“It’s Not My Job” Is Not In Our Job Descriptions

Getting a new business up and running takes many things...from capital and workspace to employees and equipment. But to keep a business running successfully takes something else: teamwork. Since Entegral Solutions opened its doors in April 2009, the company motto has been "How can I help?" instead of "It isn’t my job."

During the past three years, Entegral Solutions has become the fastest growing energy efficiency and conservation design build contractor in Texas, and the leader in K-12 energy projects in Texas, by getting the job done on time and on budget. This does not happen consistently by coincidence, but is a direct result of collaboration amongst all departments and everyone pitching in when needed – no matter what their job title is.

“I think this is a big aspect of our success right now. Everyone is passionate about the work and we all want to see projects succeed so everyone is doing everything they can to make it happen,” says Vice President Brian Ratcliff.

How does this come to life at Entegral Solutions? The best example comes from the spring of 2012, when the State Energy Conservation Office issued a notice for grant funds for Texas School Districts to replace heating, ventilation, and air conditioning in their aging classrooms. At the time, Entegral Solutions was engaged with roughly 60 school districts across the state and every one of them wanted to apply for the grant.

So, true to Entegral Solution’s core values, everyone from the president to the office manager rolled up their sleeves and pitched in to complete site visits, take pictures, collect data and then painstakingly fill out all of the required paperwork and get signatures to make the deadline. In the end, 21 of those districts received the grant funds, representing nearly 30% of all of the grant dollars awarded.  The story continues, with a massive effort to actually design and install the HVAC projects and secure all of the reimbursement funds in an extraordinarily tight time frame. Without teamwork and a “get it done” attitude, Entegral Solutions would have never been able to complete 21 projects in a 60 day time span!   

Now with four offices in Texas, Entegral Solutions continues to expand and hire employees that share the company’s core values:

• Adaptable
• Transparent
• Accountable
• Straightforward
• Responsible

It’s safe to say that Anybody, Everybody, Somebody and Nobody will not be working for the company! 

 

Spring Cleaning for Commercial Buildings and School Facilities

Spring is a time of renewal, rebirth and for many people, an annual ritual known as spring cleaning. Originally, spring cleaning was necessary due to long winters of heating with wood, kerosene and candles that left a layer or soot and grime throughout the home. Today, spring cleaning is much less a laborious chore and more an opportunity to throw open the windows, let in some fresh air, and make our homes clean, happy and efficient spaces.

The same philosophy can be applied to commercial buildings and public facilities, such as schools and municipalities. While most people think of shining the windows, washing curtains and sprucing up the yard during spring cleaning, facility managers and maintenance staff should be thinking about buffing boilers, polishing HVAC units and sweeping the chimney (so to speak). Not only does cleaning equipment keep them running efficiently, but keeps occupants safe, healthy and comfortable.

Spring Cleaning Checklist:

• Clean out chiller tubes
• Test compressors for leaks
• Test smoke alarms
• Replace light bulbs
• Check roof for leaks
• Inspect condenser and evaporator coils
• Clean or replace air filters
  
  
  
  

Spring is also a good time to schedule annual maintenance inspections both inside and outside including HVAC equipment, boilers, chillers, pipes and the roof. Studies show that proper maintenance can cut HVAC energy costs while also extending equipment life, improving occupant comfort, and increasing uptime. In addition, effective maintenance can reduce HVAC energy costs by 5 to 40 percent depending on the system or equipment involved.  

To keep small HVAC systems (2 to 10 tons), such as direct expansion rooftop units and split systems in good working order, here is some information that will make a big difference from Don Meek, our VP of Construction Operations:

Most small HVAC systems have a fixed metering device, such as a capillary tube or fixed orifice, which controls the rate of refrigerant flow into the cooling coil and though the system. The flow of refrigerant in these type systems is totally dependent on the volume of refrigerant (the adjusted refrigerant charge) in the system. The adjusted refrigerant charge becomes very critical to the effectiveness and efficiency of the cooling system. Just a few ounces of refrigerant can make a huge difference in how much refrigerant is metered through the cooling coil, how well the system dehumidifies and cools the air, and how long the system has to run to meet the thermostats temperature set point of a room. 

Most manufactures provide a charging chart with these HVAC systems with information that provides a guide to proper refrigerant charging in differing ambient conditions. To properly charge the system, pressures and temperatures of the liquid line and the suction line will be required, as well as a set of refrigerant gauges and an electronic thermometer with a sensor that can be strapped or taped to the refrigerant lines. The manufacturers charging chart will detail what the liquid line and suction line temperatures and pressures should be at varying ambient and room temperatures. 

