It has been quite some time since my last post, and I apologize to anyone off put by the delay! (I think I may be flattering myself with that one...). As business has continued to grow, expand, and time has not begun multiplying itself I fell behind on this blog. However, the months that have passed since my last post have been filled with meeting great organizations and people. The conversations and discussions we have had lead me to hone in some exciting ideas and opportunities to create value in an industry that does a tremendous amount for our communities: Nonprofits!
While I enjoy working with organizations across many industries, markets, and specialties I find that I can be a part of truly impactful conversations when I am meeting with a nonprofit organization. My opinion as to why this is that there is an inherent emotional passion and mission behind the organization's operation. There is a passion there that drives these people to make a difference in the community they are in, the cause they are representing, or the change they are trying to make. I love connecting with this passion, and I love the opportunity to help strengthen their ability to chase that passion. I will share with you today why I am passionate about this industry and how I feel we can change the conversation of how mechanical systems play into operation.
I was in the middle of meeting with a potential client, a nonprofit, recently and we were talking about their current situation. As I find many times their current situation was this: currently had a maintenance contract for the HVAC systems, there was a void in communication when it came to what that contract meant, and there was a feeling of not getting what they needed, and they were paying a lot of money.....and I mean a lot of money. They were looking to see what else was out there, and wanted to know what we could do for them in comparison. They began to ask me about scope of work, how many times per year we would come out for inspection, how many times we would change filters....the standard questions. That's when it hit me-no wonder they are not getting what they want, we are not having the right conversation. The conversation they are used to having in this situation is one of technical specs and maintenance tasks to be performed. Simply put, this is not effective, and it is short-sighted in many ways.
There is not enough information in this conversation to make the most appropriate and impactful decision for the organization. The decision relies solely on what someone tells you "needs to happen"....yea that's not how I make decisions either. The conversation needs to be one of direction, planning, and goals. How can an organization be sure the program they decide is right for them if they have not taken the time to look at how it relates to their mission, their operation, and their long-term goals. Without having this discussion, you are stuck in an expensive sports car when you need a cost efficient SUV....or vice versa!
This conversation and approach is important in every business, but as I mentioned above, there is such an important opportunity within nonprofits. The economy has dried up some funding options, while making others more competitive. Donors' dollars are being pulled in many more directions, government funding is not what it used to be and we are not sure what that will look like down the road. I don't need to tell nonprofit organizations what their challenges are when it comes to raising money and maintaining a sustainable operation-they are in it every day. However, I do have plenty I can tell them about making every dollar on the back-end count, managing the overhead expenses related to the mechanical equipment, and make sure as much revenue as possible is reinvested into the organization to further its mission and service to the community.
In conclusion, nonprofits need to change the conversation they are having about their HVAC maintenance, and all vendors for that matter. They need to look at it on a macro-level and really understand how this impacts their operation on every single level-operationally AND financially. I hope to have this conversation with as many organizations that are doing good in our community and to help them make the best decisions for their specific situation.
I will be diving further into nonprofit challenges as I see them in future postings....and I promise it won't take me four months for the next post!
Luke
Monday, September 16, 2013
Monday, May 20, 2013
Man It's Humid in Here!
In my post titled Challenges in Preserving History I discussed the importance of maintaining a specific climate in these spaces, and the benefits of doing so. My focus in that post was more from an operation and financial standpoint, from which I would like to elaborate today in the direction of climate affect and what the climate should be. The information that I will outlay in this post is from the National Park Service Museum Handbook Part 1 (1999), and I will be covering only the "agents of deterioration" that are potential factors resultant to improper air quality and condition. I will get into these agents shortly.
This post is my longest to date, and I have put off publishing it for the past couple of weeks. I couldn't seem to find my voice and get across the information that I wanted to. I enjoy injecting my thoughts, viewpoints, passions, and recommendations into the posts I write. This post is more information and research rich, with less of the personalization that I like. However, this is vital information that I feel compelled to convey in the most straight-forward, fact-filled way.
I have had the opportunity since my last post to work with a number of historical sites, and I am continuing to learn about the absolute importance of maintaining the appropriate climate and environment so that preservation can be successful. History connects us on such a personal level to those who came before us. It gives us insight to why we are where we are today as an individual, a family, a country, and a people. Not to mention, these structures are built with an artistic attention to detail and a charismatic aura that simply does not find its way into our structures today. Do not get me wrong, the buildings that are being built today are the work of engineering genius and they are impressive in so many ways. However, In my opinion, they lack the character that I see in so many historical sites around cities like Richmond, Charleston (SC), Savannah...just to name a few. I want these places and artifacts to be around for generations to come so they too understand the journey that was taken.
The ominously labeled agents that I touched on above (agents of deterioration) are the factors that act negatively upon an object from the time it is created. the NPS says there are four agents related to the category "environment", which are as follows: temperature, relative humidity, light, and air pollution. I will touch on all with the exception of light, as I would be speaking without being educated on this---and I do not make a practice of speaking unintelligent. My goal is to help institutions understand what each one of these agents is, what contributes to the agents' license to kill (yea I went there), and how to eliminate the threat or at least reduce the effects.
Let's begin by laying the foundation of this discussion by going over the types of objects or materials that are housed within these buildings or sites and are vulnerable to these agents. Broadly speaking, there are three categories of materials that make up these historical gems: Organic, Inorganic, and Composite.
Organic objects are derived from plants or animals, and show themselves in wood, paper, textiles, leather, skins, horn, bone, and ivory, grasses, bark, lacquers, plastics, some pigments, shell, and biological natural history specimens. The NPS states these organic items share characteristics such as: containing an element carbon, are combustible, absorb water from and emit water to the surrounding air, are sensitive to light, and are a source of food for mold, insects, and vermin (gross!). These items are vulnerable to deterioration from extreme changes in temperature and humidity.
Inorganic objects still have a geological origins, and come in the form of metals, ceramics, glass, stone, minerals, and some pigments. These items have undergone extreme heat or pressure in their creation, are not combustible at normal temperatures, can react to their physical environment to change their chemical structure (ex. corrosion), may be porous, and are typically not sensitive to light.
Composite objects, are made up of two or more materials. For example, a book is composed of several materials such as paper, ink, leather, thread, and glue. Depending on the materials, these objects may have characteristics of both organic and inorganic objects while the individual materials react to the environment in different ways.
