Light out?  Picture to install?  See Service Requests.

For more information, see the Service Request Section

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Battle of the Thermostats

Thermostats are set in accordance with design criteria for the building and your suite to provide comfortable temperatures.  Many factors influence thermal comfort and we strive to maintain efficient control.  If you are experiencing a heating or cooling problem in your suite, please submit a Tenant Service Request and describe specifically what the issue is (i.e., a certain office or an entire section is uncomfortable after 1:00 p.m.; there's cold air blowing over my desk in {insert office number/location}; it's very warm in the copy room; the conference room is too cold).

Many times a simple controls adjustment will remedy the situation.  Unlike the thermostat in your house, it takes a longer period of time to assess if the control adjustment was satisfactory.  Our HVAC system is computer-controlled and allows our building staff to effectively diagnose problems and make minor adjustments.  They monitor any adjustments to assure tenant comfort.

However, the root cause may be attributable to tenant changes within the suite--either by adding additional people or equipment, or by reconfiguring systems furniture.  If your suite is modified after initial occupancy, it may need to be rebalanced to achieve thermal comfort.

Please utilize your window blinds to reduce the heat gain from solar loads.  Do not block circulation around the thermostats and sensors.  Location of equipment must be considered to avoid confusing the sensors.  Suite entry doors should remain closed to maintain the HVAC balancing for the suite.  Turn off equipment when not in use, especially after-hours, to reduce heat load (and energy use).  Dress appropriately.  Appoint someone to be in charge of your suite thermostats.  Consider energy efficient lighting to reduce heat load (and energy use).  Do not tape anything to or otherwise block the ceiling air diffusers.

Over time, it was determined that there are several things that must be understood and considered regarding people and HVAC systems to provide acceptable and satisfactory conditions for humans.  These include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Man is a warm-blooded animal and must lose heat to survive.

• He must lose heat at a controlled rate to be comfortable.

• Most of his heat loss is by convection, that is air passing over his body.

• If the air is below skin temperature (about 96 F) he can lose heat; if above, he will gain heat.

• When the surrounding air is stratified, he will be uncomfortable with as little as a 1- or 2-F change.

• With air in motion, the air temperature can vary as much as 5 of 6 F before he complains.

• A man in motion, that is working, will always desire some air motion.

• Every time the air velocity over a person is doubled, the amount of heat removed is increased about 60 percent.

• He can carry out his work, without undue stress, if the effective temperature is kept below 80 F.

• Though the common wisdom is that heating preferences break down by gender (men like it cold--women, hot), researchers say that's not quite true.  The biggest differences: amount of body fat (which does tend to be higher in women), metabolic rate and blood flow--which carries warmth from the core to the skin.  All of that varies from one person to the next, with most people able to sense a temperature change of just a few degrees.

Emergency Procedures Plan

All businesses are required to have an Emergency Procedures Plan.  Refer to the Tenant Handbook for the building procedures.  Know who your designated Tenant Fire Wardens are, and their alternates.  For assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA to develop your own Emergency Procedures Plan, click here for their Evacuation Plans and Procedures eTool.

GEMS has also developed a white paper on Pandemic Preparedness

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Million Monitor Drive

Energy wasted by idle computers costs facilities about $900 million a year, says the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency.  A significant portion of that can be saved by applying Energy Star’s EZ Safe software, which is available at www. Energystar.gov/powermanagement.  The software allows computer monitors in entire networks to go into low-power mode during periods of inactivity.  The software is part of the Million Monitor Drive.  About 728,000 monitors have powered down thus far.  One company, Cisco Systems, expects to save more than $500,000 annually.

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Clean Up!

You may not give much thought to the enormous challenge it is to keep the buildings clean.  As much as we strive to maintain a Class A property inside and out, some folks (not you) are just disrespectful, which makes our work that much harder.  You’ve seen it, especially in the restrooms.  How hard is it to put a paper towel into the trash receptacle?  We want to keep your suites clean, but we need your help.   If you have areas of concern or questions regarding the janitorial service, please contact us so we may address them.  You may be able to assist the cleaning effort and help maintain a cleaner work environment by doing the following:

• To improve dusting:      please clear off all work surfaces at the end of the day; and (because your lease prohibits placing anything on the window sills) please relocate any plants, picture frames, etc. so they can dust the sills.

