with talks over the phone or emails. This creates an opportunity for organizations to loosen the dress code, so employees can keep cool without needing to blast air conditioning to maintain comfortable indoor conditions. This saves a lot of energy and utility costs in the process.

Excessive energy consumption and wastefulness can become a habit. To break this routine, new ones must be created. It takes a little bit of discipline, but offices will see a big difference in their operating cost energy bills if they make the effort. For more extensive methods of increasing energy efficiency, please contact us .

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Partners Make AGC State Building Award Wins Possible

Wed, 21 Mar 2018 12:36:00 GMT

BCS was recognized for excellence in construction and team collaboration in the 2018 AGC of Kansas State Building Awards and Kan-Struct Collaboration Awards. Thanks to our partners who bring our passions to life by enabling us to build comfort zones for these building owners:

AGC of Kansas State Building Awards:

Services:
HVAC Equipment, Building Automation System

Partners:
Construction Manager: Hutton Construction
Architect: SJCF Architecture
Mechanical Engineer: Basis Consulting Engineering, LLC
Mechanical Contractor: Central Mechanical Wichita

A comfortable learning environment is essential to successful students. BCS worked with the project team to provide quiet and flexible building systems to keep spaces properly heated and cooled for the variety of students and staff utilizing the center. Learn more…

Services:
HVAC Equipment

Partners:
Construction Manager: JE Dunn Construction
General Contractor: The Waldinger Corporation
Architect: SJCF Architecture
Mechanical Engineer: BASIS Engineering Consultants

To continue stewarding city and community funds effectively, Hutchinson Sports arena implemented energy efficient equipment upgrades that accommodated its multi-purpose facility, high occupancy rates and limited roof and cavity space. Learn more…

Kan-Struct Collaboration Awards:

Services:
HVAC Equipment

Partners:
Construction Manager: McCown Gordon, Emcor Services Fagan
Architect: Gould Evans Associates
Mechanical Engineer: Henderson Engineers

The team worked together to build custom ClimateCraft ACCESS units into the university’s Wilson C. Morris Science Building accommodating tight, awkward space constraints and timelines. Learn more…

Congratulations to our partners who made these projects possible. Together, we’re creating comfort zones for people to be more productive and live happier.

Ghostwriter Hausarbeit

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Equip Memory Care Units with Alert Systems for Better Resident Care

Mon, 19 Mar 2018 12:03:00 GMT

Individuals with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other diseases that affect cognitive skills and memory make up a significant proportion of aging and elderly adults living in nursing facilities in the United States. Many nursing homes have already adjusted to this shift with dedicated Memory Care Units, where specialized care can be provided without interrupting the daily lives of other facility residents. Because of the sensitive nature of the services being provided, it can be difficult to find a balance between providing your residents with both the privacy and the protection they need. However, equipping your hospitals and nursing facilities with the right technology will aid you and your residents for better care.

Increased Security

Maintaining security inside a unit that houses individuals with cognitive issues often focuses more on keeping people in than others out. While most nursing homes provide their residents with access to the outdoors, atriums, and social areas, residents with cognitive impairments may require supervision while using these areas to prevent them from harming themselves or others. Security is important to keep all personnel and patients safe.

Incorporating Security Cameras

Using security cameras provides eyes to various locations and can prevent a variety of dangerous situations. Cameras located in hallways, at exits, and throughout common areas can help staff locate residents and monitor them without interfering. When choosing cameras, it is important to keep in mind that residents inside a Memory Care Unit may exhibit behaviors that can cause damage to cameras and other security devices. Ensure that camera choices blend in with the environment and are placed out of arms reach to prevent mishaps.

Many nursing homes have found great success with dome cameras, which blend in well and are difficult to grab on to. Dome cameras are discrete and can be used inside or outside for maximum visibility coverage. As a bonus, they may also be fitted with a shatterproof cover to prevent damage from thrown objects.

Strategic Camera Placement

Every resident, regardless of their cognitive abilities, has a basic right to privacy. This can make placing cameras difficult in some areas of the building. It is always important to ensure that cameras do not record in resident rooms, bathrooms, or other areas where there is an expectation of privacy. Careful placement of cameras in hallways can prevent inadvertent peeping while still covering those areas you need to monitor the most. Some good placement areas include:

Hallways
Exits
Nursing Stations
Common Areas
Medicine Carts
Dining Areas
Storage and Janitorial Rooms

Meet with your system installers prior to installing or upgrading your existing camera systems to ensure you are getting the best possible coverage.

Automated Doorway Systems

Doorway automation systems in the Memory Care setting is a great way to provide non-invasive security that doesn’t rely on the constant vigilance of staff members. Many nursing facilities were not designed with a Memory Care Unit in mind and are not designed to allow staff to easily monitor and direct resident traffic.

In a Memory Care ward, flexibility is the key to keeping your residents safe. While some areas, such as janitorial closets, nursing stations, and maintenance rooms should be off limits, other communal areas may only be accessible by certain residents or at certain times of the day. An automated system can help nursing staff keep track of residents with safety-related behavioral issues. Door monitoring systems are extremely popular inside nursing homes and are one of the most flexible ways to control the flow of traffic in your building.

Flexible Access

Anyone working in a Memory Care Unit knows that adaptability is the best way to keep residents happy and safe. The ability to flex rules to contain behaviors is a key part of the Memory Care environment. Camera systems allow staff to monitor residents who do not wish to be approached. Door automation and alarm systems allow you to customize access on the fly, allowing some residents into areas while keeping others out. The flexibility and non-invasive nature of these systems make them essential to providing high-quality Memory Care services.

A nursing facility isn’t just a business; it is also a home. Ensuring that your residents are comfortable as well as safe is a big part of providing them with the care they need. Most nursing homes opt for non-invasive security options to assist their staff in keeping residents healthy and safe. Whether you are installing a new system or upgrading an old one, our healthcare security specialists can help you create a safe environment for your staff and your residents. Contact us for more information and to learn more about how our building automation solutions can help your healthcare facility needs.

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