The actual deterioration of these objects and materials is the change in either the chemical makeup or the physical structure. This deterioration rears it's ugly face of destruction in the form of rusting, corrosion, fading, darkening, rotting, cracking, warping, shattering, structural failure, to name a few.
We touched on what the materials are and what can happen to them, now let's get into what these agents are: Temperature and Humidity. If you're like I was prior to having an understanding of HVAC (albeit still a limited understanding at present) you know when you're hot you turn the thermostat down and when you're cold, you turn it up. That was literally my understanding prior to getting into this business. There is a bit more to it than that so I have found out.....
Temperature and Humidity, these two forces work together to create a climate inside the conditioned space. We feel fluctuations physically in both, and so do the aforementioned objects. It is important to understand what the adverse affect of these fluctuations can be so that preventative action can be take to preserve most effectively.
Temperature is defined as a measure of motion of molecules in a material. When the temperature increases, the molecules move faster and spread out causing the material to expand. When temperature decreases, molecules....you got it....they slow down and the material contracts. At higher temperatures, chemical reactions and biological activity increase-neither of which is a good thing. These chemical reactions can cause extreme deterioration that can go unnoticed for quite a long time, at which point it may be too late to save the object. Biological activity sounds even less fun-creepy crawly critters chewing (say that 5 times fast). Insects eat more and breed faster in warmer temperatures.....*shivers*. Additionally, materials can soften at these higher temperatures. At lower temperatures paints, adhesives, and other polymers can fracture.
A good temperature range to shoot for is, on average, is somewhere between 64 and 68 degrees. Just as important as the actual temperature is maintaining a consistent temperature. Fluctuating temperatures can cause materials to expand and contract rapidly, setting up destructive stresses in the object. Temperature in turn has a hand in determining relative humidity-when temperature varies, relative humidity varies.
Relative humidity is defined as the relationship between the volume of air and the amount of water vapor it holds at a given temperature. Water plays a large role in various chemical and physical deterioration, making relative humidity an important factor in preservation efforts. Excess humidity in these facilities can come from many sources and show themselves in many forms. Exterior humidity levels, rain, bodies of water, wet ground, broken gutters, leaking pipes, moisture in walls, human respiration and perspiration, wet mopping, flooding, and cycles of condensation and evaporation.
As a benchmark for relative humidity, 50% RH means that the air being measured has 50% of the total amount of water vapor it could hold at a specific temperature. It is important for me to note and for you to understand that the temperature of the air determines how much moisture the air can hold. Warmer air can hold more water vapor, because an increase in the temperature causes the air molecules to spread out-creating more space for more water. Relative humidity is directly related to is also inversely related to temperature. In a closed system, when temperature goes up-RH goes down. When temperature goes down-RH goes up.
Since the materials that are housed in or make up these facilities have already endured the elements for many many years, they need just the right environment to survive. Relative humidity that does not fall within the needed range can cause deterioration in numerous ways. When RH is too high chemical reactions increase, just as they do when temperature rises. Metal corrodes, dyes fade, wood swells and warps, adhesives become softer, paper may buckle, canvas paper can slack, and biological activity is supported by higher RH levels. Low RH levels can cause shrinkage, warping and cracking of wood, leather can crack and flake as can photographic. Finally, an environment where RH significantly varies has a large effect on organic materials. Swelling and contracting by constantly adjusting to the environment creates deterioration. These deterioration may come suddenly or may happen over time, and potentially go undetected until a final layer gives way or structural damage occurs. Materials that are at the high risk to fluctuations are laminate and composite materials such as photographs, veneered furniture, and paintings.
The RH range needed for a specific collection is based on what the collection includes. I have included ranges for a number of different materials and objects below. Again, this is an average and actual ranges are on a case by case basis.
Archaeological Materials
Negligible Climate-Sensitive Materials:.................................................................................30%-65%
Climate Sensitive-Materials:..................................................................................................30%-55%
Significantly Climate Sensitive Materials:.............................................................................30%-40%
Metals:....................................................................................................................................<35%
Natural History Materials
Biological Specimens:.............................................................................................................40%-60%
Bone and Teeth:.......................................................................................................................45%-60%
Paleontological Specimens:.....................................................................................................45%-55%
Pyrite Specimens:....................................................................................................................<30%
Paintings:...............................................................................................................................40%-60%
Paper:.....................................................................................................................................45%-55%
Photographs/Film/Negatives:...............................................................................................30%-40%
Other Organics (wood, leather, textiles, ivory):.................................................................45%-60%
Metals:....................................................................................................................................<35%
Ceramics/Glass/Stone:..........................................................................................................40%-60%
Many collections include a vast array of the above materials and objects. With that being said, a good RH to shoot for in a museum setting would be around 45% relative humidity.
We've all heard the phrase: "A picture is worth a thousand words". To conclude this post, I am going to use some visual examples of deterioration to hopefully allow all of these facts and figures to come full circle and make sense. Two thousand words from me to you....
This was a lot of information, and I hope that I laid it out in a way that was easy to follow and comprehend. I have found a passion in preserving history, one that I wasn't aware of until I was immersed in it. The beauty and the story of history is one that I cannot describe with words on a blog. It is something that has to be experienced, has to be taken in, has to be absorbed into the mind, body and soul. With knowledge, we can ensure that these buildings and collections are around for generations to come and give them the gift of history.
-Luke
This post is my longest to date, and I have put off publishing it for the past couple of weeks. I couldn't seem to find my voice and get across the information that I wanted to. I enjoy injecting my thoughts, viewpoints, passions, and recommendations into the posts I write. This post is more information and research rich, with less of the personalization that I like. However, this is vital information that I feel compelled to convey in the most straight-forward, fact-filled way.
I have had the opportunity since my last post to work with a number of historical sites, and I am continuing to learn about the absolute importance of maintaining the appropriate climate and environment so that preservation can be successful. History connects us on such a personal level to those who came before us. It gives us insight to why we are where we are today as an individual, a family, a country, and a people. Not to mention, these structures are built with an artistic attention to detail and a charismatic aura that simply does not find its way into our structures today. Do not get me wrong, the buildings that are being built today are the work of engineering genius and they are impressive in so many ways. However, In my opinion, they lack the character that I see in so many historical sites around cities like Richmond, Charleston (SC), Savannah...just to name a few. I want these places and artifacts to be around for generations to come so they too understand the journey that was taken.