Simple maintenance steps should be taken to insure all HVAC system components are clean before charging the system as this can greatly affect the pressure and temperature readings during the charging process. Inspect and clean the condenser coil (outside unit) and the evaporator coil (inside unit) if required and make sure the air filter is clean prior to charging the system.

A properly charged system will insure you are maximizing the cooling capacity of the HVAC system and extending the life of the compressor by providing proper cooling of the compressor motor and retention of oil in the compressor for proper lubrication of the moving parts. 

As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure…especially during a hot Texas summer!

Show Your Building Some Love with an Energy Audit

Although Valentine’s Day is over, it’s not too late to show your building some love and affection. Has it become unresponsive, non-communicative or giving you the cold shoulder? It may need some special attention and TLC to get its “motor running” again.

Like any relationship, the best way to fix a problem for the long-term is to find out what caused it. In this case, the best place to start is with a professional energy audit, which is a comprehensive review of energy costs and a building inspection to find out where things may have gone wrong. Once the problems are identified, solutions can be recommended to increase energy efficiency and restore the relationship.

How-to Conduct a Professional Energy Audit:

1.    Review utility bills for the past one or two years.

2.    Interview facilities personnel to identify how systems are being operated, regular maintenance performed and equipment repairs made.

3.    Inspect the building for any drafts, insulation problems, loose fittings or leaking pipes.

4.    Assess the building’s envelope, HVAC equipment, hot water systems, plug loads, lighting, process loads, and energy management system (if applicable).

5.    Perform an energy-consumption analysis to quantify base loads, seasonal variations, and effective energy costs. The analysis should include an evaluation of lighting, air quality, temperature, ventilation, humidity, and other conditions with the goal of providing a similar or better performance while using less energy and without sacrificing on comfort.

6.    Provide a detailed report to the owners and management team on the recommended priorities and the cost-benefit analysis associated with them.

7.    For energy retrofits that require a large capital investment, a whole building computer simulation may be needed to collect data while monitoring lighting, pumps, motors, etc. The data is then used to accurately model the actual brick and mortar building and how it would respond in varying environments. By varying the input, the system is able to test the performance of the recommendations before they are actually implemented.

Source: ASHRAE

For example, EntegralSolutions conducted an energy audit at Mercedes Independent School District and found several energy saving opportunities including lighting upgrades to classrooms and gyms, HVAC equipment replacement, ventilation optimization, and building automation system commissioning. Once implemented, MISD is now saving approximately $760,000 per year in energy costs. Now, that is what we call true love!

Maintaining a building is like any other relationship; it requires an ongoing commitment and dedication to “keep the fire burning.” If you show building some love, it will reciprocate with lower energy costs and increased comfort for tenants. 

New Year’s Resolutions to Reduce Energy Consumption

A new year brings new beginnings through commitments and promises to do things better or different. Although weight loss and working out are the top resolutions people make, we think these can also be applied to operating your business…perhaps you need to “trim down” your building’s energy use or “get it in shape” with new equipment. Here are a few New Year’s resolutions to make your business more environmentally friendly in 2014:

Energy Inspection
Why not buy your business a professional energy audit this year? Finding any drafts, insulation problems, loose fittings or leaking pipes can keep your energy usage low, along with your heating bill.

Upgrade Equipment

Although this may sound costly, installing energy efficient lighting will lower your energy bills and replacing a leaking water heater will save money in the long run by reduced maintenance costs.

Consider Your Energy Options
Considering your energy options will vary in complexity. Begin by looking at your energy provider and compare to others in the area; this may save you money. Also, if you have an electric water heater, consider switching to gas. Replacing an inefficient water heater with an efficient one can save a large amount of energy and money. Or consider a brand new type of energy, such as solar panels or a wind turbine.

Recycling Initiative
If your business does not already recycle paper, plastic, aluminum and electronic products, this is a no-brainer. Research local recycling centers and get your staff involved and enthusiastic about becoming a more energy efficient business.

Change Habits
If you are trying to improve the efficiency of your office, why not have a brainstorming session with your team and make a list of everything that uses energy and try to minimize its use. For example, shutting down computers every night instead of leaving on standby or hibernate can make a huge difference, particularly in a large office. Or, stop using disposable cups for water and coffee and instead, use a re-useable alternative.

It’s easy to come up with a New Year’s resolution, but the hard part is keeping the momentum going. The reward will be at the end of the year when you determine how much money you’ve saved in energy costs and maintenance repairs. You’ll be ready to tackle more energy efficient resolutions in 2015!