The Electrical Blog

Your business has certain energy needs throughout the year that can't be avoided, with heating and air conditioning among the most expensive. Colorado Springs winters call for increased heating bills for months at a time, but air conditioning is crucial during steamy summer months. Electric bills can make or break your budget, but there are ways to lower your bill during every month in the year. Consistent small fixes can add up to big savings if everyone in your company pitches in and helps. 

Keep the Filters Clean

Keeping your filters clean and switching dirty ones for clean is probably the easiest and least expensive way to keep control of your HVAC costs. Clogged filters will make your furnace and air conditioner work harder, using more energy to do the same job as before. New filters only cost a few dollars, and can be changed out literally in seconds. Buy two filters each time you shop, so you'll always have a spare on hand. 

Sign a Maintenance Contract

Contact a certified HVAC specialist and get your company a contract for yearly maintenance.

You'll get:

• a check-up on your entire system,
• advice on ways to save even more money,
• a tune up before air conditioning season in the spring and before furnace time in the fall, and
• regular maintenance throughout the year. 

All machines need to be taken care of for them to work at their peak performance. Making sure your system is working right is one way to guarantee a lower energy bill. 

Control Sunshine Access

Reducing the amount of sunlight that shines into your building can create significant savings in your air conditioning costs. As the sunlight comes into the room, it raises the ambient temperature, making your air conditioner work harder. Depending on your business building, various methods will work such as:

• Solar film that darkens windows and reduces available sunlight
• Awnings that shade windows through the hottest parts of the day
• Landscaping in the form of trees or bushes planted in front of windows to shade the sun
• Curtains and blinds that block the windows

In the winter, the opposite tactic will help your power bill. Open windows wide and allow as much sunshine inside as possible. Solar heat can raise the interior temperature by a surprising amount, and every degree counts when it comes to saving money. 

Insulate Adequately

Once you get the temperature comfortable inside, it doesn't pay to allow the warm or cool air to escape into the outside. You may not be able to tear into your walls to insulate the building, but you can help by using weather stripping around all the doors and windows. This allows you to manage when you want the fresh air to be let into the building and when you want to stay sealed up, comfortable in your controlled environment. 

Install Fans

Ceiling fans can cool a room enough so that you don't have to turn on the air conditioning in many instances. On days when it's just beginning to warm up, a cool breeze may be all you need to keep the air inside comfortable for customers and staff. Surprisingly, a fan can do a lot of good in the winter, as well. Heat rises, and the heat from your furnace will gather near the ceiling, leaving the lower part of the room cooler. Turn a ceiling fan on its lowest setting so that it gently wafts the warmer air downward. You'll heat the room enough so that you may be able to turn down the thermostat.

JAMES D. BERWICK MEMORIAL 

YMCA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM 

Background:    James D. Berwick (Jim) dedicated himself to his family, business and his community.  He loved the challenge of operating his second generation business, Berwick Electric Co., in an ethical manner that was above reproach.  He served on numerous boards including the Colorado Springs Planning Commission, Electrical Board of El Paso County, Colorado Springs Symphony and School District #11 Board. 

His concern for the youth in our community led him to start CODE (Committee on Drug Education), which was the first organization in Colorado Springs to educate youth and fight drug abuse. This resulted in him being recognized with the Service to Mankind Award.   His moral convictions were evident in his comment, “When you need to make a difficult business decision, make sure your choice is one that you would be proud to have your family read if it were on the front page of the newspaper.” 

Jim’s beliefs were founded in his family’s upbringing, his involvement in his church and the YMCA.  Jim’s father actually led the YMCA’s orchestra back in 1904, and Jim grew up enjoying YMCA camping and swimming. 

Upon Jim’s passing in 1998, his family chose to create a scholarship through the YMCA, which recognizes our community’s youth that display a passion similar to his. 

