Author: MaintenX

New structures are often visually appealing, energy-efficient, and well-designed for those who live and work within their walls. The building designers and architects can take pride in the realization of their designs, and city leaders can boast about welcome new additions to their community.

 

Behind the Scenes

It doesn’t get as much fanfare, but a whole system of technicians and other workers must maintain the building, keeping it in working condition for 40, 50 years or longer. And these two parts of the equation are often not considered fully. So what’s the best solution to this problem? Integrating the vision of a building’s designers with the technical necessities required to keep your office building, apartment complex, or trade center beautiful and functional for many years to come.

 

Funding

It’s a simple truth that maintenance budgets are “un-sexy” and therefore often quite slim.

So it should be no surprise that maintenance facility operators are put under a lot of pressure to reduce costs and cut corners. But what building owners and builders often don’t know is that sustainable maintenance design can reduce long-term energy costs as well as the building’s carbon footprint.

 

Let the Sun Shine In

Utilizing natural light in building design gives the people who live and work within it beautiful views of the outside, which improves work performance and general employee (or tenant) satisfaction—all while reducing a structure’s energy costs.

Buildings are intricate and complicated, but their design and construction have a major impact on their lifespan and efficiency. Taking future maintenance and restoration into account can mean lower costs, a smaller impact on the environment, and a long, vibrant life for the structure and its inhabitants.

How do natural gas generators work? Fueled by natural gas — either via a direct line piped in by your utility company or a tank — they generate electricity when your main power source fails.

 

The Basics

Natural gas generators come in an array of sizes, from portable to industrial. Gasoline generators can even be modified to use propane with a conversion kit.

 

Why Choose Natural Gas?

Choosing a natural gas generator comes with several benefits, including:

Convenience: If your home or workspace is already equipped for natural gas, installing a natural gas generator is simple.

Environmental Concerns: Natural gas burns more cleanly than diesel, decreasing the amount of CO2 and pollutants into the environment.

Affordability: Natural gas generators often require less maintenance than other generator types, which saves money and time.

Natural gas is usually more accessible in a disaster. Because their supply lines are underground, they are storm-resistant. And refillable tanks are sold in many stores.

Natural Gas is more easily stored than both diesel and gasoline. Diesel, for example, can grow fungus if not properly stored.

 

Disadvantages

There are also downsides to choosing a natural gas generator:

Up-front costs are often 10 to 20% higher than similar liquid-fueled generators. They can, however, pay for themselves over time through lower fuel costs.

Natural gas burns cleaner than traditional oil-based fuels, cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions. They can also run on biological natural gas, such as methane derived from landfills.

As we move away from oil-based fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, more and more people and companies are integrating natural gas into their operations. Though it isn’t ideal for every use, natural gas can be as much of a benefit to the environment as it is to your wallet.

If properly maintained, a generator can last many years. The more carefully you maintain your generator, the longer it will work efficiently, and without needing costly repairs. Below are some useful tips to keep your generator on-call when you need it for decades to come.

Make sure to do a routine inspection of your generator every six months, even if it hasn’t been used. Remembering to do this in the fall and spring is a good way to stay on schedule. Fail to do this and your generator may not work the next time your electricity goes out.

 

Oil Change

Most generators require their first oil change after just 30 hours of use. After the first oil change, change the oil after each 100 hours of use. To prepare for an expected outage (such as a major storm), check to ensure you have plenty of oil, oil filters, and fuel to last you several days.

 

Plugs & Filters

As a general rule, change your generator’s spark plug and air filter about every 200 hours of use, or once a year. This will ensure the best fuel/air mixture, helping extend its life while maintaining peak efficiency.

 

Charge the Battery

Not all generators have batteries, but those with an electric start feature should be fully charged before storing.

 

Practice Run

If you’re using it, it’s recommended to power-up your generator once or twice a season. Think of it as a car you don’t use often; just to keep everything working correctly, you have to start it up and let the engine run occasionally. If you’re not the type-A sort, start it twice after its six-month maintenance check-up.

A generator is an essential part of a comprehensive emergency preparedness plan. Nevertheless, a lot of people don’t consider the details of how their generator will power their essential appliances when the power goes out. Here are some tips to get you started.

 

Understanding Different Fuel Types

In addition to the wattage of your generator, you’ll also want to consider the type of fuel it needs. There are benefits and drawbacks to each fuel type, so compare your options and find the right fit.

Gas:

Gasoline is the standard option for portable generators, but some permanent generator models use natural gas. The disadvantage of this option is that they often have small tanks, meaning they have to be refilled often when in use.

