The First Facility Management Blog

Whether its lawn care, building maintenance or another business-to-business service, your employees are your organization’s first impression. A clean, professional look is essential, and your choice of uniforms can make or break your success.

The right uniform not only reflects the level of service, but it can also distinguish your team from other trades around the building. Employees in every service industry are highly visible to the customer and public, so take advantage of your uniform as an opportunity to strengthen your department’s “brand” image.

Nobody likes to let strangers into their places of business. A uniform with your logo increases the professional appearance of your employees and gives customers an increased level of comfort and trust in their abilities to perform professional work.

When you take better care of your staff, they take better care of your customers. The more professional employees feel, the more professional they will act. And if they feel confident in the uniform they’re wearing, they will exude a sense of pride for the work they’re doing and the company they represent.

Service industry employees tend to face situations where safety can be an issue. With the walking, stretching, kneeling, and twisting required to get these jobs done, it’s important to make sure uniforms do not get in the way and become hazardous.

Purchasing new uniforms upfront can be costly, but there are many rentable products on the market that allow you to spread the cost over a longer period of time. You also might find these products to be more durable, and the companies that provide them are concerned with long-term care and maintenance, rather than a one-time sale.

When selecting the right uniform for your employees, think of it as a walking, talking advertisement for your department. If your employee is unkempt, the impression he or she leaves will be that of a disorganized team with a lack of attention to detail. On the other hand, if he or she is dressed professionally, with proper identifiers, you not only notice an increased level of performance, but customers have a higher level of confidence in the work they’re doing.

This Web Exclusive comes from Chuck Helmes, director of marketing and technology solutions for Cintas Corporation, based in Cincinnati, OH.

*Understanding Engineers - One*

Two engineering students were walking across a university campus when one said: “Where did you get such a great bike?”

The second engineer replied, “Well, I was walking along yesterday, minding my own business, when a beautiful woman rode up on this bike, threw it to the ground, took off all her clothes and said: “Take what you want.”

The first engineer nodded approvingly and said: “Good choice; the clothes probably wouldn’t fit you anyway.”

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*Understanding Engineers - Two*

To the optimist, the glass is half-full. To the pessimist, the glass is half-empty. To the engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

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*Understanding Engineers - Three*

A priest, a doctor, and an engineer were waiting one morning for a particularly slow group of golfers.

The engineer fumed, “What’s with those guys? We must have been waiting for 15 minutes!”

The doctor chimed in, “I don’t know, but I’ve never seen such inept golf!”

The priest said, “Here comes the greenskeeper. Let’s have a word with him.”

He said, “Hello George, what’s wrong with that group ahead of us? They’re rather slow, aren’t they?”

The greenskeeper replied, “Oh, yes. That’s a group of blind firemen. They lost their sight saving our clubhouse from a fire last year, so we always let them play for free anytime.”

The group fell silent for a moment. The priest said, “That’s so sad. I think I will say a special prayer for them tonight.”

The doctor said, “Good idea. I’m going to contact my ophthalmologist colleague and see if there’s anything he can do for them.”

The engineer said, “Why can’t they play at night?”

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*Understanding Engineers - Four*

What is the difference between mechanical engineers and civil engineers?

Mechanical engineers build weapons and civil engineers build targets.

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*Understanding Engineers - Five*

The graduate with a science degree asks, “Why does it work?”

The graduate with an engineering degree asks, “How does it work?”

The graduate with an accounting degree asks, “How much will it cost?”

The graduate with an arts degree asks, “Do you want fries with that?”

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*Understanding Engineers - Six*

Normal people believe that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Engineers believe that if it ain’t broke, it doesn’t have enough features yet.

Many thanks to Peter SJF Bance, for these oldies but goodies.

The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) joined with ASIS International and the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence in recently filing an amici curiae brief urging the United States Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals to affirm a 2007 federal district court ruling that found two so-called “forced entry laws” in Oklahoma unconstitutional. The Oklahoma laws would have prevented employers from setting workplace safety rules barring guns to be brought on employer property in a locked vehicle.

The U.S. Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, in a suit filed against Oklahoma by ConocoPhillips and other employer plaintiffs (ConocoPhillips v. Henry), held that the Oklahoma’s “forced entry laws” conflicted with the general duty clause of the federal Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act of 1970. The general duty clause requires employers to protect their employees against avoidable and recognizable hazards that may not be addressed by specific workplace safety and health standards promulgated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Since federal laws preempt state law, the OSH Act preempted the Oklahoma laws.