Purpose:  The James D. Berwick Memorial YMCA Scholarship will be presented to a minimum of one graduating high school senior each year. This scholarship will recognize outstanding youth that have demonstrated exceptional character and ethics through volunteer involvement in YMCA programs or related programs serving our community-especially youth. This scholarship is given annually in memory of Mr. James D. Berwick, who’s years of dedication to his family and community reflected the YMCA core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. 

Scholarship Criteria:  The scholarship will be given for one year only and cannot be renewed. It may be used at any accredited college or university at the discretion of the receiving youth.  A scholarship for $1,000 (amount is up to the discretion of the YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region and the Berwick Family) will be awarded each year. This scholarship may be used for tuition or related expenses. The application must include a completed on-line application form with an essay about the importance of ethics, character development and volunteerism, a detailed outline of the applicant’s YMCA involvement, and up to three letters of recommendation. 

Application Process:   Applications must be submitted on-line by visiting www.ppymca.org and selecting the “Berwick Scholarship” located under the “Support” tab. Applications will not be accepted after the scholarship closed date (please see Application Timeline). 

Qualifying Requirements:    All applicants must live in the Pikes Peak Region, El Paso or Teller Counties. Applicants must demonstrate, in writing, their commitment to outstanding ethics, character, volunteerism and YMCA involvement. YMCA involvement may include employment, high school YMCA Board Members, YMCA Making a Difference, participation in YMCA Teen Programs, Youth Sports participation and/or coaching, mentorship, etc.  All applicants must be in their senior year of High School. 

Application Questions:         

1. Describe your YMCA Experiences and explain the benefits of your YMCA Experiences.
2. Describe your view on the importance of ethics in the work place and character development.
3. Explain how you have incorporated the YMCA’s four core values, caring, honesty, respect and responsibility, into your life. Please provide specific examples. 

Selection Committee:  The James D. Berwick Scholarship is a two part selection process. The first phase is the James D. Berwick Scholarship Selection Committee, comprised of (2) YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region Metro Board Members, (2) YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region Foundation Board Members and (1) designated YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region Staff Member, coming together and selecting the top applicants to move onto the next phase. The second phase is the Berwick Family choosing the recipient(s). 

2016 Application Timeline: 

Scholarship Presentation:     The James D. Berwick Memorial Scholarship will be presented each year at the YMCA Annual Meeting in February. 

Funding:  The James D. Berwick Memorial Scholarship will be funded by the proceeds from the endowment fund established to honor the life of Mr. Berwick. The initial amount of $4,638 will be placed in an endowment account. The earning from this endowment will be used to fund the scholarship. If the fund does not earn enough to cover the entire cost of the scholarship, Berwick Electric Co. will contribute the remaining amount, up to $1,000. Berwick Electric Co. will contribute additional amounts to the principal of the endowment each year until the endowment is sufficient to fully fund one scholarship annually.

James D. Berwick

John D. Berwick (seated second from Right)

In 1921, J. Douglas Berwick received Electric Contractor License Number 11 from the state of Colorado, and Berwick Electric Company was born. After 94 years of outstanding service, you could say that the personnel at Berwick Electric are bonafide veterans in the electrical contracting business. 

Not long ago, however, we were able to do some significant work on behalf of another group of veterans to whom our country owes a great debt.  The Veterans Affairs Clinic, located at the corner of Centennial Boulevard and Fillmore Street in Colorado Springs, Colorado, offers care to many veterans in the Pikes Peak region. 

Now, thanks to a new 96,000 square-foot, 1,322-occupancy clinic, U.S. military veterans can expect state-of-the-art medical care set against awe-inspiring views of Pikes Peak (you can see the Peak reflected in the glass of the building’s lobby in the photo here).

We were delighted to be involved in installing a wide variety of electrical, data communications, life safety and security systems required for the new clinic. Those who have given so much for our country now have access to radiology/biomedical, counseling, behavioral health, rehabilitation, physical therapy, optometry, audiology, dental and pharmaceutical services. 

