Continue reading »]]> Understanding the 2012 Lighting Legislation

What does the legislation say? Between 2012 and 2014, standard A-line 40- and 100-watt incandescent light bulbs must use 30% less energy, but produce the same light output as the incandescent bulbs most of us use today. What does this mean for me? While you won’t be required to throw out your existing bulbs, you may be surprised when trying to find the same replacements at the store. After 2012, you’ll find that these bulbs will have to be replaced with energy-efficient options, such as Halogen, CFL and LED light bulbs. How much energy can an energy-efficient lighting really save? The most common alternative to incandescents used today is the CFL. While the upfront investment is more for these bulbs, the cost is more than offset in money savings and product longevity. Using a GE Energy Smart® CFL vs. standard incandescent bulb Close WindowUsing a GE Energy Smart® CFL vs. standard incandescent bulb EXPENDITURES EXAMPLE STANDARD 60-WATT INCANDESCENT 15-WATT SPIRAL® BULB Illustration initial purchase price, per bulb $0.27 $3.77 Illustration replacement cost (need to purchase 7 more) $1.89 $0.00 Energy cost (based on $0.10 per kWh over the life of the 8,000-hour bulb) $48.00 $12.00 Total cost $50.16 $15.77 savings in this example = $34.39 Are there really comparable CFL replacements? Yes! There are shapes, sizes and color temperatures available for nearly every fixture in the home. > General Purpose & 3-Way > Decorative > Globe > Ceiling Fan > Indoor Floodlight > Outdoor Floodlight > Outdoor Postlight What replacement options are there beyond CFLs? LEDs and halogen lighting are the two other options that meet the requirements of the 2012 Lighting Legislation. There are GE Halogen options for nearly every fixture in the home. GE Energy Smart® LEDs are a great option for accent lighting. GE Energy Smart® LEDs Last up to 13 years based on rated life at 4 hours/day usage Cost as low as $.08/year to operate based on $.10/kWh electric rate and 1,500 hours use/year GE Halogen bulbs Produce bright, crisp light — the “designers’ choice” for lighting Last up to 50% longer than incandescents Retain brightness over the course of its life Fully dimmable Instantly reaches full brightness

Continue reading »]]> Sarah Krouse – Reporter  Email: Skrouse@bizjournals.com

In the days after Osama bin Laden’s death, the Department of Homeland Security is telling landlords and property management companies to be on the lookout forthreats from retaliating lone wolves, rather than well-organized groups.

The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International started an international emergency preparedness committee after September 11, 2001, that communicates directly with DHS, acting as a sounding board for the agency and as an information network for landlords.

Peggy Jeffers, executive vice president of the Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington,  INC., part of the national Building Owners and Managers Association, said the group received an intelligence and warning document from the DHS Sunday night after the White House announced bin Laden had been killed.

“In plain speak, it said they are encouraging increased awareness and vigilance, but are not aware of any current threat streams,” Jeffers said.  “Al Qaeda doesn’t turn on a dime.  What you have to be looking out for is the radicalized individual.  It’s the coming months, not days for an organized al Qaeda response.”

Jeffers said the building owners and management groups had been on the phone all morning with real estate companies across the country gaging thier responses to the news.

As a rule, most companies are not changing teir security measures yet, she said.  Rather, they are reviewing existing plans, talking with tenants and focusing on increased vigilance.

Continue reading »]]> Well fellow Alaskans, it is that time of year.

The days are getting longer, and the nights are getting shorter, which means our next season is upon us – Construction.

To us lifelong Alaskans, we also associate Construction with Summer.  Long days at work, and longer nights playing in our big backyard.

With all the thoughts of Hiking, Biking, Riding, Fishing, and Camping, are you still rememebering to give you owned/managed buildings the attention that they need?

This is the time of year to make sure that you get your springtime HVAC Preventative Maintenance done.  This includes, but is not limited to: Filter Changes, Coil Cleaning, Chiller and A/C Start-up, Tightening of the electrical connections, and set the temperature settings on the thermostats.

This is also time to make sure that you have turned down your snowmelt systems, scheduled service for your boilers, and schedule any repair projects that you came across during the winter.  It is also a good time to discuss with your HVAC Provider cost savings projects that can be done.

As always, we at CRL Services are here to help with all your Commercial and Industrial Mechanical / HVAC solutions.

Please call 907-563-6569 to schedule any estimates, seek any consultations, or to discuss how CRL Services can start saving you Money TODAY!

Continue reading »]]> 6 Tips for Hiring a Heating, Cooling, Plumbing Contractor

1. Study up — Find out about license and insurance requirements for contractors in your state. And before you call a contractor, know the model of your current system and its maintenance history. Also make note of any uncomfortable rooms. This will help potential contractors better understand your heating needs.

2. Call references — Ask contractors for customer references and call them. Ask about the contractor’s installation or service performance, and if the job was completed on time and within budget.

3. Expect a site visit — The contractor should spend significant time inspecting your current system and home to assess your needs. A bigger system isn’t always better; a contractor should size the heating and cooling system based on the size of your house, level of insulation, and windows. A good contractor will inspect your duct system (if applicable) for air leaks and insulation and measure airflow to make sure it meets manufacturer’s specifications.

4. Get written, itemized estimates — When comparing contractors’ proposals (bids), be sure to compare cost, energy efficiency and warranties. Even though you bvelieve you are comparing apples to apples, there are more than one kind of apple. A lowest price may not be the best deal if it’s not the most efficient because your energy costs will be higher.

