BuiltSpace Blog

Businesses nationwide would save about $1 billion each year in energy costs if they replaced their 10-20 ton commercial units with units that meet this specification. http://www.advancedrtu.org/find-a-product.html The US Department of Energy launched the Advanced RTU Campaign to encourage the replacement of existing rooftop units (RTU) with new high performance units.  These replacement RTU could … Continue reading →

There is a direct relationship between building equipment maintenance and building energy efficiency.    Dirt, heat, corrosion and lack of lubrication, over time make HVAC and electrical equipment work harder.   That uses more energy and increases operating and maintenance costs. Are maintenance service records the key to energy efficiency and lower operating costs? I … Continue reading →

Rooftop Units (RTUs) are everywhere. Over 45 percent of the commercial real estate space in the US is cooled, and/or heated by packaged units. This equipment is usually exposed to the elements, on a rooftop or outdoor space. Exposure shortens equipment life, so well cared for RTUs have a life expectancy of about 15 years. … Continue reading →

Little has changed in facilities management process since the invention of the thermostat by Warren Johnson in 1895. The thermostat is a feedback controlled device that gave building occupants control over their environment. Oh, you could argue that BAS is a significant change in building operations, but even with BAS in place there are still … Continue reading →

Superior building operations. That’s what it means to be Best In Class. Operating a better building goes well beyond accounting, other controls, reporting cost and revenue information. We’ve written extensively about what it takes to be BIC. Technology is one of the most important components because it’s the key enabler of so many things. Most … Continue reading →

It’s only $29.74. That’s maybe the price of a decent bottle of wine, or a pair of cheap sunglasses. But this $29.74 is what separates being the best from being at the bottom. According to a 2010 Aberdeen Group study work order costs for a best in class operated facility was $4.18, whereas the laggards outlay … Continue reading →

Strategically placed QR codes permanently placed on equipment can simplify asset management, especially when operations and maintenance responsibility for assets are shared by facility staff and multiple service contractors. Weekly visual inspections by the building operator are recorded, using his Smartphone, by scanning the QR tag, which identifies the equipment, date, time and operator. Completing … Continue reading →