To help meet the diverse client needs, we needed to install six kiosk units in the main lobby, so that visitors could check in and then be directed to the appropriate services area within the facility. Berwick Electric was also responsible for the installation of the fire alarm system, as well as the integration of the sophisticated smoke evacuation system. 

All of this activity is supported by a 3,000 amp, 277/480-volt electrical service requiring nine electrical rooms, an emergency generator for the smoke evacuation system, mechanical equipment and a sophisticated lighting control system, as well as other electrically-related items. The electrical service also supports the radiology suite, which includes three x- ray rooms, MRI, CT and mammography equipment and site lighting. 

The Colorado Springs VA Clinic project required a tremendous amount of upfront and ongoing engineering to provide systems that would integrate with the primary head-end system located at the Denver VA facility. That means Berwick needed to coordinate the much-needed customer meetings to flesh out the details of the installation to provide optimum system integrity. 

One of the unique challenges of this project was that there were quite a number of additions to the scope of the project, and yet we were able to finish on time with no delays. 

We look forward to the benefits that the VA Clinic will provide for the community. Those who have served and sacrificed so much for our country deserve the best!

Frankly, we think “Good Enough” is unacceptable in any situation, but there are certain instances where a lack of attention to detail and quality can have dramatic—life-impacting—consequences. Healthcare is one of those industries, in which “good enough” simply isn’t good enough. Things have to be done properly and expertly, or there can be disastrous consequences. 

That’s one reason Berwick Electric was selected to install the electrical system for the Penrose St. Francis Medical Center.  This is a place where people’s livelihoods—and lives—depend on reliable, uninterrupted electrical service. 

There was, of course, a lot more involved than simply “running electrical lines” and installing outlets. This six-story facility encompasses nearly 465,000 square feet of space, including the full-service, 522-bed acute care facility. This was a major project with many intricate and interacting parts that included a Central Utility Plant (CUP), four floors of medical facilities, and mechanical areas located on both the fourth and sixth floors. 

The hospital required three 4000 amp 480 volt services with an emergency system consisting of 8000 amp 480 volt paralleling switch gear, two 1500 KW generators, future for two generators, automatic transfer switches, switchgear and distribution. 

There is, of course, more to the hospital than just operation theaters and patient rooms. The facility also includes a 4,000-square-foot commercial kitchen, and a 5,000 square foot dining room. 

If you have an electrical installation project that’s large, complicated, or simply needs to be done right because “good enough” just isn’t good enough for your needs, we’d love to help you out. We don’t believe it’s good enough until it meets our exacting standards and requirements—and you’re happy with the end result. 

Here’s a snippet of what the Project Manager said about the work completed: “Berwick Electric’s workmanship and attention to detail on this project, as well as meeting strict schedule and budget constraints, was unparalleled! It was a pleasure to be able to work with them and hope to do so again in the very near future!

Whether you're renovating an entire business or simply updating part of your building, you've got concerns in common with every other business owner in Colorado Springs when you contract for electrical installations.

Keeping your electrical system running is crucial for any business, but you've got to pay attention to the bottom line, as well. Here's what other business owners are concerned about: 

#1: What is Safety Lighting?

Darkness is the criminal's friend. The brighter you make it around your business building the less likely it is that burglars will break in. Safety lighting can take the form of automatic motion-sensor floodlights, walkway lights to prevent customers from tripping in the dark, and even brighter lights in your parking lots to keep your employees safe. 

#2: Why are LED Lights Better?

LED or Light Emitting Diode lights are the newest in a line of light bulb improvements that save your business power and money. They run cooler so they reduce fire hazards and air conditioning use, use less power so they're cheaper to run, and last years instead of months like common incandescent bulbs do. 

#3: What is Lightning Protection?

Today's lightning protection comes in the form of air terminals, which are short sticks mounted on the roof of a building. These sticks are attached to wires that lead electricity to the ground if your building is hit by a lightning strike. 

#4: How Can I Save Money on My Electrical Bill?

