Category: Energy Management

Nowadays, many office workers find charging their devices troublesome – and not just phones. With the increasing use of mobile technology, the growth of the Internet of Things, and Millennials joining the workforce in greater numbers, no workplace should be short of convenient charging methods.

Facility managers should consider the following to help ensure they keep up with these trends:

Adapting to a Changing World

Many office workers rely on USB ports to power their various devices; traditional outlets aren’t enough anymore. Incorporate all USB formats, including USB-A and USB-C, and leave room for the innovative USB technologies still to come.

Roll with the Changes

Before the technology revolutions that currently mystify some in the Baby Boomer set, workers had to plug in to a power source to charge the electronic devices needed for their work. Those days are long gone. Today’s workforce needs to prioritize accessible power for many devices—with varying wattage and charger types—throughout the office. When asked if nearby power/charging opportunities are a priority in meeting rooms, many a Millennial will tell you yes.

It’s easy to follow your instincts and budget and aim for a cheaper option, but that will only cost you more in the long run. Our advice? Do the proper research: talk to your younger employees, and make sure you make power option choices that are viable in at the moment, but also in the long run.

The University of Illinois won the prized 2018 Climate Leadership Award by Second Nature. Started in 2009, these esteemed awards recognize students who show exceptional prowess in preparedness, cross-sector partnership, and climate awareness innovation from institutions of higher learning participating in Second Nature’s climate initiatives.

2018’s winners demonstrate exceptional leadership with their pioneering partnerships and groundbreaking resourcefulness designed to wrestle with the biggest problems facing the world because of climate change.

The Climate Leadership Awards deliver the opportunity to revel in and acknowledge the astounding progress in the world of innovative climate technology while also highlighting the extraordinary achievements of educational institutions to inspire and fuel our industry leaders and inform the public about the risks of and potential solutions to climate change.

Second Nature is a nonprofit organization that works with many institutions, colleges, and universities across the country on the importance of lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and showcases the rising stars in the collegiate environment who share their innovative ideas on how to meet the necessary goals to prevent the worst impacts of a changing climate.

To further honor colleges and universities at different stages of their climate education path, Second Nature and USGBC have begun awarding honorable mentions to six institutions each year, based on proven distinction and development within the focus areas of climate innovation, cross-sector partnership, and student preparation.

Need to make your facility more sustainable? Here are some tips to help nearly any type of facility lower operating costs while reducing its effects on the environment.

Sustainability Goals

These days, it’s vital to be proactive when it comes to sustainability. That means setting achievable targets. Your objectives should concentrate not only on decreasing energy and fuel consumption, but also on reducing costs and using reusable products and recycled materials.

Get Your Employees Involved

Placing a recycling bin in a conspicuous place in your office is a good way to signal to your staff that you want to make the office greener. If space is a concern, try placing a waste paper recycling box in the printer room and a universal recycling box in the break room. Make sure that your recycling bins are emptied regularly.

Encourage employees to use reusable, washable mugs, glasses, dishes and knives and forks. You’ll also want to mandate that everyone is responsible for washing and storing their own cups, mugs, and silverware.

Think about upgrading to a coffee maker that doesn’t use paper filters. You can also compost coffee grounds.

Greener Office Supplies

Buy reusable office supplies like staple-less staplers and refillable pens. Rechargeable batteries can also save money and keep harmful materials out of landfills.

If you need office furniture, consider buying refurbished. There are many companies that focus on revamping older office furniture and reselling it at a discounted price. Recycle as many used office supplies as possible.

Build a Culture of Sustainability

Encourage your team to recommend their ideas on ways to become more sustainable. You’ll be surprised at what they come up with.

Want to know more about crafting a sustainable workplace? Contact MaintenX today!

This year, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had planned to release an updated version of its ENERGY STAR® certification program’s scoring system, but put its plans on ice after an outcry from businesses and homeowners.

What is ENERGY STAR?

The EPA’s ENERGY STAR program rates the energy performance of commercial and institutional buildings and facilities. These ratings run on a scale from 1-100 and can be used to benchmark the energy efficiency of buildings and industrial plants against the average energy performance of comparable structures. These metrics are also used to determine if a building qualifies for ENERGY STAR status.

Outdated Rating System

The current energy rating system is based on data from 2007, making the existing standards over 15 years old. The proposed update would alter the energy efficiency rating of countless buildings and, in many instances, substantially lower their scores.

Change of Plans

In October 2018, the EPA announced that it was pausing its program’s facelift in response to outcry from business and property owners across the country. Because of the age of the old metrics, many buildings that were awarded the coveted ENERGY STAR designation would lose it under the new metrics. This would likely present a hit to their bottom lines, as many tenants and business owners today look to rent apartments and office buildings with the ENERGY STAR designation.

Potential Effects of the ENERGY STAR Scoring System Overhaul

If the EPA does decide to release the new version of this program, most scores will go down. This does not mean that the energy performance of any particular home or facility has gone down, but simply reflects that the average building in its category is today more energy efficient, owing to the fact that construction and electrical technologies have improved in the 15 years since the program was implemented.

The growing popularity of solar technology has led to some surprising innovations. One example of this is the solar carport.

What is a Solar Carport?

Solar carports offer all the benefits of traditional carports, like providing shade and protecting your vehicle from the elements, with the added benefit of supplying your home or even electric vehicle with energy collected from sunlight.

Solar carports use comparable equipment to traditional solar panel systems, so the installation process is much the same.

Benefits of Solar Carports

One big advantage of solar carports, in contrast to traditional ground-mounted panel arrays, is that they don’t need extra land to be installed. For this reason, solar panel carports are a more efficient use of space. Depending on your state, you may even be eligible for a tax credit for installing one. If you want to maximize the use of your space while still benefitting from solar energy, a solar carport might be a smarter option than a ground-mounted system.

Flexibility

Another advantage of a solar carport is that it offers you more flexibility. When installing solar panels on a roof, many factors can limit where its panels are placed.

A solar carport, on the other hand, can be assembled anywhere. The direction of your solar panels and the angle they are positioned changes the amount of energy they can collect. With the freedom to angle and position a semi-mobile structure like a carport, this method can help you maximize the energy output of your solar panel array.

Easy Integration

Solar carports can also be integrated with a home battery or electric vehicle charging port.

Want to know more about solar carports? Call MaintenX today!