“We are pleased to be able to support employers’ most fundamental right, which is to determine how best to run their businesses and keep their employees and property safe,” said ASSE President Michael W. Thompson, CSP. “Employers hire our member safety, health, and environmental (SH&E) professionals to determine just how best to protect workers. Whether, in their best judgment, protecting workers and property means keeping guns out of parking lots or not, that decision must be made by an employer and an SH&E professional. Those sometimes difficult decisions cannot be made by a state governor or legislature substituting political decisions for professional judgment about how best to protect workers under duties employers have under the OSH Act’s general duty clause.

“Preventing violence is just one of many workplace safety, health, and environmental issues our members work hard each day with employers to address so that workers are able to go home safe and healthy from their jobs each day,” added Thompson. “A law such as Oklahoma’s forced entry laws, if reinstated, would undermine our members’ professional ability to give advice to Oklahoma employers on workplace safety and it means that Oklahoma workplaces would be less safe.”

The cost of workplace violence to employers alone has been estimated at $4 billion a year, which is supported by ASSE’s “2004 Workplace Violence Survey and White Paper.”

According to the Department of Labor’s BLS National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries for 2006, workplace homicides ranked as the fourth cause of on-the-job deaths, claiming the lives of 516 workers with more than 80% of those workers being shot.

Vapor intrusion from contaminated soil and groundwater into structures can potentially create significant liability and have a material impact on property value. Because of this, accurately determining whether a property has vapor intrusion issues is a concern for property owners, prospective purchasers and environmental professionals conducting due diligence.

ASTM International Committee E50 on Environmental Assessment has now approved a new standard, E 2600, Practice for Assessment of Vapor Intrusion into Structures on Property Involved in Real Estate Transactions, which will provide guidance for vapor intrusion testing. The standard is under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee E50.02 on Real Estate Assessment and Management.

Anthony J. Buonicore, chair of ASTM Task Group E50.02.06 on Vapor Intrusion, says E 2600 defines good commercial and customary practice for conducting a vapor intrusion assessment on a property parcel involved in real estate transactions.

“The specific intent was to establish a methodology to determine whether or not there is a reasonable probability that vapor intrusion could present an environmental risk and liability,” says Buonicore. For commercial real estate transactions, Buonicore notes that the vapor intrusion investigation, as defined by E 2600, could be used independently of, or as a supplement to, E 1527, Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process.

The evaluation process, as described in E 2600, consists of four tiers. The first two screening tiers are used to assess the potential for a vapor intrusion issue to exist, so that properties with a low risk can be screened out quickly and inexpensively. The third tier provides for more site-specific and comprehensive investigations if the potential for vapor intrusion cannot reasonably be eliminated at the Tier 1/Tier 2 levels while Tier 4 addresses mitigation alternatives.

According to Buonicore, because timeliness may be more important than investigation or mitigation costs during real estate transactions, an E 2600 user does not need to proceed sequentially through the tiers in the standard.

“In most cases, however, it is expected that it would be more cost effective and sufficient time would be available in the real estate transaction to conduct at a minimum a Tier 1 screening evaluation and, if necessary, a Tier 2 screening evaluation before proceeding to a more costly and time-consuming Tier 3 investigation or to Tier 4 mitigation,” says Buonicore. He also notes that the process described in E 2600 is designed to complement existing federal and state vapor intrusion policies or guidance.

“ASTM was selected as the best venue to develop the standard because of ASTM’s internationally recognized consensus-based process that has been used so successfully over the years,” says Buonicore. “ASTM is able to bring together stakeholders representing all sides of an issue and work with them to achieve consensus.”

ASTM International standards can be purchased from customer service (phone: 610-832-9585).

The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) announced winners of the 2008 national Professional Awards on April 15 in Washington, D.C. Culver City-based ah’bé landscape architects was selected for an Honor Award in Communications for the short film So What?, which chronicles the planning and implementation of an art installation composed of 2/3 ton of paper waste generated by the firm over a 12-week period.

The film, which was hailed by the professional awards jury as “an incredible message that speaks beautifully to designers and the public about an important issue, was produced by firm president Calvin Abe, FASLA, and created and directed in-house by Evan Mather, an award-winning filmmaker and landscape architect who has a unique insight into the design process and the core issues raised in ah’bé’s recent series of art installations.

“The basic premise of the film, and indeed of the installation itself, is that the term ’sustainability’ has been overused to the point of becoming meaningless, and that it is time to reflect on the true meaning of the word,” says Abe. “The firm created towers of shredded paper that were exhibited at a local gallery space in the form of a reconstructed forest to create a provocative statement on the nature of sustainability. By manifesting the concept of sustainability in a uniquely entertaining fashion, the film seeks to educate viewers and spur them to action.

The film, which follows the project from start to finish, when the “trees” were fed to worms to create compost, forces viewers to confront the impact even small businesses have on the environment. As the narrator informs us, American companies produce enough paper every day to circle the globe.