• Replace older bulbs with LED varieties
• Set up task lighting and eliminate general lighting areas 

#5: What Size Generator Do I Need?

Keeping your power on during an outage is important, but businesses have individual needs during an electrical emergency. If you've got a retail outlet you only need a smaller generator that powers lights and a cash register or two. Restaurants have to have refrigeration going round the clock, however, and nursing homes can't exist without full power at all times. Work with your contractor to find out what size you need. 

#6: Why Use a Maintenance Agreement?

By replacing small parts and doing basic maintenance on your equipment, you’ll prevent most of the unexpected breakdowns that happen with almost every type of electrical equipment. Emergencies are expensive, and emergency repairs even more so. 

#7: Why Use Surge Protection?

When power surges through your business due to weather or utility problems, it can overload your business systems and damage your equipment. Surge protection will all but eliminate the danger to computers, POS cash registers, medical equipment and other electrical systems you need in your business. 

#8: What are Smart LED Solutions?

Replacing light bulbs with LED bulbs is a great way to save money, but smart LED solutions is a way to connect all your electrical equipment into one system that works together to create the most frugal way to use power. It's using high tech to find out the cheapest way to run the lighting in your business. 

#9: How to Finance My Installations

Check with the Department of Energy for funding relating to clean power installations. PACE is a governmental program designed to encourage green power solutions through financing. Some utility companies even offer on-bill financing for efficient upgrades. Check with your governmental entities for details. 

#10: What Standby Generator Maintenance Should I Do?

Change the oil regularly, inspect the air filter and keep it clean, inspect the generator and read the owner's manual for any other recommendations, and – of course – check your fuel level.

 #1: Working Conditions

You want your employees to have a safe working environment, free from dangers that can cause injury or worse. It's important to make sure all devices are grounded and safe to use, and there is no chance of anyone accidentally getting shocked while on the job. 

#2: Data Loss

Leaving your datacomm devices unprotected will subject them to surges in the system, which can wipe data from your network and damage system equipment. Installing the correct safety systems will prevent you from losing company records, client information, and the ability to run your business on a day-to-day basis. 

#3: Business Loss

It's the rare business today that can operate without electricity in Colorado Springs. Electrical safety involves making sure the power keeps going to your business and your equipment still keeps running, not just physical safety to your employees. A constant power supply is crucial and upping your safety standards will help to ensure that it happens. 

#4: Maintenance

Keeping a commercial electrician on call for a scheduled maintenance visit monthly will always save you money in the long run. Keeping your electrical equipment up to date and in good working order will help to keep everyone safe, plus it reduces the amount of hours you'll spend in downtime from broken equipment. You'll prevent problems before they happen, which saves time and money. 

#5: Rules and Regulations

Every community has rules and regulations about electrical equipment, wiring, and use. Looking out for electrical safety issues is one important way to make sure you're following community guidelines. Straying from these guidelines can cost you fines, subject you to a shutdown until the problem is fixed, or worse. 

#6: Insurance

Insurance companies all have rules about what kind of businesses they will cover, and part of every policy is a section on following local laws and safety regulations. In order to keep your insurance policy intact, you must avoid any electrical safety violations from ever happening. Insurance inspectors will come to your business to make sure everything is in line before writing your policy, and your company may have a policy of further regular inspections.

Electrical surges can be crippling to data communications networks. The problem doesn't even have to be related to lightning storms or municipal blackouts. Tiny internal glitches within the electrical lines can knock out an entire system in a fraction of a second. The physical cost to your company is nothing compared to how much you can lose in data, or in future business because you can't service your customers. Prevention is the key, and taking a rugged approach makes total sense considering what you've got to lose.

Make the Problem Smaller

The best way to minimize damage is to firewall sections away from each other, creating electrical zones throughout your network. Run lines in separate, enclosed systems when installing your datacomm equipment. If there's a problem with section 1, for example, sections 2 and 3 shouldn't be affected, saving most of your system from damage. 