The ominously labeled agents that I touched on above (agents of deterioration) are the factors that act negatively upon an object from the time it is created. the NPS says there are four agents related to the category "environment", which are as follows: temperature, relative humidity, light, and air pollution. I will touch on all with the exception of light, as I would be speaking without being educated on this---and I do not make a practice of speaking unintelligent. My goal is to help institutions understand what each one of these agents is, what contributes to the agents' license to kill (yea I went there), and how to eliminate the threat or at least reduce the effects.
Let's begin by laying the foundation of this discussion by going over the types of objects or materials that are housed within these buildings or sites and are vulnerable to these agents. Broadly speaking, there are three categories of materials that make up these historical gems: Organic, Inorganic, and Composite.
Organic objects are derived from plants or animals, and show themselves in wood, paper, textiles, leather, skins, horn, bone, and ivory, grasses, bark, lacquers, plastics, some pigments, shell, and biological natural history specimens. The NPS states these organic items share characteristics such as: containing an element carbon, are combustible, absorb water from and emit water to the surrounding air, are sensitive to light, and are a source of food for mold, insects, and vermin (gross!). These items are vulnerable to deterioration from extreme changes in temperature and humidity.
Inorganic objects still have a geological origins, and come in the form of metals, ceramics, glass, stone, minerals, and some pigments. These items have undergone extreme heat or pressure in their creation, are not combustible at normal temperatures, can react to their physical environment to change their chemical structure (ex. corrosion), may be porous, and are typically not sensitive to light.
Composite objects, are made up of two or more materials. For example, a book is composed of several materials such as paper, ink, leather, thread, and glue. Depending on the materials, these objects may have characteristics of both organic and inorganic objects while the individual materials react to the environment in different ways.
The actual deterioration of these objects and materials is the change in either the chemical makeup or the physical structure. This deterioration rears it's ugly face of destruction in the form of rusting, corrosion, fading, darkening, rotting, cracking, warping, shattering, structural failure, to name a few.
We touched on what the materials are and what can happen to them, now let's get into what these agents are: Temperature and Humidity. If you're like I was prior to having an understanding of HVAC (albeit still a limited understanding at present) you know when you're hot you turn the thermostat down and when you're cold, you turn it up. That was literally my understanding prior to getting into this business. There is a bit more to it than that so I have found out.....
Temperature and Humidity, these two forces work together to create a climate inside the conditioned space. We feel fluctuations physically in both, and so do the aforementioned objects. It is important to understand what the adverse affect of these fluctuations can be so that preventative action can be take to preserve most effectively.
Temperature is defined as a measure of motion of molecules in a material. When the temperature increases, the molecules move faster and spread out causing the material to expand. When temperature decreases, molecules....you got it....they slow down and the material contracts. At higher temperatures, chemical reactions and biological activity increase-neither of which is a good thing. These chemical reactions can cause extreme deterioration that can go unnoticed for quite a long time, at which point it may be too late to save the object. Biological activity sounds even less fun-creepy crawly critters chewing (say that 5 times fast). Insects eat more and breed faster in warmer temperatures.....*shivers*. Additionally, materials can soften at these higher temperatures. At lower temperatures paints, adhesives, and other polymers can fracture.
A good temperature range to shoot for is, on average, is somewhere between 64 and 68 degrees. Just as important as the actual temperature is maintaining a consistent temperature. Fluctuating temperatures can cause materials to expand and contract rapidly, setting up destructive stresses in the object. Temperature in turn has a hand in determining relative humidity-when temperature varies, relative humidity varies.
Relative humidity is defined as the relationship between the volume of air and the amount of water vapor it holds at a given temperature. Water plays a large role in various chemical and physical deterioration, making relative humidity an important factor in preservation efforts. Excess humidity in these facilities can come from many sources and show themselves in many forms. Exterior humidity levels, rain, bodies of water, wet ground, broken gutters, leaking pipes, moisture in walls, human respiration and perspiration, wet mopping, flooding, and cycles of condensation and evaporation.
As a benchmark for relative humidity, 50% RH means that the air being measured has 50% of the total amount of water vapor it could hold at a specific temperature. It is important for me to note and for you to understand that the temperature of the air determines how much moisture the air can hold. Warmer air can hold more water vapor, because an increase in the temperature causes the air molecules to spread out-creating more space for more water. Relative humidity is directly related to is also inversely related to temperature. In a closed system, when temperature goes up-RH goes down. When temperature goes down-RH goes up.
Since the materials that are housed in or make up these facilities have already endured the elements for many many years, they need just the right environment to survive. Relative humidity that does not fall within the needed range can cause deterioration in numerous ways. When RH is too high chemical reactions increase, just as they do when temperature rises. Metal corrodes, dyes fade, wood swells and warps, adhesives become softer, paper may buckle, canvas paper can slack, and biological activity is supported by higher RH levels. Low RH levels can cause shrinkage, warping and cracking of wood, leather can crack and flake as can photographic. Finally, an environment where RH significantly varies has a large effect on organic materials. Swelling and contracting by constantly adjusting to the environment creates deterioration. These deterioration may come suddenly or may happen over time, and potentially go undetected until a final layer gives way or structural damage occurs. Materials that are at the high risk to fluctuations are laminate and composite materials such as photographs, veneered furniture, and paintings.
The RH range needed for a specific collection is based on what the collection includes. I have included ranges for a number of different materials and objects below. Again, this is an average and actual ranges are on a case by case basis.
Archaeological Materials
Negligible Climate-Sensitive Materials:.................................................................................30%-65%
Climate Sensitive-Materials:..................................................................................................30%-55%
Significantly Climate Sensitive Materials:.............................................................................30%-40%
Metals:....................................................................................................................................<35%
Natural History Materials
Biological Specimens:.............................................................................................................40%-60%
Bone and Teeth:.......................................................................................................................45%-60%
Paleontological Specimens:.....................................................................................................45%-55%
Pyrite Specimens:....................................................................................................................<30%
Paintings:...............................................................................................................................40%-60%
Paper:.....................................................................................................................................45%-55%
Photographs/Film/Negatives:...............................................................................................30%-40%
Other Organics (wood, leather, textiles, ivory):.................................................................45%-60%
Metals:....................................................................................................................................<35%
Ceramics/Glass/Stone:..........................................................................................................40%-60%
Many collections include a vast array of the above materials and objects. With that being said, a good RH to shoot for in a museum setting would be around 45% relative humidity.
