Sustainable Facility - November 2008 - (Page 58)

Initiatives Sustainability: Stage by Stage WEARGUARD-CREST SETS THE GREEN BAR HIGH IN NORWELL, MASS. >> BY JOHN CUMMINGS John Cummings is the general manager of ARAMARK Facility Services at WearGuard-Crest in Norwell, Mass. He has more than 34 years experience in facility management and is a member of AFE, IFMA and SMRP, as well as a Certiﬁed Building Operator. “Seven years since installing an energy management system (EMS), the ARAMARK Facility Services team has continued to design solutions to keep the company running as efﬁciently as possible with an eye toward being environmentally sensitive.” Since 2001, WearGuard-Crest, a designer, manufacturer and distributor of corporate uniforms and customized work apparel, has been reducing its carbon footprint by implementing a stage-by-stage sustainability program. Seven years since installing an energy management system (EMS), the ARAMARK Facility Services team has continued to design solutions to keep the company, comprised of three building locations in Norwell, Mass., running as efﬁciently as possible with an eye toward being environmentally sensitive. WearGuard-Crest is making great strides in becoming a more socially responsible member of the greater Norwell business community. Below are the documented measures ARAMARK Facility Services have taken in an effort to lessen the company’s environmental impact. tem from Universal Lighting Technologies (ULT). Most lighting control systems consist of circuits being turned on or off by an EMS. This type of system is currently being replaced at WearGuard-Crest. The ULT’s direct control lighting (DCL) system being installed combines many features not found in a standard EMS. Using sensors along the windows, the DCL system harvests the daylight and dims ﬁxtures as desired, or automatically increases the lighting in user-designated areas around the windows as the daylight becomes unavailable. Existing schedules are extended under the old system for cleaning and other after-hours projects. With the DCL, the lighting can be adjusted to 50 percent for these purposes. The software allows an authorized user to change the lighting level from 50 percent to 100 percent in 1 percent increments. (See diagram on next page.) ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ARAMARK Facility Services has installed a Honeywell Energy Management System (EMS) to control the lighting schedules throughout the company’s headquarters. The system also monitors the entire building’s heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC) set points and reduces energy consumption during highdemand periods. Installed in 2001 and with a return on investment of about two years, the system automatically monitors outside temperatures and brings HVAC units online at optimum times to reduce energy usage. WATER USE REDUCTION INITIATIVES ARAMARK Facility Services has been striving to cut energy and water consumption as well as minimizing environmental impact. The ﬁrst step was to replace all showerheads and aerators with low-volume devices rated at 2.0 gallons per minute (GPM) or less. This action reduces water usage by 20 to 30 percent. The use of auto ﬂushers in conjunction with low-volume toilets and urinals also reduces water waste substantially. In addition, Facility Services utilizes its cleaning staff to ﬁnd potential areas where waste can be stopped. Every leaking toilet can waste tens of thousands of gallons of water per year. Multiply that ﬁgure by dozens of toilets, and the potential for wasted resources and money increases not only in water usage but in sewerage charges as well. DEMAND CONTROL LIGHTING SYSTEM In conjunction with J & R Industrial Wiring and National Grid, ARAMARK Facility Services began a ﬁve-month project in October 2007 to install a sys- GREEN RESTROOMS ARAMARK Facility Services is in the initial stages of converting one set of restrooms into totally green facilities. In addition to the standard low-volume toilets and urinals, hands-free faucets and soap dispensers in restrooms, some lavatory upgrades are in the planning stages. One is an ultra-low volume urinal made by Zurn. It uses 1/8 gallon per ﬂush (GPF) — compared to the normal 1.0 GPF for a low-consumption urinal — and has built in auto ﬂush. The next step being taken in the plan is to add a Dyson or similar hand dryer. The Dyson unit will dry hands in 12 seconds compared to 22 seconds for a conventional dryer while using up to 80 percent less energy. 58 S U S TA I N A B L E F A C I L I T Y NOVE M B E R 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Sustainable Facility - November 2008

Sustainable Facility - November 2008 Contents Editorial Industry Watch Web TOC New and Notable The Case for Daytime Cleaning Commitment to Energy Effi ciency and Sustainability Finding the Green Solar for the Commercial and Industrial Sector: What’s Hot Now? Connecting Sustainability and Green Cleaning Recycling Rechargeable Batteries Sharing Best Practices The Consultant Conundrum Sharing the Facilities Management Burden The Building Owner’s and Operator’s Sustainability Solution: Energy Audits Greenbuild: Green Product Buzz Guide Product Focus Marketplace and Classifieds Advertiser’s Index Initiatives

Sustainable Facility - November 2008

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