Causes

Problems with fluctuating power supply can occur from many different causes. While they all create problems with your datacomm network, each one may have to be treated differently. Some of the more common causes are:

• Power outages: Whether because of weather, civic overuse, or sabotage, communities sometimes suffer from a general loss of power. While this won't damage a network, it can shut your business down and affect further operations once the power is restored.
• Surges: While a surge, or spike in electrical power, lasts only a microsecond it can cause severe damage if you don't have protection in place.  Surges can cause data loss, down time, and even equipment damage. Install surge protection to both data and voice lines to ensure your entire network is covered.
• Lightning: Unlike naturally occurring surges in the power line, lightning can cause a surge that's many times more powerful. Not only can it knock out the power to an entire system, it can burn out any equipment that's not protected, resulting in partial or complete data loss. 

Protection Methods

While each method of protection is crucial, you'll need to install all three to create a complete safety zone around your datacomm network. Each type of protection shields against a different type of menace to your system; combined, they'll provide complete protection against electrical surges. 

1. Lightning protection:   Air terminals, which used to be called lightning rods, are your business's best protection again surges caused by lightning. The small rods connected to the roof and to your largest landscaping trees direct any close lightning strikes away from your building and into a grounding pad outdoors. This renders the electricity harmless, keeping it away from your business.
2. Surge protection devices:  Otherwise known as surge suppressors, these devices act as a shield between the electrical system in your building and your datacomm equipment. Check with your commercial electrician to determine what kind and how many surge protection devices you'll need.
3. Alternate power supplies:  Uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) and backup generators are your last defense against the worst power outages. Each computer terminal should have its own UPS to shield against sudden outages that ravage data. In addition, a backup generator keeps your business going when backups last longer than just a few minutes.

Apartment complex owners face many more electrical challenges than other business owners, simply because the size of their business and the number of people interacting with them is larger. Even more complicated than a mall, the electrical system in an apartment complex affects people's lives as well as your business. In Colorado Springs, this means being aware of coming trends in electrical usage as well as keeping up on basic maintenance. 

PEVs

Plugin electric vehicles, or PEVs, are increasing in usage in all parts of the country. Apartment dwellers in Colorado Springs are looking for complexes with charging stations for easily topping off their vehicles while they sleep. In the near future you'll be making decisions on methods of payment for those who use the charging stations, safety features for those who want to charge vehicles through their own home outlets, increased insurance payments for installing charging stations, and other concerns you haven't even considered today. 

Power Overuse

Short of inspecting every unit in your buildings there is no way to ensure every tenant is complying with electrical usage rules. Tenants who set their air conditioning at extremely low temperatures, those who plug multiple items into one outlet using power strips, and those who add multiple chest freezers into their units all put undue strain on the power supply. Track electrical usage from each unit, and be prepared to intervene if one unit's usage goes off the charts. 

Children

Even the best-behaved child in the world starts to explore and breaks something once in a while. Children unscrew outlet plates, pour soda into air conditioning ducts, and break light bulbs with toys. Take the damage they will do into account when budgeting for repairs each month. 

Power Outages

Power outages in Colorado Springs aren't as common as in some parts of the country, but they do happen. Depending on the majority of tenants you have in an apartment complex, you may want to install backup generators as an alternate power supply. If the power goes out in the winter and your units use forced air furnaces, the heat won't get to your tenants. Small children and senior citizens are especially vulnerable during outages, and having an alternate power supply can be a bonus feature justifying higher rents. 

Electrical Maintenance

Live-in maintenance personnel aren't usually up-to-date on modern electrical systems and the need for elaborate monthly maintenance. A commercial electrical contractor will come out on a regular basis and inspect your system, update anything that's fraying or worn, change bulbs and small parts to prevent outages, and put off most small electrical problems before they start.