We've all heard the phrase: "A picture is worth a thousand words". To conclude this post, I am going to use some visual examples of deterioration to hopefully allow all of these facts and figures to come full circle and make sense. Two thousand words from me to you....
This was a lot of information, and I hope that I laid it out in a way that was easy to follow and comprehend. I have found a passion in preserving history, one that I wasn't aware of until I was immersed in it. The beauty and the story of history is one that I cannot describe with words on a blog. It is something that has to be experienced, has to be taken in, has to be absorbed into the mind, body and soul. With knowledge, we can ensure that these buildings and collections are around for generations to come and give them the gift of history.
-Luke
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Pay It Forward, So We Can #HelpTuckerBreathe
I would like to use this platform today to discuss something far more important than bottom-lines and profits, more impactful than operational efficiency, and immensely larger than any one of us.
Many of you reading this, and myself included, spend an overwhelming majority of our time throughout the day focusing on things such as our careers, bills, and countless other "worries" that we do not take time to appreciate how precious our lives actually are. We get caught up in things that hold such a small significance to who we really are and what adds value to our lives. We are rarely faced with a "life or death" situation, regardless of how pressing something may seem we can almost always recover from it. We can get ourselves out of debt, we can re-establish ourselves after a lost job or failed relationship, we can get back into shape after an injury....the point being, these obstacles, however tough, can be overcome.
Imagine for a moment being 25 years old and facing a disease like Cystic Fibrosis, an incurable monster that attacks your lungs leaving them useless. Imagine being in the ICU for weeks at a time, fighting every single second of every day. Think about having to make the decision to apply for a double lung transplant so that you can continue to be there for your family and friends and experience life. THIS is a real life or death situation. And THIS is real life for my best friend Tucker. The most amazing thing about this is that Tucker is positive, strong, and the only person I know that can get through this.
In the time I have known Tucker he has been a constant in my life. We understand each other is some weird-unspoken way, and I have benefited more than I can express from having the privilege of knowing him. No matter how hard things are, no matter how many times he has gone to the hospital for his "tune ups", no matter what life throws at Tucker-he handles it, and he handles it with a calming positivity that is so inspiring. He has taught me, whether he knows it or not, how to be strong in the face of adversity. How can I complain about my "problems" if he steps up and pushes through everything like he does.
Another thing about Tucker that always amazes me is that he KNOWS EVERYONE! I've been out with Tucker in the Fan, in the Bottom, at Innsbrook After Hours, and everywhere else is Richmond and people are coming up from every direction saying "TUCKER!!" "What's up!?" or Tucker will tell me to hold on so he can say hi to someone, it is crazy! However, I know exactly why that is: Tucker is genuine. He is himself all of the time, and puts on a front for no one. He is a great person and an even better friend. We can all learn a thing or two about being genuine from Tucker, I know I have.
For everything Tucker has done for me and my life, I feel honored to have the ability to do any small token I can to help him. He is facing an incredibly tough time ahead and he needs to the support of his friends, his family, and strangers alike. There will be many challenges in the road for Tucker and his family, and we can all do a little bit to make that easier. I am hope you will take a few moments to look at the following links and see just how special he is and the support that he already has at his back. Once you have done that, I encourage you to act in some way. Whether it be sharing the Facebook group, posting a picture of yourself with the #HelpTuckerBreathe on Twitter or Facebook, donating to the fund that is being collected to help him be accepted by Duke for the Double Lung Transplant, or simply keeping Tucker and his family in your thoughts.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/248020525336034/
http://www.gofundme.com/helptuckerbreathe
We are presented with so many opportunities each day to do something extraordinary for someone else. Please keep a look out for those, and SEIZE THEM!
-Luke
Many of you reading this, and myself included, spend an overwhelming majority of our time throughout the day focusing on things such as our careers, bills, and countless other "worries" that we do not take time to appreciate how precious our lives actually are. We get caught up in things that hold such a small significance to who we really are and what adds value to our lives. We are rarely faced with a "life or death" situation, regardless of how pressing something may seem we can almost always recover from it. We can get ourselves out of debt, we can re-establish ourselves after a lost job or failed relationship, we can get back into shape after an injury....the point being, these obstacles, however tough, can be overcome.
Imagine for a moment being 25 years old and facing a disease like Cystic Fibrosis, an incurable monster that attacks your lungs leaving them useless. Imagine being in the ICU for weeks at a time, fighting every single second of every day. Think about having to make the decision to apply for a double lung transplant so that you can continue to be there for your family and friends and experience life. THIS is a real life or death situation. And THIS is real life for my best friend Tucker. The most amazing thing about this is that Tucker is positive, strong, and the only person I know that can get through this.
In the time I have known Tucker he has been a constant in my life. We understand each other is some weird-unspoken way, and I have benefited more than I can express from having the privilege of knowing him. No matter how hard things are, no matter how many times he has gone to the hospital for his "tune ups", no matter what life throws at Tucker-he handles it, and he handles it with a calming positivity that is so inspiring. He has taught me, whether he knows it or not, how to be strong in the face of adversity. How can I complain about my "problems" if he steps up and pushes through everything like he does.
Another thing about Tucker that always amazes me is that he KNOWS EVERYONE! I've been out with Tucker in the Fan, in the Bottom, at Innsbrook After Hours, and everywhere else is Richmond and people are coming up from every direction saying "TUCKER!!" "What's up!?" or Tucker will tell me to hold on so he can say hi to someone, it is crazy! However, I know exactly why that is: Tucker is genuine. He is himself all of the time, and puts on a front for no one. He is a great person and an even better friend. We can all learn a thing or two about being genuine from Tucker, I know I have.