Propane or Natural Gas:

This type of generator is a great choice for anyone who looking for a low maintenance, mostly hassle-free option. The main problem people tend encounter is a lack of availability of propane or natural gas in their area. Most have to have the propane delivered, and there are often state and local restrictions on the amount you can receive at once.

 

Transfer Switch

A manual generator transfer switch lets you securely attach a generator to your home or office’s circuit breaker panel, allowing you to simply and safely flip a few switches and disconnect your circuit breaker panel from the main power line supply and connect directly to your generator.

What size generator do you need? This is a common question, and finding the answer may seem like a fairly difficult undertaking. But most of the time, it’s actually pretty straightforward. Let’s break it down to the basics.

 

Step 1: Getting the power information for your appliances

First, you’ll need to figure out the ‘continuous’ and ‘peak’ wattage needed for each of your appliances. Continuous refers to power consumption during normal operation, peak refers to consumption during high-intensity activities light igniting, starting, etc. For certain appliances, they will be the same (things like TVs, lights and laptops).

But for appliances with electric motors or heating elements, the starting wattage can be as much as four times the continuous wattage: fridges, air-conditioners, microwaves, coffeemakers, drills, grinders, saws, etc. Appliances like these have motors or heating elements that surge and then drop back down to a lower continuous amount of energy consumption.

 

Step 2: Know Your Requirements

Simply going to a store and picking up the cheapest generator in stock is clearly not a good idea. It’s a much better idea to do a deep dive into your power generation requirements before making a selection. So, how do you do this? Follow these steps:

1. Make a list of the appliances your generator needs to power

2. Make a list of the starting and continuous wattage of these appliances

3. Calculate the total energy requirements in either KVA or KW

 

Step 3: Buy and Install your Generator

Now that you know your power requirements, you can shop around for generators that fit your wattage and budget requirement.

But, a note of caution: Unless you are a licensed electrician, make sure you hire one to safely install your generator and transfer switch for you!

A generator can be a wise investment for a home or business owner. When the lights go out, you need a reliable source of backup power. While a great asset, it can come with high costs, so you’ll want to weigh the pros and cons before deciding which generator is right for you.

Portable Generators

Gas-powered portable generators plug directly into your appliances or a subpanel. They generally cost from $500 to $2,000, depending on brand, features, and power output.

Pros

Small and easily stored when not in use

Can be used to power a variety of things, like individual appliances or RVs

Inexpensive when compared to standby generators

Don’t require professional installation

Easy to refill fuel source

Cons

Loud motor that emits smelly gasoline exhaust

Cumbersome and must be set up each time the power goes out

A lot of long wires to manage and store after use

Maintenance needed to keep it operating for long periods

Needs to be sheltered but also kept a safe distance from the home or business being powered

Unable to generate electricity for a large building

Standby Generators

These generators are powered by natural gas or propane. They start automatically during power outages. Prices usually start at $4,000 and can go up to $7,000 or more, usually with installation included.

Pros

Much quieter than portable generators

Starts automatically when power goes out

Installed permanently on your property

Adds to property value

Much larger capacity than portable units

Cons

Expensive: thousands, rather than hundreds of dollars

Requires professional installation

Large and heavy: can weigh hundreds of pounds and often the size of a small car

Require a lot of upkeep, more specialized fuel, and must be serviced regularly if used often

Before buying a generator, consider which appliances you’ll need most during a power outage and your specific situation. A generator is a big investment, but you’ll be thankful for it the next time the lights go out.

 

In recent years, light bulbs have become more efficient, sustainable, and affordable. LED lights, once almost prohibitively expensive, have become more affordable. They’re still more expensive upfront than other lighting technologies, but they last much longer than fluorescent or incandescent bulbs, while using less energy, which lowers utility costs as well as the cost of frequent replacement.

 

What are Watts?

As with all changes in technology, the move towards energy-efficient lighting has confused many consumers. One source of confusion is the change from measuring brightness in watts to measuring it in lumens. Wattage refers to the energy the light bulb consumes, lumens to the brightness it puts out, which is what you care about when you’re lighting your house. When incandescent light bulbs were the only option, “100 watts” was sufficient to indicate a pretty bright bulb. But with the advent of CFLs and LEDs, wattage has become irrelevant from a light standpoint; all that matters are the lumens.

 

Watts vs. Lumens

A high lumen rating is generally around 1600. A standard incandescent bulb would need about 100 watts to achieve this. With a halogen bulb, about 70 watts, and with an LED, 20 watts or less. A 100-watt LED bulb would be overwhelmingly bright, if not blinding. Again, LED bulbs have a high upfront cost, but the low wattage means you’re getting a longer-lasting and more efficient light source.

