— By Danny Miller, Transformative Wave — The airborne transmission of COVID-19 has impacted many retail and restaurant facilities in their ability to safely operate indoors. As facility operators look to comply with COVID-19 safety guidance, there are three battlefronts that have arisen: disinfection, filtration and ventilation. Numerous products are being marketed and confusion can arise about what should be the priority. Disinfection Disinfection attempts to kill the virus include using products like UV-C lights or bipolar ionization. UV-C has been shown to be effective but largely on stationary …
HVAC/R
Rockville, Md. — To make indoor dining comfortable again and to honor its commitment to employee and customer health and wellness during the coronavirus pandemic, Silver Diner founders are installing a unique, Veteran LED customized interior air filtration and purification system to make dining indoors as close you can come to outdoor dining. This is the first time this comprehensive and customized system has been used in restaurants. The system includes germicidal UV-C light, bipolar ionization technology and HEPA filtration. Air purifiers, mounted throughout each restaurant, work to continuously clean …
— By Elizabeth Orlieb — HVAC systems are no longer an afterthought post COVID-19 lockdown. Discussions on HVAC systems and maintenance best practices have become prominent amid the COVID-19 pandemic. With this development comes the recognition that HVAC in commercial buildings can no longer be an afterthought post COVID-19 lockdown, particularly as it relates to adhering to maintenance best practices and enhancing maintenance programs. Business owners, facility managers and maintenance personnel need to be aware and know the implications of the new recommended HVAC controls for COVID-19 mitigation. While …
— By Jerry Dill — When it comes to choosing HVAC air distribution products, there is more than meets the eye. How often have you heard the saying “You can’t judge a book by its cover?” Plenty, I’m sure. Typically when you hear the phrase, it is in reference to people. But today it can apply universally to just about anything. The same can be said, even, about new HVAC air distribution products such as grilles, registers and diffusers. You can find supplies and returns in just about …
New Biodefense Technology Proven to Eliminate Airborne Transmission of Coronavirus Indoors
by Katie Lee
Houston — As evidence showing a real risk of airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (Coronavirus responsible for COVID-19) continues to mount, Integrated Viral Protection (IVP) has published a peer-reviewed paper detailing a novel biodefense indoor air protection technology. The novel, heated HVAC filter has been proven to destroy 99.8% of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. In addition, this technology offers protection against other biological pathogens on contact using a propriety biodefense technology. The breakthrough studies were conducted at the Texas Center for Superconductivity at University of Houston (TcSUH) & Galveston …
Hauppauge, N.Y. — BOSS Facility Services’ Robert S. Keingstein lost his battle with cancer on June 20, 2020. He was 68 years old. Bob was a true industry professional with a passion and knowledge of the HVAC industry for over 51 years. Bob started his career as an HVAC apprentice for Forman Air Conditioning at the age of 17 and instantly fell in love with the trade. At the age of 23 he started his first HVAC company and never looked back. He became involved with ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors …
North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council Launches Program to Help Grocers Go Green
by Katie Lee
Mill Valley, Calif. — The North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council (NASRC), a 501(c)(3) environmental nonprofit working to advance climate-friendly natural refrigerants in supermarkets, is launching a new pilot program to offset the upfront costs of natural refrigerant technologies. “High upfront cost is the primary hurdle preventing the adoption of environmentally friendly natural refrigerants,” says Danielle Wright, NASRC executive director. “Funding support is key to bridging the gap and stimulating the economies of scale necessary to bring costs down.” NASRC’s new Aggregated Incentives Program (AIP) pilot is a free platform to …
Tampa, Fla. — 2020 has been difficult for facility managers (FMs), especially those in small businesses. Challenges surrounding cash flow, remote work and personal safety are understandably top of mind. In addition to all these COVID-19 related challenges, hurricanes and summer heat are on their way. CNN reports that a broad spectrum of experts predict an above-average number of storms; some project an extremely active season. An average of predictions for the season, which runs from June 1 through November 30, forecasts eight hurricanes and 17 named storms. By comparison, …
Denver — Motili, a leading real estate technology solutions company, has appointed Karl Pomeroy as its new chief executive officer. He brings more than 30 years in HVAC sales and management to the helm at Motili. Previously, Pomeroy held the position of division president at Goodman Manufacturing, Motili’s parent company, where he was responsible for managing 66 locations in the Western United States. In 2017, Pomeroy became executive sponsor for Motili, responsible for corporate integration and sales leadership for the company. Motili has been leading the way with its contractor …
— By Keith Gipson — Using a building’s thermal mass for efficient energy management. Efficient energy usage has been, and continues to be, one of the hottest topics in the building management industry. Each year, businesses spend tens of billions of dollars on power consumption operating lights, computer equipment, process equipment and HVAC. HVAC typically accounts for the highest percentage of the utility costs for most commercial buildings. Data from the hospitality industry, for example, indicates that hotels spend in excess of $2,000 per room on energy costs annually …