For everything Tucker has done for me and my life, I feel honored to have the ability to do any small token I can to help him. He is facing an incredibly tough time ahead and he needs to the support of his friends, his family, and strangers alike. There will be many challenges in the road for Tucker and his family, and we can all do a little bit to make that easier. I am hope you will take a few moments to look at the following links and see just how special he is and the support that he already has at his back. Once you have done that, I encourage you to act in some way. Whether it be sharing the Facebook group, posting a picture of yourself with the #HelpTuckerBreathe on Twitter or Facebook, donating to the fund that is being collected to help him be accepted by Duke for the Double Lung Transplant, or simply keeping Tucker and his family in your thoughts.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/248020525336034/
http://www.gofundme.com/helptuckerbreathe
We are presented with so many opportunities each day to do something extraordinary for someone else. Please keep a look out for those, and SEIZE THEM!
-Luke
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
My Humble Offering to Hotel Logistics
I was stopping in to speak with a potential client last week, a beautiful hotel here in Richmond, and spent some time chatting with a gentleman at the front desk. We both happened to be on the same page about numerous issues: love of the city (him-Fan, me-Church Hill), Richmond's great restaurants, and the disdain for people who do not follow simple rules. The latter topic came about while we were on the issue of parking, or lack thereof, in the Fan. I told him a situation I encountered that previous weekend of a less-than-conscientious driver in my beautiful neighborhood while I was on a morning walk with the dog. As Morgan and I are walking Colt down Broad street, we pass Captain Buzzy's (highly recommended for coffee lovers) just as someone pulls into an empty spot along the curb right in front of the shop. For starters, this is a no-parking zone and there was a perfectly legal spot directly across the street. Secondly, he was facing the wrong direction(!!!!).... I am not one that understands or grasps the mindset of being above the law or common rules of humanity, so this situation slightly infuriated me...and on such a beautiful day! In case you are wondering, no he was not the President, Pope, or God (I would have loved to back a tow truck up to his car and move to the other side of the street, but I do not have such resources). This rolled back in the folks who feel that rules simply do not apply to them. I inquired if that came into play while doing his job, and while he was more than professional and politically correct by deflecting a question that would put his guests in poor lighting, it got me thinking about the logistics of a hotel....and how I probably could not deal with that if it were my job.
Just think for a minute about what has to go into a full scale, happening hotel on a day to day basis. The amount of people checking in and out, the rooms that need to be cleaned, the food served, the amount of drinks consumed at the bar, shuttles taking people to and fro (not sure if that is still an acceptable phrase these days). Every hotel has check in and check out times, but who really wants to wait until 3pm right?! I guarantee if you managed a hotel, or had the privilege of fielding the questions such as "Why do I make a reservation if my room isn't even ready!?" (5 hours before check in time) you would never ask that question at a hotel again. My point being-hotels HAVE to be an efficient, well oiled machine to keep their guests satisfied and coming back. (And the hotel I am speaking of does that amazingly).
This thought process, once I had some coffee, started to swirl and lead me to think what I could do to assist a hotel in achieving operational perfection. I cannot, nor do I want to, handle those questions from customers. But I can directly impact a customer's stay at the hotel, as well as assist the hotel staff and management in streamlining hotel processes. What we do, in the maintenance contract world, is create a plan to achieve a goal. I am expending much energy getting the topic of mechanical equipment and operation into the discussion of "a means to achieve a goal" so to speak. There is endless amounts of money poured into poorly operating HVAC equipment. Money that could find its way down to the bottom line as PROFIT instead of being paid to energy utilities, repair work, parts, etc. In addition to the back end of this, I can also affect the front end-comfort conditions. If I help develop a plan that has the equipment operating effectively and efficiently then guests will reap the benefits of simply being comfortable, and that goes an incredibly long way.
This entry was more about my personal observations and opinions as opposed to hard data, but I look at this topic as my responsibility and my "masterpiece". The recommendations I propose to potential clients are carefully thought out and crafted with a focus on detail that makes the finished proposal essentially my work of art. If I can affect, positively, an operation with my recommendations and plans then I have succeeded and that gives more satisfaction than anything else.
Luke
Just think for a minute about what has to go into a full scale, happening hotel on a day to day basis. The amount of people checking in and out, the rooms that need to be cleaned, the food served, the amount of drinks consumed at the bar, shuttles taking people to and fro (not sure if that is still an acceptable phrase these days). Every hotel has check in and check out times, but who really wants to wait until 3pm right?! I guarantee if you managed a hotel, or had the privilege of fielding the questions such as "Why do I make a reservation if my room isn't even ready!?" (5 hours before check in time) you would never ask that question at a hotel again. My point being-hotels HAVE to be an efficient, well oiled machine to keep their guests satisfied and coming back. (And the hotel I am speaking of does that amazingly).
This thought process, once I had some coffee, started to swirl and lead me to think what I could do to assist a hotel in achieving operational perfection. I cannot, nor do I want to, handle those questions from customers. But I can directly impact a customer's stay at the hotel, as well as assist the hotel staff and management in streamlining hotel processes. What we do, in the maintenance contract world, is create a plan to achieve a goal. I am expending much energy getting the topic of mechanical equipment and operation into the discussion of "a means to achieve a goal" so to speak. There is endless amounts of money poured into poorly operating HVAC equipment. Money that could find its way down to the bottom line as PROFIT instead of being paid to energy utilities, repair work, parts, etc. In addition to the back end of this, I can also affect the front end-comfort conditions. If I help develop a plan that has the equipment operating effectively and efficiently then guests will reap the benefits of simply being comfortable, and that goes an incredibly long way.
This entry was more about my personal observations and opinions as opposed to hard data, but I look at this topic as my responsibility and my "masterpiece". The recommendations I propose to potential clients are carefully thought out and crafted with a focus on detail that makes the finished proposal essentially my work of art. If I can affect, positively, an operation with my recommendations and plans then I have succeeded and that gives more satisfaction than anything else.
Luke
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Begin With the End in Mind
One of the main ideologies or themes that is ever-present when I am working with clients is planning. Planning is the foundation of progress and achieving operational and financial goals. Merriam Webster defines a plan as a "method for achieving an end." For a plan to be effective, it must include looking into the future, or the end, and preparing for what may be encountered or decisions that will need to be made. If you are making a plan to take the vacation of a lifetime, you need to know what that looks like so that you can save money, book lodging, travel, or getting a lay of the land. If your plan is to get in shape, you need to have a visual of what that is so that you select a workout and diet regimen that will allow you to achieve the goal. Without visualizing or understanding you want the future to look like, you will not be doing the things needed today to step off of the plane for that vacation or to see yourself transformed.
In the realm of HVAC systems, the "future" is the visual of a crane replacing a rooftop unit. Meaning, the things we do are to extend the equipment replacement date as far into the future as we can AND prepare for the day that it does. Both of these are exceptionally vital to the long-term planning of any organization with responsibility of their facility's HVAC equipment. This equipment, like any piece of mechanical equipment, does not last forever-and it should not be pushed past it's useful life. Let's look at a loosely-similar analogy, of an old car that has been have recurring issues of shutting off randomly. You may have some sentimental emotions of the car, so you get it repaired once, maybe twice, but it is continuing to happen. Luckily it has not happened to shut off while driving down the interstate...yet. By this point, many of us will look at replacing that car with a new one before we hurt ourselves, someone else, or our wallets. An HVAC unit that is in operation past its useful life, can result in some of the same consequences. Poor indoor air qualify (IAQ), decreased comfort conditions, and increasing repair costs are all potential issues caused by an old unit.
The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers have conducted a great deal of research that has produced helpful data on the service life of HVAC equipment. I have supplied this information here for you to give you an idea of how long, on average, this equipment is expected to last. Does this mean you must replace every unit you have that is over the listed age? Absolutely not, this should be used as a point of reference and education. I have seen quite a few units around town that have far surpassed this life expectancy. However, going too far past a unit's life expectancy can result in a reactive decision once that unit goes down, not to mention dealing with poorly operating equipment. This information should be used to plan budgets, determine future capital expenditures, and to develop a plan so that you are not caught in a reactive state.
There are some things that can be done to extend the life of the equipment, and I will give you a hint to what that is: It's everything that I write about on this blog! My entire job is developed around extended the life of the equipment and to help it operate more efficiently in the process.
Now, as promised, here is a chart giving you the Life Expectancy of the equipment that you may have at your facility.
In the realm of HVAC systems, the "future" is the visual of a crane replacing a rooftop unit. Meaning, the things we do are to extend the equipment replacement date as far into the future as we can AND prepare for the day that it does. Both of these are exceptionally vital to the long-term planning of any organization with responsibility of their facility's HVAC equipment. This equipment, like any piece of mechanical equipment, does not last forever-and it should not be pushed past it's useful life. Let's look at a loosely-similar analogy, of an old car that has been have recurring issues of shutting off randomly. You may have some sentimental emotions of the car, so you get it repaired once, maybe twice, but it is continuing to happen. Luckily it has not happened to shut off while driving down the interstate...yet. By this point, many of us will look at replacing that car with a new one before we hurt ourselves, someone else, or our wallets. An HVAC unit that is in operation past its useful life, can result in some of the same consequences. Poor indoor air qualify (IAQ), decreased comfort conditions, and increasing repair costs are all potential issues caused by an old unit.
The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers have conducted a great deal of research that has produced helpful data on the service life of HVAC equipment. I have supplied this information here for you to give you an idea of how long, on average, this equipment is expected to last. Does this mean you must replace every unit you have that is over the listed age? Absolutely not, this should be used as a point of reference and education. I have seen quite a few units around town that have far surpassed this life expectancy. However, going too far past a unit's life expectancy can result in a reactive decision once that unit goes down, not to mention dealing with poorly operating equipment. This information should be used to plan budgets, determine future capital expenditures, and to develop a plan so that you are not caught in a reactive state.
There are some things that can be done to extend the life of the equipment, and I will give you a hint to what that is: It's everything that I write about on this blog! My entire job is developed around extended the life of the equipment and to help it operate more efficiently in the process.
Now, as promised, here is a chart giving you the Life Expectancy of the equipment that you may have at your facility.
On an unrelated, but very important, note: There are a few more days of Restaurant Week in Richmond left! Go experience the great restaurants we have in the city, and support local business at the same time!
-Luke
Monday, April 15, 2013
Why "Let's Go With the Lowest Price" Doesn't Always Translate to the Least Expensive Program
We see it everywhere: "Lowest Price in Town!", "50% OFF!","HUGE SALE!!", "We Are the Low Price Vendor!"
The low-cost selection is so pervasive in our culture today that it seems price is the number one factor in many peoples' buying decision process. I'll admit, that I have bought a good/service based on lowest price as I am sure everyone who reads this has. While this is perfectly logical when it comes to small purchase of like items, it is not the most effective buying process for many things, especially those that have a significant impact on our lives. Today, I want to look at this issue in the HVAC maintenance contracts arena and the impacts that it has. I truly feel it is in the best interest of the clients that we, as contractors, serve to move away from this sales and marketing angle. I will start off by saying selecting the lowest-cost vendor is absolutely not going to translate to the least expensive maintenance program.
I understand that may seem like a biased statement, based on the fact that I spend a majority of my awake hours selling contracts. However, I see my role and responsibility as more of an educator than a sales person; more of a partner than an transaction agent. As an educator or partner, I want what is best for the party that I am assisting, and that means securing a program that will produce the best results over an extended period of time-not just at the time of signing the contract.
I feel the following phrase has been uttered by someone around us at some point in time: "You get what you pay for." If you have not heard it before, I think it makes sense. How about another phrase to further simplify: "Good Products/Services are not cheap, and Cheap Products/Services are not good" If or when you are in the process of getting quotes on maintenance contracts and one contract is significantly lower than the other, ask why. I have been in numerous conversations where I am the higher-priced vendor, and I have been asked why I am higher than the other contractor. I, in turn, have asked why they are lower. The work needed to correctly service the equipment is the same regardless of who is performing it. So, how can it be done so much cheaper? When deciding based solely on cost, something is typically left suffering. It has been my experience that maintenance is not performed to the needed level, which leads to a whole host of complications (and expensive complications at that). Be sure to compare the scope of work on the contract proposal.