According to Abe, the impact of the installations has been surprising: while many viewers were amazed or amused, most expressed a profound sadness at witnessing the quantity of paper generated by a small company in such a short period of time. “These installations are not only temporary ‘gardens,’ but awakenings.”

Chief, a leader in projector and flat panel mounting solutions, is dedicated to providing the best service to its clients through up-to-date CTS certification and training for employees. Chief is a certified InfoComm Certified AudioVisual Solutions Provider (CAVSP). Each member of the company’s inside sales technical support staff and Pro AV regional sales managers are certified, or on schedule, to be certified.

The CTS certification is highly regarded within the audiovisual industry. For more than 30 years, Infocomm has offered certification programs to establish and maintain widespread credibility for AV professionals. The CAVSP is based on the percentage of a company’s employees who have achieved CTS certification. Chief has achieved the basic CAVSP, meaning that 25% of the employees are CTS certified.

About Chief
Chief Manufacturing, a division of Milestone AV Technologies, has more than 30 years of proven product and service excellence. Committed to responding to industry needs in the Pro AV, Residential and Office markets, Chief offers a complete line of mounts, lifts and accessories for flat panel displays and projectors. Chief distribution centers are located in Minnesota and the Netherlands.

About InfoComm
InfoComm International® is the leading non-profit association serving the professional AV communications industry worldwide. Founded in 1939, the association offers industry expertise and market research serving press and others seeking information about the industry.

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the Animal Planet channel today kicks off a strategic partnership that will support wildlife conservation and connect Animal Planet viewers to up-close experiences at AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums.

“The connection between Animal Planet and great zoos and aquariums is a natural fit,” said Marjorie Kaplan, president and general manager, Animal Planet Media. “Both Animal Planet and the members of Association of Zoos and Aquariums are committed to great animal care and to the protection of wildlife.”

More than 100 of the top zoos and aquariums across North America are throwing a Party for the Planet™, making it the largest combined Earth Day celebration in North America. Festivities will feature environmental education activities, amazing animal encounters, and fantastic family fun.

The John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago which held its “Party” events on April 20 and today, April 22, is also the site of The TFM Show Facility Tour today.

“Party for the Planet Earth Day events spotlight zoos and aquariums as the ideal place to connect with conservation in communities across North America,” said AZA president and CEO Jim Maddy. “Animal Planet is a great partner for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums because we share the important mission of connecting people and animals.”

The new three-year Proud Partner relationship will feature a number of key elements, including an on-air commitment by Animal Planet to highlight the conservation work of AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums. Zoos and Aquariums will host interactive on-site technology using Animal Planet content to enhance the visitor experience. Animal Planet is the exclusive national media sponsor of Party for the Planet™.

About APM
Animal Planet Media (APM) is a multi-media business unit of Discovery Communications. Via multiple platforms, APM offers the Animal Planet television network, available in more than 94 million homes in the US; online assets www.animalplanet.com; the 24/7 broadband channel, Animal Planet Beyond; Petfinder.com, the #1 pet-related Web property globally that facilitates pet adoption; PetsIncredible, a major producer and distributor of pet-training videos and includes web service PetVideo.com; and other media platforms including a Video-on-Demand (VOD) service; mobile content; and merchandising extensions.

About AZA
Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation. With its more than 200 accredited members, the AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation.

Digital Realty Trust, Inc. is reporting results from a new study of green data center trends that show significant changes since 2007. The findings are based on a survey of senior decision makers at leading North American corporations who are directly responsible for data center strategy, planning, and technology. Digital Realty Trust conducted a similar study in 2007, one of the first in-depth analyses of green trends in the data center industry.

“When we conducted our first green data center study last year, respondents expressed concern about the lack of industry standards for green data centers. The impact of that concern is very evident in this year’s survey. Companies are looking for leadership and clarity on how to define a green data center, how to design their green data center plans, and how to put them into action,” said Jim Smith, vice president of engineering at Digital Realty Trust. “In the past, the question may have been how to convince companies of the value of green data centers. The good news is that is no longer a problem. Companies are convinced. The challenge is that the data center industry needs to step up and show the way with clear standards.”

