Typically, the Southeast has a warmer climate than much of the country, but for a significant portion of the year, cold weather and freezing temperatures set in. After a record-setting summer, this may sound like a welcome change. However, seasonal shift brings various concerns for facility owners and property managers. Specifically, freezing temperatures can pose a significant risk for property damage. Once … Read More
Getting a SENSE for What to Do Next
If you can’t tell, I’m proud of the software my team has developed for our customers. Over the previous months, we’ve talked about buildingHEALTH, which allows key dashboards to be shared across your faculty, buildingCONNECT, our remote access software package, and buildingCONTROL the interface portion of McKenney’s control solution, but today I want to talk data. Analytics. Raw numbers. Today … Read More
Take Proactive Protection from McKenney’s buildingCONTROL
I’m a computer nerd. And I’ve built some amazing workstations over the years. But regardless of what you do or don’t put under the hood, every system needs a controller. Every car needs a steering wheel. Every light needs a switch. The facility you’re responsible for is no different. Unlike your home, industrial and commercial mechanical systems are made up … Read More
10 Reasons buildingCONNECT is the Right Tool for the Job
McKenney’s is over seventy years old. When my boss’ grandfather began selling and installing floor furnaces in the 1940s, the controls (such as they were) were 100% analog. To say things are different today is a monumental understatement. In the years that have followed, McKenney’s has not only developed the process and facilities to produce the hardware needed for even … Read More
Automated Control Systems Enhance Efficiency and Comfort Levels
Facilities managers can optimize the performance of their building’s systems through automation control solutions. The building automation systems (BAS) typically found in newer buildings allow for easy monitoring of HVAC, lighting, security and surveillance, fire safety, plumbing, and mechanical systems such as elevators. A controlled network of hardware and software controls and monitors the systems. It allows multiple types of … Read More
Software Helping Teams Stay Safer
Commercial offices have long lists of best practices to ensure the safety of everyone who walks through their doors, but what if your facility could leverage software to ensure a healthy building and predict a healthier environment? By the second quarter of 2020, our Automation & Controls team, deep in the trenches of COVID, was certain that our customers had … Read More
Cold Weather Property Maintenance Tips
Winter has arrived in the Southeast, and that means we can see a variety of weather. Some days are sunny and mild, while others are cold, wet, and raw. Occasional snow or ice storms can create havoc for a few days. Temperature fluctuations can be a challenge for commercial property managers and their maintenance teams. The following are some cold … Read More
Identify System Deficiencies to Improve Facility Operations
The top goal of facilities management is to operate efficiently and effectively. This is true regardless of the industry or setting. Inefficient management wastes resources and increases costs. Good management improves the facility’s bottom line. The following are some best practices that can be implemented to help meet the goal of improving operations. Automate systems A facility’s major systems, such … Read More
Introducing McKenney’s buildingSENSE
Information is great. Knowledge is even better. Every facility has an abundance of information that can be gathered, analyzed, and leveraged for more energy-efficient operations. But you need to know where to look for it and—more importantly—what to do with it.
PLC vs. DDC: Choosing the Right Controls for Your Facility
Most buildings’ control systems utilize Direct Digital Control (DDC) technology to manage the output and actions of HVAC systems, especially in the commercial market. However, for the industrial market and other mission-critical facilities, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) are often a better, faster and more reliable option that should be considered.