It's summertime. Clothes are thinner, food is healthier, and it feels like everything else should be lighter and thinner, as well. If your electric bill isn't following the summer trend, it may not be the increased air conditioning you're running. You may have employees who are wasting electricity while they're working in your business. 

Air Conditioning

This is the most obvious way to waste energy during the summer months, and yet employees are guilty of it every year. Customers really don't enjoy having to wear a sweater when they come into your business. If a jacket is part of everyone's work wardrobe, you know you've got a problem. Invest in a locking thermostat that won't allow workers to change the temperature. Simple boxes that screw onto the wall over the thermostat work well for very little cost. Allow employees to wear lighter clothing, or design a summer uniform, to avoid complaints about the interior being too hot during the workday. 

Doors

Doors are meant to stay shut most of the time, and yet many people prop them open for long periods of time during the workday. It may be necessary to prop open a door during a food or inventory delivery, but the door should be shut immediately after. Leaving the doors open causes the cool air to escape, and that means an air conditioning unit that has to run longer and harder, wasting power for hours. You may also want to consider a Building Management System. 

Computers

Computers and POS register units use a lot of power. It doesn't make much sense to turn them off and on all day long, but when the business is closed the machines should be off. Also included are:

• Monitors
• Printers
• Scanners
• Scanners

These items take a few minutes to boot up, so it makes sense for them to remain on during the day, but leaving them on after closing wastes power.

Lights

The sunlight is strong during a Colorado Springs summer, and its light is more than powerful enough to illuminate some business interiors. If you can see well in your lobby or front office, your employees should leave the lights off until dusk. One fourth of all electricity used nationwide is for lighting, so every bit your employees can save will greatly affect your bottom line. Even when the sun begins to sink in the afternoon, look into using task lighting over desks and work areas instead of more expensive general lighting systems, and encourage your employees to use it.

Good commercial electricians have gone through extensive training and take continuing education classes all through their professional lives. While you may not think of hiring an electrician before having an electrical emergency, it's a good idea to research local electricians in Colorado Springs and set up a business relationship with one before you absolutely need him. This allows you to check credentials on multiple candidates and choose the one who best fits your business needs.

Education

A reputable commercial electrician will stay up-to-date with the National Electrical Code, which covers all commercial installations and which is amended every three years. Make sure your candidate electrician requires his entire team to take regular training classes.

• Joint Electrical Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC) includes:
• 5 year program
• 250 hours / year of schooling
• 2000 hours / year of “on-the-job” training 

Pulling Permits

Reputable electricians know the regulations on pulling permits for all new builds as well as renovations. Colorado Springs has its own regulations covering electrical work, as do other communities, and a good local electrician knows what's needed in your community. 

State Licenses

The State Electrical Board licenses commercial electricians who work in Colorado Springs. Always check to make sure your potential electrician is current on his electrician's license. The license procedure is set in place to prevent people from working on electrical systems without the correct knowledge and training. Berwick Electric’s Colorado State Electrical License is number 11! 

Who Works?

When you hire a commercial electrician, there are any number of people who may be doing the actual work on your business. It could be:

• The owner him (or her) self
• Individual employees who work directly for the owner
• Subcontractors who work for some other company

While subcontractors can be solid and reputable people, it's a good idea to know exactly who's going to be doing the work and how much they actually know.

Specialization

Does your commercial electrician specialize in certain types of work? Find one who does, if at all possible if you've got a specialized job. If you're planning to rehab an old inn into a restaurant, you'll probably find problems a specialist has dealt with before. On the other hand, if you have a job spanning a wide variety of tasks, go with the generalist every time. By checking testimonials and reviews from former customers, you’ll be able to identify a solid electrical company to use. 

The Warranties and Insurance

When it comes to the business side of dealing with a commercial electrician, having more paperwork is better. Reputable contractors will warranty their work, guaranteeing it will last for a reasonable length of time. When it comes to insurance, it's crucial that they have insurance on all their workers and on the job itself. All sensible professionals cover themselves in case of accidents and acts of nature, and will stand behind their work.