The First Facility Management Blog

After spending most of this week covering the ASIS security show, I have seen an abundance of criminal deterrents for the work environment. But even after visiting thousands of booths and sitting in millions of classes (that’s what it felt like, trust me), I can’t say I came across a solution for this outrageous security violation.

By the way, today’s Friday Funny was submitted by TFM FM Frequency Columnist Jeff Crane. He has supplied us with several other “Funnies” and writes a monthly op/ed/humor piece in the magazine. You can get a better sense of Crane’s tongue in cheek perspective (including his most recent column) here.

Bill Dougherty owns a company that manufactures and installs coin operated car wash systems called Magic Wand Inc. These are complete systems, including the money changer and money taking machines.

Dougherty’s company installed a car wash system in Fredericksburg, VA. The problem started when the new owner complained that he was losing significant amounts of money–several hundreds of dollars, in fact–from his coin machines each week. He went as far as to accuse Dougherty’s employees of having a key to the boxes and ripping him off.

Dougherty just couldn’t believe that his people would do that, so he set up a camera to catch the thief in action. Well, they did catch the thief on film! Check out this sequence of photographs:

That’s a bird sitting on the change slot of the machine.

The bird had to go down into the machine and back up inside to get to the money.

This bird has three quarters in his beak.

Another amazing thing is that it was not just one bird — there were several working together. The starlings were initially attracted to the glint of the coin cup, more than likely, since shiny objects are used by these birds to attract mates or incorporate into nests (not to buy sodas or snacks from a vending machine–see today’s related post here).

The truth of this story has been verified on Snopes, the Web site that debunks Urban Legends. To read the full Snopes explanation, click this link.

USA Technologies has welcomed the historic Texas legislation requiring vending machines in public buildings to be equipped with energy saving devices as part of a program to improve energy efficiency in the state.

USA Technologies, provider of the EnergyMiser energy management product line for vending machines and commercial glass-front coolers, believes the legislation will drive awareness that state governments can make a significant difference in lowering energy consumption and C02 emissions nation-wide.

“We commend Texas for its leadership and being the first state to pass legislation to improve the energy efficiency of vending machines in government buildings,” said Stephen P. Herbert, President and COO, USA Technologies. “USA Technologies is excited by the news because the Texas cities of Austin and more recently Houston, are already installing our VendingMiser and VM2iQ, products from the EnergyMiser family of energy controls, on refrigerated beverage vending machines, and this latest initiative is clear evidence of Texas taking the initiative to encourage others to follow its lead.”

The legislation will relate to vending machines in all government buildings, including schools and public universities, and state parks.

“With this legislation, I want Texas state government to be an example for private and public entities that energy efficiency is easy and cost-efficient,” said Texas Representative David McQuade Leibowitz. “There’s no need for the state to pay for a vending machine to be lit up like a Christmas tree in a state building that closes at 5 pm and is empty for the next 15 hours. Energy management devices are useful tools that I hope everyone begins to use to save money and energy.”

Traditional refrigerated vending machines cost $400-$500 a year to operate, but when equipped with the EnergyMiser, the electricity consumed is reduced by nearly half.

The Texas legislation became law on September 1, 2007. The legislation states that operators of vending machines in buildings owned or leased by the State Government are required to ensure they are fitted with an internal or external energy saving or energy-management device. Operators will be subject to a fine of up to $250 a year for each vending machine found in violation.

Austin Energy was one of the first power utilities in the nation to install VendingMiser on vending machines and glass-front coolers under the utility’s “SmartVendor Program.” Austin Energy has installed EnergyMiser in more than 9,000 vending machines and coolers.

The City of Houston recently announced it was installing VendingMiser in vending machines in city government buildings. Earlier this year, the City of Oklahoma, did the same.

While Texas is believed to be the first state to regulate that vending machines in government buildings be equipped with energy management technology, a growing number of cities, communities and counties nationwide are also installing VendingMiser on vending machines on their own initiative.

Recent EnergyMiser deployments have occurred in Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona; 15 cities in the South Bay of Los Angeles, and seven cities in Northern California’s Humboldt County.

“Some communities are installing VendingMiser in vending machines and challenging business to follow their lead, while nearly 30 energy utilities nationwide are offering rebates as incentive to further encourage VendingMiser installations,” said Mr. Herbert.

The Federal Government is also participating, with the General Services Administration (GSA), the Federal Government’s purchasing arm, approving the EnergyMiser product line, allowing State and Federal governments and agencies to purchase directly from USA Technologies.

USA Technologies already includes among its EnergyMiser customers America’s biggest military bases, major retail chain stores and supermarket chains, universities and school districts.