• To improve vacuuming:  we need to be able to see the floor, so please remove boxes, folders, bottles, clutter, etc., especially beneath work stations;  if possible, have the cords from computer equipment secured so as not to be lying on the floor.

• To improve restrooms:  encourage your co-workers to show some respect; use the trash receptacle; resist the temptation to use your foot to flush the toilet  (aside from creating the scuff marks on the partitions, you could cause a leak from damaging the flush valve); report stall graffiti to the property management office to have removed. 

• To improve miscellaneous:  only dispose of food or beverages in your kitchen trash receptacle, not under your desk;  utilize the walk-off mats when entering the building;  try to get the hole punches, staples and paperclips to hit the trash can; smokers need to do a better job of disposing their butts.

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Security Suggestions

Equipment such as laptops, cell phones, PDA’s are becoming more popular in the workplace.  Because these devices are very portable, they also are easy to resell, making them attractive to criminals and difficult to trace.   

There are opportunists who will try to take advantage of you.  We need your help to defeat “Office Creepers”.  These are those deviants who walk the building hallways, looking for unattended reception areas, or unlocked doors.  They may enter a suite near closing time, and could perhaps hide in your suite until you leave.  Or they may discover a second door, leave it unlocked, and return later for a visit.  They may enter the building by claiming they forgot their access card, and someone lets them in.  They may even pose as imposter janitors.  In an effort to heighten your awareness, the following should be reviewed for your own suite and employees. 

Do not leave the reception area unattended.  Lock the door.  Make your visitor knock.   Consider installing an intrusion alarm device, a doorbell, card access or intercom/buzzer system.  It’s impossible to control the variety and number of “delivery” people or “visitors” in the building.    Tenants need to understand the importance of balancing convenience and good safety practices.  Do not prop or “unlock” a door for convenience during the day.  Review your own lock down procedures.   Who is responsible for locking down all entries to your suite, and when? 

At a bare minimum, electronic devices can be locked in drawers or cabinet.  Purses should be locked up as well.  There are also security systems (tethers) that will secure laptop computers and other small electronic equipment to desks.  There are also software systems available that can determine the location of a stolen laptop when it is used to access the Internet – think of it as LoJac (a vehicle locator device) for high-tech. 

Setting up the laptop with an effective password access system may be time-consuming for the user, but it will make the laptop less valuable for the thief.  Remember, if you leave your corporate network password saved in your laptop, you are giving a thief easy and quick access to your entire file system.  Laptops should also be engraved with a driver’s license number for identification.

First floor tenants should close window blinds and turn off lights at night to reduce the likelihood that “smash and grab” thieves will break into the offices (because with the blinds closed, they can’t see the equipment available to steal.)  Some tenants install perimeter alarms to detect a break-in.

Tenants should report any suspicious activity in or around the building.  During business hours call the property management office.  After hours, call the police.  Solicitors are not allowed, which is posted at the front entrance.  If you get walk-in solicitors, please get their company name (business card?), advise them of the no soliciting policy, and call the property management office.  We encourage tenants not to ignore strangers encountered in your suite.  Find out where they are going or if they need “help”.  Take the time to call and check out their stories.  It is better to be safe and certain that the person is legitimate, than sorry that an incident was not prevented.  Once the word gets out that all of the tenants are quick to challenge anyone, local perpetrators and solicitors will seek a softer target. 

Our janitorial crew is to always be in uniform with picture ID tags.  If you suspect that someone does not belong in your suite, ask them to leave.  Any improprieties should be reported to the property management office.

Tornado Safety Tips

The Michigan State Police Emergency Management Division has published information relative to tornado safety.  Please click here to visit their site for more information: Official State of Michigan Website

Click on Tornado Safety to download a pdf file for your convenience.

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