5. Get it in ink — Sign a written proposal with a contractor before work gets started. It’ll protect you by specifying project costs, model numbers, job schedule, and warranty information.

6. Pass it on — Tell friends and family about CRL Services, LLC! Spread the word, and we can all make a big difference. At CRL Services, we are committed to providing you with peace of mind and to help you reduce your energy costs. We believe that we have the proper balance of time invested to keep your system operating within manufacturers specifications, while reducing repair costs by providing a thorough inspection of equipment and executing a proper preventative maintenance program.

LOW BID- It’s unwise to pay too much but it’s unwise to pay too little. When you pay too much, you lose a little money that is all. When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the very thing you bought it to do. The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot…… it can’t be done. If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to add something for the risk you run, and if you do that you will have enough to pay for something better.

John Ruskin (1819-1900)

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Heat & Cool Efficiently

As much as half of the energy used in your Business goes to heating and cooling. So making smart decisions about your building’s heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can have a big effect on your utility bills — and your comfort. Take these steps to increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling system.

 
Change your air filter regularly

Check your filter every month, especially during heavy use months (winter and summer). If the filter looks dirty after a month, change it. At a minimum, change the filter every 3 months. A dirty filter will slow down airflow and make the system work harder to keep you warm or cool — wasting energy. A clean filter will also prevent dust and dirt from building up in the system — leading to expensive maintenance and/or early system failure.

Tune up your HVAC equipment yearly

Just as a tune-up for your car can improve your gas mileage, a quarterly tune-up of your heating and cooling system can improve efficiency and comfort.

Install a programmable thermostat

A programmable thermostat is ideal for your building is unoccupied during set periods of time throughout the week. Through proper use of pre-programmed settings, a programmable thermostat can save you about $300-$500 every year in energy costs.

Seal your heating and cooling ducts

Ducts that move air to-and-from a forced air furnace, central air conditioner, or heat pump are often big energy wasters. Sealing and insulating ducts can improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling system by as much as 20 percent — and sometimes much more.

Focus first on sealing ducts that run through the attic, crawlspace, unheated basement, or garage.  After sealing the ducts in those spaces, wrap the ducts in insulation to keep them from getting hot in the summer or cold in the winter. 

Consider installing ENERGY STAR qualified heating and cooling equipment

If your HVAC equipment is more than 10 years old or not keeping your house comfortable, you should have it looked at by a professional HVAC contractor. If it is not performing efficiently or needs upgrading, consider replacing it with a unit that has earned the ENERGY STAR. Installed correctly, these high-efficiency heating and cooling units can save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs. But before you invest in a new HVAC system, make sure that you have addressed the big air leaks in your building and the duct system. Sometimes, these are the real sources of problems rather than your HVAC equipment.

Remember that getting the proper size and a quality installation is essential to getting the most from your new equipment. When replacing HVAC equipment, bigger doesn’t always mean better. If the unit is too large for your home, you will be less comfortable and might actually have higher utility bills. Oversized equipment will operate in short run cycles, not allowing the unit to reach efficient operation and remove humidity from the air — resulting in an uncomfortable building. CRL Services can determine the right size for your HVAC equipment.

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I would like to introduce CRL Services to your organization. CRL Services was formed to purchase C.R. Lewis Co., Inc. service department in October 1995. With this purchase, we have been able to retain the personnel that has worked in the service department for the last six years. Also, we obtained the plumbing and sheet metal trucks and tools to provide full mechanical services for our customers plumbing, heating and air conditioning needs.

CRL Services presently has twelve service type vans in operation, available 24 hours a day. The vans are equipped with modern technology and well trained technicians. We have the capability to tackle any situation that may arise in the heating, air conditioning and plumbing market. Our normal response time is an average of one hour from the time a call comes into the office.

We are presently servicing over 100 buildings located throughout the state of Alaska. Attached you will find a list of the types of service presently available to our customers and a list of references.

Thank you for taking the time to review this information. Should you have any questions please contact me direct at (907) 563-6569.

Sincerely,

Rock Reber, Member Manager
CRL Services, LLC

Continue reading »]]> Types of Maintenance Service:

 Just as your car requires routine oil & filter changes, your commercial or industrial heating and air conditioning systems also need regular maintenance. Regular HVAC maintenance will extend the life of your A/C system by promoting the following:

 1. More reliable performance
2. Lower utility bills
3. Priority scheduling
4. Improved safety
5. Extended equipment life
6. Healthier Air
7. Improved capacity
8. 5% discount on repairs for Preventative Maintenance clients

 PM Service

 The Basic Planned Maintenance Agreement Program includes:

• Periodic inspections
• Preventive diagnostic
• Predictive maintenance tasks
• Regular Air Filter Changes
• 24/7 emergency service
• Priority Scheduling
• 5% parts and labor discount

The program matches manufacturer’s operation and maintenance requirements. These tasks vary according to equipment type, environmental conditions, and runtime.

 Full Service

 The Full Coverage Planned Maintenance Agreement Program includes not only inspections and preventive maintenance but also covers:

• ALL repairs,
• System component replacement
• 24 hour emergency service.
• Priority Scheduling

This program puts the full accountability of system maintenance costs on CRL Services, LLC. The program covers all labor, material, and component replacement costs for all covered equipment. Full coverage maintenance is worry free, easy to budget and gives the customer peace of mind. Full maintenance is a great tool for organizations that need a fixed cost for their HVAC maintenance and repairs to maintain a budget.