Key findings from the research study are provided below:

• 51% of companies have a green data center strategy, a decline since the 2007 study when 55% of companies answered the question affirmatively. This indicates that corporate adoption of green data center strategies has stalled or perhaps taken a step back since last year.
• 82% of companies say there is no clear industry standard for green data centers. This figure is up from 75% in 2007, indicating that there is more ambiguity than clarity in the industry. One area where there was broad agreement was in what elements an industry standard should comprise. The top two responses were: 94% agreed that a standard should outline how to achieve efficient power usage (i.e. maximizing energy delivered to IT equipment by the facility); and 83% agreed that a standard should also outline how to enhance HVAC systems to use energy more efficiently. 
• In the absence of green data center standards, companies site LEED certification as the best alternative. More than 60% of companies look to LEED general building standards as a model for their green data center initiatives. The Green Grid was also cited as a resource for green data center initiatives, indicating that the consortium is gaining visibility and momentum in the industry.
• Of the companies that do have a green data center strategy, 82% are taking a holistic approach that encompasses not only servers and other datacenter hardware, but also facility design and data center operations. This is nearly identical to the 2007 metric (81%), indicating that companies understand the value of taking a comprehensive approach that maximizes energy efficiency by addressing not just the equipment in the data center, but the facility itself.
• Only 18% of companies are planning to include carbon credits in their green data center plans, down from a figure of 25% in 2007. This indicates that companies are focusing on directly reducing their data center energy consumption rather than displacing it through carbon credits solutions.

Digital Realty Trust is also publishing results from a Europe-focused study of green data center trends. The European survey shows that green data center initiatives currently have greater momentum in the U.K., Germany, France, the Netherlands and Ireland. For example, 60% of European companies have green data center plans, more than 70% plan to make green upgrades to existing facilities, and a significant portion have already begun requiring their data center vendors to have a green strategy that meets their standards. The European study does, however, find that companies in those countries see a similar lack of industry standards, an issue that could slow momentum as it appears to have done in North America.

A full 16% of schools districts’ controllable costs is spent on energy. A new publication written specifically for K-12 school buildings will aid design teams in constructing energy-smart schools using off-the-shelf technology that can cut energy use 30% or more annually.

The Advanced Energy Design Guide for K-12 School Buildings, published by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, instructs architects, engineers, and others on building design teams how to use best design practices to create energy saving buildings. Written in partnership with the American Institute of Architects, the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, the U.S. Green Building Council and the U.S. Department of Energy, the book is available for free in electronic form here: AEDG_K12.pdf

ASHRAE and its partners are sending more than 14,000 complimentary copies of the publication to school district officials nationwide to assist with the design of energy efficient schools that create safe and comfortable environments conducive to learning.

“Many schools throughout the country have increased energy efficiency, cut costs, and reduced their environmental footprints through energy efficiency measures,” says Paul Torcellini, chair of the committee that wrote the book. “Many others, however, still spend more money on energy than they do on educational supplies. It’s like money just goes out the single-pane windows or through the poorly insulated ceiling. Just think of all the things a school could do each year with the money it saves on energy: buy more books and computers, increase teachers’ salaries, upgrade the media center and gymnasium . . . the list goes on and on.”

The publication features easy-to-follow recommendations for various climate zones and how-to implementation tips via a series of real-life school construction case studies. Included are suggested steps for achieving LEED energy credits and supplemental strategies for achieving advanced energy savings beyond 30%.

Some of the design tips included in the guide are:
Provide daylighting to the classrooms and gym so that lights can be off most of the day, but design it carefully so additional cooling needs are not required.

Design lighting systems that use the most current energy-efficient lamps, ballasts and integrated controls.

• Control the HVAC system bas on actual occupancy of each space at a given time. This requires the school to be zoned so that a zone’s HVAC system can be shut down when that specific part of the school is unoccupied.
• Design a well-insulated “envelope”, including good wall and roof insulation and low-e windows.
• Use high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment.

The cost of the print version of Advanced Energy Design Guide for K-12 School Buildings, is $59 ($47 members).

Water costs continue to rise. However, smart landscape design and simple watering habits can significantly reduce utility bills. By planning now, facility managers can save hundreds of dollars and thousands of gallons of water this summer. The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) recommends the following steps for a water-saving garden makeover:

Start Early. Plan ahead so that all new plantings take place in the spring. It keeps you out of the summer heat and plants require much less water to get situated compared to the warmer months.

Go Native. When deciding what to install, consider native and drought resistant plants. They typically require less maintenance and little watering once established (sometimes none at all!).

Must Mulch. Use compost when planting and cover the area with mulch afterwards. Compost helps keep the water by the plant’s roots and mulch prevents evaporation. Make sure to leave some space around the base of each plant and resist creating mulch mounds around plants and trees.

Less Lawn. Consider replacing grass with an attractive groundcover which is drought resistant, covers a large area, and requires zero mowing.

Super Soak. Up to a third of all water from sprinklers can evaporate during the heat of the day. Instead, give your plants fewer, heavy soakings. If you must use sprinklers, only use them in the morning.

Grey is Good. Recapturing grey water or rainwater can provide a free source of garden irrigation. These systems can be easily installed and even incorporated into irrigation systems.

Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip irrigation systems water plants right at the root and serve as an efficient alternative to sprinkler systems. Be sure to get a timer for maximum effectiveness.