When the maintenance is not performed to the needed level, the aforementioned complications are three-fold: increased repair, decreased comfort conditions, and decreased equipment life. The increased repair calls are due to the lack of proactive maintenance, that could typically catch the issues prior to it becoming a large problem. When a contract is the lowest-priced, the contractor simply cannot afford to perform the amount of maintenance needed. They are in business to make money, plain and simple. Another reason, and perhaps more controversial, is the practice of selling an extremely low-priced maintenance agreement and then "making it up" on repair billing. Again, with reduced maintenance comes reduced performance. Inconsistent heating/cooling, poor Indoor Air Quality, and downtime due to equipment breakdown are potential consequences of the low-cost contract. Finally, HVAC equipment has an absolute finite life just as any other piece of mechanical equipment. With proper maintenance we can extend the life of that equipment, but without it we can severely limit how long we can claim that equipment as an asset. Think about your car, and how much longer it will last if the oil is changed, tires are rotated, etc. We can expect hundreds of thousands of miles with service and maintenance. However, if we slack on these relatively inexpensive tasks the engine could seize up, or we could require very expensive repairs to keep the car of the road.
Instead of buying and selling based on the bottom dollar price, let's focus on the value we can bring. Be sure that your contractor puts together a program that will help your organization reach its physical and financial goals. Ask questions, be sure you understand what you are paying for. The high price doesn't always mean the contractor is trying to "get one over on you" and the low price doesn't always mean the best "value" or the cheapest overall cost. As the last post outlined, put a process in place to measure the effectiveness of the plan and keep it on track. By acquiring this mindset, I can say with absolute certainty that the costs of your HVAC system will be reduced-and not because you selected your contract based on cost.
The low-cost selection is so pervasive in our culture today that it seems price is the number one factor in many peoples' buying decision process. I'll admit, that I have bought a good/service based on lowest price as I am sure everyone who reads this has. While this is perfectly logical when it comes to small purchase of like items, it is not the most effective buying process for many things, especially those that have a significant impact on our lives. Today, I want to look at this issue in the HVAC maintenance contracts arena and the impacts that it has. I truly feel it is in the best interest of the clients that we, as contractors, serve to move away from this sales and marketing angle. I will start off by saying selecting the lowest-cost vendor is absolutely not going to translate to the least expensive maintenance program.
I understand that may seem like a biased statement, based on the fact that I spend a majority of my awake hours selling contracts. However, I see my role and responsibility as more of an educator than a sales person; more of a partner than an transaction agent. As an educator or partner, I want what is best for the party that I am assisting, and that means securing a program that will produce the best results over an extended period of time-not just at the time of signing the contract.
I feel the following phrase has been uttered by someone around us at some point in time: "You get what you pay for." If you have not heard it before, I think it makes sense. How about another phrase to further simplify: "Good Products/Services are not cheap, and Cheap Products/Services are not good" If or when you are in the process of getting quotes on maintenance contracts and one contract is significantly lower than the other, ask why. I have been in numerous conversations where I am the higher-priced vendor, and I have been asked why I am higher than the other contractor. I, in turn, have asked why they are lower. The work needed to correctly service the equipment is the same regardless of who is performing it. So, how can it be done so much cheaper? When deciding based solely on cost, something is typically left suffering. It has been my experience that maintenance is not performed to the needed level, which leads to a whole host of complications (and expensive complications at that). Be sure to compare the scope of work on the contract proposal.
When the maintenance is not performed to the needed level, the aforementioned complications are three-fold: increased repair, decreased comfort conditions, and decreased equipment life. The increased repair calls are due to the lack of proactive maintenance, that could typically catch the issues prior to it becoming a large problem. When a contract is the lowest-priced, the contractor simply cannot afford to perform the amount of maintenance needed. They are in business to make money, plain and simple. Another reason, and perhaps more controversial, is the practice of selling an extremely low-priced maintenance agreement and then "making it up" on repair billing. Again, with reduced maintenance comes reduced performance. Inconsistent heating/cooling, poor Indoor Air Quality, and downtime due to equipment breakdown are potential consequences of the low-cost contract. Finally, HVAC equipment has an absolute finite life just as any other piece of mechanical equipment. With proper maintenance we can extend the life of that equipment, but without it we can severely limit how long we can claim that equipment as an asset. Think about your car, and how much longer it will last if the oil is changed, tires are rotated, etc. We can expect hundreds of thousands of miles with service and maintenance. However, if we slack on these relatively inexpensive tasks the engine could seize up, or we could require very expensive repairs to keep the car of the road.
Instead of buying and selling based on the bottom dollar price, let's focus on the value we can bring. Be sure that your contractor puts together a program that will help your organization reach its physical and financial goals. Ask questions, be sure you understand what you are paying for. The high price doesn't always mean the contractor is trying to "get one over on you" and the low price doesn't always mean the best "value" or the cheapest overall cost. As the last post outlined, put a process in place to measure the effectiveness of the plan and keep it on track. By acquiring this mindset, I can say with absolute certainty that the costs of your HVAC system will be reduced-and not because you selected your contract based on cost.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
The HVAC Success Equation: P+P=P
I am an organized guy, for the most part. I look at a majority of tasks that I find myself faced with as a set of processes. Take my workout regimen for example, at the beginning of each week I plan my workouts down to the exercise and route, develop a loose structure for my meals, and update with current information each day. Throughout the course of the week, I am able to measure how I am performing with relation to my goals (that I have written out and try to read every day). If I find myself veering off course I can implement the appropriate actions (or discipline....I like food) to steer the ship back in the right direction. The point with this example being I find the key to reaching a goal is planning and measuring performance.
I take that same approach when working with my customers on developing a program for maintaining their HVAC systems. It is not effective for me to "propose" a program without having an understanding of what they need. I would not reach my personal fitness goals if someone who had never met me emailed me a workout plan for a world strongman contender (they don't perform well in triathlons or marathons). On that same hand, my customers will not benefit from this approach and frankly I would not enjoy my job if I went about it that way (where is the fun in that approach?). I take pride in my approach, because I know that at the end of the day the customer has all of the information necessary to make the best decision for their company.
That leads us to the "equation":
The term equation may not be the most appropriate, as this is a continuous cycle not a set formula. In this post, I will outline how I go about each one and the factors that I feel are important for companies and organizations to address with respect to their HVAC maintenance program. I will harp on this in every single post:
The HVAC system of a business is more than just hot and cold-it is tied to financial performance, production, employee productivity, reputation, tenant satisfaction. Let's work together to maintain it, prepare for the future, and build on the success of Richmond business. -stepping down from soapbox-
The very foundation to the process is PLAN. This is where the roadmap is formally drawn, so that when the rubber meets the road we head in the right direction. In this stage, the following factors are addressed:
Simply put this stage addresses where we are and where we want to be. Through doing this, everyone is on the same page with what needs to be done and the ability to be ahead of the curve is established. Speaking of being ahead of the curve, it is important to stay up to date on laws and regulations surrounding HVAC equipment (i.e: refrigerant restrictions and changeover-this will be a whole blog post in itself at some point).
Once a plan is in place, it is time to PUT INTO PRACTICE. We have the roadmap, and it is time to accelerate forward. This is where the plan that was created is played out, the systems are maintained, serviced, replaced, and the program is constantly analyzed for execution. When I say constantly analyzed or monitored, I do not mean there is someone designated to do nothing except stand and watch the systems. If done correctly, this is a limited-effort task. Resources such as tasking reports from the contractor display the maintenance performed on specific visits, and electronic service tickets detail work done on a service call (the e-mailed tickets allow for more convenient, and "green", filing). Both exceptionally simple tasks that make an extraordinary difference when it comes to staying on course.
If a plan is not created at the start and followed throughout the day to day operations, everything is in a reactive state. From my perspective, reactive operations are not efficient and effective operations and more importantly-are not performing at their financial peak. With the benchmarks we can plan out equipment replacement so that it falls within the budget period we designated, we monitor equipment to ensure it is operating efficiently, and we keep track of energy usage, repair costs, which units are requiring more service calls, which zones are experiencing more issues than others, etc. Yes, the plans I work with organizations to create are centered around maintenance and the mechanical operation of the equipment. However, I focus on how that impacts the business on a macro level.
To this point we have the Plan and we have Put into Practice. This will lead to Progress, the summation of the first two P's. With the first two done correctly, progress is inevitable-it has to lead to this. It is simple, we defined our goals and our operations were guided by those goals-leading us closer to those goals. At this point, typically at the end of the contract year, we will review the past year taking a look at the whole picture. Having resources that can put that review on paper are priceless, allowing for everyone to understand where we are on the roadmap (think YOU ARE HERE). This gives the chance to revise goals if needed, adjust the direction, and continue with a plan that addresses the needs of the organization at that point in time.
I emphatically believe that this process works, and in my mind is quite logical. Logical is the way I prefer to work, and I have seen success in every aspect of my life when implemented-not just HVAC maintenance.
I take that same approach when working with my customers on developing a program for maintaining their HVAC systems. It is not effective for me to "propose" a program without having an understanding of what they need. I would not reach my personal fitness goals if someone who had never met me emailed me a workout plan for a world strongman contender (they don't perform well in triathlons or marathons). On that same hand, my customers will not benefit from this approach and frankly I would not enjoy my job if I went about it that way (where is the fun in that approach?). I take pride in my approach, because I know that at the end of the day the customer has all of the information necessary to make the best decision for their company.
That leads us to the "equation":
Plan+Put into Practice=Progress
The term equation may not be the most appropriate, as this is a continuous cycle not a set formula. In this post, I will outline how I go about each one and the factors that I feel are important for companies and organizations to address with respect to their HVAC maintenance program. I will harp on this in every single post:
The HVAC system of a business is more than just hot and cold-it is tied to financial performance, production, employee productivity, reputation, tenant satisfaction. Let's work together to maintain it, prepare for the future, and build on the success of Richmond business. -stepping down from soapbox-
The very foundation to the process is PLAN. This is where the roadmap is formally drawn, so that when the rubber meets the road we head in the right direction. In this stage, the following factors are addressed:
- Budget
- General Business Goals (Where do we want to be, how does that look for us)
- Facility Goals (Improvements to be made to the property in the near future, moving, expanding, etc.)
- Establish benchmarks for measuring performance (How we will keep ourselves on track, and so that we know if we need to alter our course)
- Reporting and analysis tools/resources
- What type of equipment do we have? (How does it need to be serviced, are there any changes coming in the future that will affect this equipment?---more on this later)
- Life Cycle Cost of the Equipment (Understanding the capital expense of future equipment replacement)
Simply put this stage addresses where we are and where we want to be. Through doing this, everyone is on the same page with what needs to be done and the ability to be ahead of the curve is established. Speaking of being ahead of the curve, it is important to stay up to date on laws and regulations surrounding HVAC equipment (i.e: refrigerant restrictions and changeover-this will be a whole blog post in itself at some point).
Once a plan is in place, it is time to PUT INTO PRACTICE. We have the roadmap, and it is time to accelerate forward. This is where the plan that was created is played out, the systems are maintained, serviced, replaced, and the program is constantly analyzed for execution. When I say constantly analyzed or monitored, I do not mean there is someone designated to do nothing except stand and watch the systems. If done correctly, this is a limited-effort task. Resources such as tasking reports from the contractor display the maintenance performed on specific visits, and electronic service tickets detail work done on a service call (the e-mailed tickets allow for more convenient, and "green", filing). Both exceptionally simple tasks that make an extraordinary difference when it comes to staying on course.
If a plan is not created at the start and followed throughout the day to day operations, everything is in a reactive state. From my perspective, reactive operations are not efficient and effective operations and more importantly-are not performing at their financial peak. With the benchmarks we can plan out equipment replacement so that it falls within the budget period we designated, we monitor equipment to ensure it is operating efficiently, and we keep track of energy usage, repair costs, which units are requiring more service calls, which zones are experiencing more issues than others, etc. Yes, the plans I work with organizations to create are centered around maintenance and the mechanical operation of the equipment. However, I focus on how that impacts the business on a macro level.
To this point we have the Plan and we have Put into Practice. This will lead to Progress, the summation of the first two P's. With the first two done correctly, progress is inevitable-it has to lead to this. It is simple, we defined our goals and our operations were guided by those goals-leading us closer to those goals. At this point, typically at the end of the contract year, we will review the past year taking a look at the whole picture. Having resources that can put that review on paper are priceless, allowing for everyone to understand where we are on the roadmap (think YOU ARE HERE). This gives the chance to revise goals if needed, adjust the direction, and continue with a plan that addresses the needs of the organization at that point in time.
I emphatically believe that this process works, and in my mind is quite logical. Logical is the way I prefer to work, and I have seen success in every aspect of my life when implemented-not just HVAC maintenance.
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