 

Knowledge is Power

Put simply, wattage just isn’t a good way to measure brightness. You don’t have to use a lot of energy to light your house anymore, so energy use isn’t a good indicator that you’ve found the right light bulb. With older types of light bulb, you’re spending a lot of energy, but you’re getting heat and not a lot of light in return.

Want to replace your old-fashioned, energy-hogging incandescent lights with LED lights? If you have not yet acquainted yourself with LEDs, we’ll discuss the differences between Warm White and Cool White LEDs, as well as where you should use them.

Warm White

Warm White is perfect for giving a cozy atmosphere to areas you want to relax in with friends and family. That’s why it’s a great choice for living rooms, bedrooms, and dining rooms.

Cool White

While there is a whole spectrum to choose from, white light is commonly separated into Warm White and Cool White. Cool White LEDs tend to give off a clean, sharp light. This makes them ideal for kitchens, garages, workshops, product displays, hair salons, make-up rooms, art studios, or any other place that needs a lighting that will represent the real color of an object. In other words, places where light facilitates precision and accuracy instead of setting the mood.

Which is Best for Me?

There are many reasons to choose either White or Warm White lights. Think about the tone you’d like to set for the room. How utilitarian is it? If the room serves functional and leisure purposes, think about incorporating both types of lighting in it for different occasions.

At the end of the day, the choice is yours. The good thing is that you have a ton of options to choose from, so you can craft the look and atmosphere you want for every room of your home or office.

Green solutions are becoming more and more affordable and accessible. So, it should be no surprise that home and business owners alike are increasingly turning to energy-saving and environmentally friendly options.

When it comes to lighting, LEDs are the most energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly option on the market.

Nevertheless, as with any other product, there are pros to using LED, and there are cons. Here are a few things to consider.

Benefits of LED:

They can last up to 50,000 hours—much longer than incandescent or CFL bulbs. LEDs are also extremely energy-efficient.

LEDs are frequently likened to CFL bulbs. But LEDs last longer and use less energy, and don’t contain mercury, unlike CFLs.

LED bulbs can produce a vast array of colors and brightnesses, so you can almost certainly find the perfect one for every space.

They produce negligible heat.

Retrofit adapters are available for almost all types of lighting fixtures.

They are more environmentally-friendly. They last longer, don’t result in the emission of as much CO2, and don’t contain any toxic materials.

LEDs don’t contain glass, and can’t shatter dangerously.

Are LED Fixtures Right for You?

Particular areas of your home or office might benefit more from LED lighting than others. Areas where changing bulbs is problematic are good candidates for LEDs, as well as areas where the quality of the light (tint) isn’t as important, such as outdoor areas.

Once you’ve installed your new LED fixtures, you can enjoy energy-efficient lighting with almost no maintenance.

Still not decided which incandescent replacement to go with? Since lighting our homes accounts for about one-fourth of our electric bills, new energy-efficient bulbs will save energy and heat while also saving money. But which is the right choice? The twisty CFL has become popular for its low price, efficiency, and recent improvement in light quality. But below are the 4 reasons why you should consider LEDs.

 

LEDs came to the market in 1962. At first, LEDs only emitted red light, so their uses were quite limited. Now, though, they’re dimmable and available in the visible, ultraviolet, and infrared spectra.

 

Benefits of LEDs

1. LEDs emit negligible heat. In contrast, incandescent bulbs release around 90% of their energy as heat, and CFLs release about 80% of their energy as heat.

2. LEDs don’t require diffusers or reflectors that trap light. This aids LED efficiency for most home or office use.

3. Long-Living: the same LED holiday string lights could still be perfectly usable in 40 years. They cannot burn out in the same way than incandescents or CFLs do.

4. Price: CFLs have dropped dramatically in price since they were first introduced to the market. LEDs have too, although they’re still more expensive. But the energy savings and versatility that LEDs bring offset any price difference.

 

Problems with CFLs

Many have expressed concern about the mercury present in CFLs, and with good reason: mercury is toxic to many organisms, including humans. The amount in a CFL bulb is quite small, but the mercury may become a long-term problem if they are not properly disposed of or if their volume increases significantly. CFLs break, leaving thin glass shards, and they are not dimmable. To maximize their efficiency, they cannot be exposed to heat for long periods of time.

 

LED: Bulb of the Present and Future

With their high-efficiency and absence of toxic mercury, LEDs are the future, although they’re not quite ready to replace every incandescent bulb. Look out for the ever-expanding innovations in LED technology. Soon, they’ll be the bulb of choice for all your lighting needs.