LEED v4.1 is the latest update to the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED v4 ratings system. Launched in 2019, version 4.1 is considered to be the next generation standard for green building design, construction, operations, and performance. Among other new standards, the LEED v4.1 guidelines include specific updates that focus on Interior Design and Construction. These changes apply to recertification … Read More
Fall Fixes that Will Save You Money this Winter
While 2021 might have been the most different year in recent memory, Fall has come right on schedule. The season changes from hot and humid to cooler, sunny days and drier weather. While it can be tempting to mentally jump forward to the most wonderful time of the year, there are a few fixes you can focus on this fall … Read More
Smart Systems that can Lower Operating Costs
Regardless of industry or market, facility owners and managers have two mandates: to keep systems running and keep costs low, all while keeping the building’s occupants comfortable and safe. This is difficult enough in a campus spread out across several acres, and exponentially more in large Class A buildings with multiple stories. To remedy these stumbling blocks, a solution needs … Read More
Are Hidden Plumbing Systems Bringing You Hidden Costs?
Fall is here! Football, baseball playoffs, and cooler weather. It’s my favorite time of the year. But autumn also brings falling leaves, and along with other debris, leaves can create not only a mess of your property, but also your operating budget. This is a widespread issue: the local news even ran stories of highways being shut down during periods … Read More
Four Tips to Maximize the Productivity of Remote BIM Teams
Are you interested in maximizing the overall productivity of your BIM team? Keep reading to find out four specific actions that you can take to improve your remote team’s productivity through accountability, technology, and communications! BIM professionals are uniquely impacted by working from home. Many were already familiar with virtual meetings long before the COVID-19 pandemic began. Often, BIM professionals … 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
Staying Cool Under Pressure
McKenney’s was tapped to provide the HVAC system and plumbing installation for the new Emory Musculoskeletal Institute in Atlanta. As a specialty contractor on the project, McKenney’s partnered with General Contractors Brassfield & Gorrie and Structor Group as well as engineering firm Newcomb & Boyd. The healthcare facility is the newest addition to Emory’s Executive Park health innovation district. The … Read More
Regular Storm Sewer Maintenance Prevents Costly Damage
Stormwater management systems require regular maintenance to ensure that they continue to function properly. Opinions vary on how often a thorough cleaning should be performed. The frequency may need to be increased in areas where litter and dirt tend to accumulate and in places with a history of drains clogging. Storm sewers in areas of the country that receive high … Read More
Building Management Should Include Monthly HVAC Maintenance
Energy usage accounts for a large percentage of monthly facilities costs for commercial buildings. HVAC systems and lighting are the two biggest energy consumers in most buildings. Lowering energy expenditures can mean tremendous cost savings that can be used elsewhere. Regular maintenance of the HVAC system improves the system’s efficiency, reliability, helps prevent emergency repairs. Properly maintaining the system impacts … Read More
The Four Common Pitfalls to Avoid in the BIM Process
Would you like to increase the value of BIM in your projects, business, and for your customers? In the last post of our BIM blog series, The Five Essential Actions to Ensure BIM Success, we listed the tasks that are necessary to ensure success in the BIM process. Next, we will discuss the four pitfalls that should be absolutely avoided … Read More