Legionnaires’ Disease Linked to Limescale Buildup

Legionnaires’ disease is making the headlines again, with at least 15 confirmed cases in April in Auckland, New Zealand. The cases are spread throughout the Auckland area, making it difficult to find the source and supporting the idea it’s likely present in more than one source. One person in Auckland has died after contracting the disease.

Officials in the Auckland region have encouraged over 300 building owners to chemically treat or “shock-dose” their cooling towers with a biocide to kill the outbreak.

Latest Trends in Building and Facility Energy Efficiency

Investing $279 billion in updating and replacing equipment in buildings can yield as much as a $1 trillion in energy savings over 10 years, according to a recent report by The Rockefeller Foundation and the DB Climate Change Advisors.

The difference in energy usage can equate to a savings of about 30% of the annual electricity charges in the US. Buildings use about 40% of the world’s energy and contribute to as much as 40% of global carbon emissions. Facilities in the US use about 49% of the country’s energy and three-quarters of all electricity usage. The US is responsible for approximately 20% of global energy consumption.

Fossil fuels (oil, coal and natural gas) make up about three-quarters of the energy used. The combustion of fossil fuels leads to the production of carbon dioxide and other greenhouses gases, resulting in global climate change. Technology allows buildings to operate more efficiently and shifts our reliance away from fossil fuel sources.

The Nitty Gritty Behind Cleaning Air Conditioner Coils

This week’s post ends our series on “Spring cleaning” your facility’s cooling system. You can download our three printable HVAC cleaning checklists for reference:

Checklist 1: How to Clean Chiller Tubes
Checklist 2: How To Clean Air Conditioner Coils
Checklist 3: How to Clean Cooling Towers

(Note: You must provide your email address to get access to each checklist.)

This last post in our HVAC “Spring Cleaning” blog series addresses how to properly clean your cooling system’s air conditioner coils.

Mold-related Violations Increase as Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Becomes Hot Topic

Mold and its effect on indoor air quality (IAQ) is making headlines.

For example, parents in Brooklyn, New York are upset that their children are getting sick because of a purported mold outbreak in one of the borough’s schools. A recent test revealed the presence of black mold in at least seven classrooms.

To make matters worse, the building is currently under construction and the windows are sealed off, which means they can’t be opened for additional ventilation. The mold outbreak is reportedly caused by water leaks and the construction is expected to fix the problem.

How to Effectively Clean Your Chiller and Cooling Tower

This week’s post continues our HVAC “Spring Cleaning” series on giving your facility’s cooling system some much needed attention before warmer weather arrives. Below are our three printable HVAC cleaning checklists to get you started:

Checklist 1: How to Clean Chiller Tubes
Checklist 2: How To Clean Air Conditioner Coils
Checklist 3: How to Clean Cooling Towers

(Note: You must provide your email address to get access to each checklist.)

The second post in our HVAC “Spring Cleaning” blog series explains how to clean chiller tubes and cooling towers. The last post in the series will explain how to properly clean your cooling system’s air conditioner coils.

Here’s more about this week’s topic – cleaning chiller tubes and cooling towers: