FacilityBlog » Technology

NEW SERVICE SPOTLIGHT: Facility Prime App From Siemens

Anne Vazquez — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:32:37 +0000

This app enables two-way interaction between facility managers and their APOGEE building automation systems.

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QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Airblades vs. Conventional Dryers

Heidi Schwartz — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:49:29 +0000

Does anyone have supporting data to show the performance benefits and drawbacks to Dyson Airblades vs. conventional hand dryers?

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WEB EXCLUSIVE: UC Santa Cruz Finds Lighting Solution, Meets Internal Deadline

Anne Vazquez — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:22:27 +0000

Energy managers at this university discovered the best system for its needs with the help of Leviton, a lighting energy management firm.

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NEW SERVICE SPOTLIGHT: NIOSH Lift Calculator by Humantech

Anne Vazquez — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:25:58 +0000

This app for the iPad and iPhone was designed to calculate the risk associated with manual material handling tasks.

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DBIA Updates BIM Resource

Heidi Schwartz — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:14:47 +0000

This new resource details how design-build teams can make the greatest use of a technology that is transforming the A/E/C industry.

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AHRI Releases Variable Frequency Drive Standard

Anne Vazquez — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:47:09 +0000

VFDs can be used to control and power the HVACR motors in a facility, for increased efficiency and reliability.

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EPA Approves Latest Refrigerant Substitutes

Anne Vazquez — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:18:49 +0000

The three hydrocarbon substances can be used in small commercial refrigerators and freezers.

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FRIDAY FUNNY: Essential Cell Phone Etiquette

Heidi Schwartz — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:00:41 +0000

Do we really need to hear the opening chords of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run" while our co-worker is away from his or her desk and that annoying unattended cell phone keeps ringing?

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NEW SERVICE SPOTLIGHT: Updated Pump Selection Tool by Bell & Gossett

Anne Vazquez — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:21:04 +0000

New data types and improved visuals enable facility managers to evaluate pumps more effectively.

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Ringing In 2012 In Times Square

Anne Vazquez — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:39:08 +0000

New Year’s 2012 marks the 12th consecutive year Philips Lighting is official Lighting Partner to the Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball.

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NEW SERVICE SPOTLIGHT: Energy Optimization

Anne Vazquez — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:09:20 +0000

ConEdison Solutions and Viridity Energy, Inc. are jointly offering a new energy demand response service.

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Lights Out (And Back On) At Candlestick Park In San Francisco

Anne Vazquez — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:53:27 +0000

A nationally televised football game was put on hold twice as facilities staff worked to identify the cause of a stadium wide power outage.

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FRIDAY FUNNY: Laughing Over Quantum Physics

Heidi Schwartz — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:34:21 +0000

This Friday Funny is an oldie but a goodie based on the "when a tree falls in the woods" conundrum, but with an IT twist.

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NEW PRODUCT FLASH: Spectroline OPTIMAX 365 from Spectronics

Heidi Schwartz — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:09:33 +0000

The OPTIMAX 365 features an ultra-high intensity LED, which makes all leak detection dyes glow brightly.

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WEB EXCLUSIVE: Energy Efficiency Upgrades

Heidi Schwartz — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 18:15:26 +0000

This web exclusive comes from Karl Williams, vice president of energy solutions for Rexel, Inc.

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QUESTION OF THE WEEK: What IS Up With Apps?

Heidi Schwartz — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:15:23 +0000

Is there a resource that would work with our many different operating systems (building and equipment) to compile information to a central point for viewing and alarms conditions?

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FRIDAY FUNNY: Hot Tub Data Centers!

Heidi Schwartz — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:18:00 +0000

Data centers are not the typical backdrop for humor, but a few years back, an ad campaign took a poke at the temperature issues inherent in server rooms packed wall to wall with essential computer technology.

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Technical College Receives Donation From ABB

Anne Vazquez — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 15:31:25 +0000

Students in Milwaukee benefit from the delivery of 15 motor drives and other equipment for their Industrial Automation Laboratory.

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NEW SERVICE SPOTLIGHT: App Lab for LEED from USGBC

Anne Vazquez — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:43:37 +0000

The U.S. Green Building Council has introduced the online App Lab as part of its LEED Automation Program.

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Lufthansa Going Green: Air Cargo Innovation Contest

Heidi Schwartz — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:26:33 +0000

Lufthansa Cargo will award three winners with a trip to Frankfurt, Germany, where they will get to present their proposals to engineers and management and discuss how their ideas may be implemented.

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NEW PRODUCT FLASH: Modular Elevators By MEM

Anne Vazquez — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 15:17:16 +0000

These elevators do not require a separate equipment room and occupy less space than other types of elevators.

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QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Remote HVAC Alarm Monitoring

Heidi Schwartz — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:59:29 +0000

Is there HVAC alarm monitoring and collection software out there? The goal is not only to react to the alarms as they occur, but to report on the data collected.

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ASHRAE Announces Technology Awards

Anne Vazquez — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:42:29 +0000

Five of the top six winning projects of the 2011 ASHRAE Technology Awards are located in Canada; the lone U.S. facility is in Kansas City, MO. These ASHRAE awards recognize outstanding achievements by members who have successfully applied innovative building design. Winning projects are selected from entries earning regional awards. Following are summaries of the winning projects.

Mountain Equipment Co-op Roland Charneux, P.Eng., ASHRAE Fellow, ASHRAE Certified Healthcare Facility Design Professional, Pageau Morel & Associates, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, received first place in the new commercial buildings category for the Mountain Equipment Co-op store, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada. The building is

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University’s “Dashboard” Highlights Energy Use

Anne Vazquez — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 15:02:24 +0000

At Fairfield University in Connecticut, visual displays show energy usage in students' dorms.

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NEW PRODUCT FLASH: Wireless Amplifier for DuraTime Clock System

Anne Vazquez — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:56:20 +0000

The RC186 equipment enables facility managers to play pre-recorded audio files in specific zones of a building.

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