THERMAL IMAGING FOR HVAC MAINTENANCE

In hospitals, climate control is of critical importance to ensure both hygiene and comfort for the patients and personnel. A Swedish hospital was introduced to the Flir thermal imaging camera when it hired an external consultant for electrical maintenance who used the technology. Since then, the hospital used it to inspect and maintain its HVAC system. According to hospital technicians, the camera provides with the right information and allows making well based decisions with regard to maintenance of the heating and ventilation, troubleshooting all kinds of building issues.

The air temperature in the hospital should be 22°C and the air coming from ventilation ducts should be 18°C. To maintain the same, the thermometers installed in certain parts of the building provide feedback for the automated HVAC system used by the hospital. If the technical staff wants more specific information about the airflows and temperature distribution in a room, thermal imaging camera is used.

“From time to time complaints might arise from patients about a room being too hot or too cold but with the thermal imaging camera the staff can quickly assess whether there is actually something wrong in that room. If nothing is wrong, the screen of the thermal imaging camera allows staff to immediately show the patient that the temperatures are perfectly normal in the thermal image. And if there is a fault the thermal imaging helps us to find the problem much faster, allowing a quick repair. The two faults that the technicians sometimes find in the hospitals are HVAC system is clogged radiators or blocked ventilation ducts. The camera also helps inspect fuse cabinets and mechanical components in the ventilation system for faults, check whether the district heating shunt group is cooling the warm water down to the right temperature and even the backup batteries in the server room.

Operation Room:

For different types of operations different ambient temperatures are necessary. And a close control of air circulation is an obvious necessity to prevent contamination with airborne pathogens. The hospital staff therefore regularly checks and closely monitors the HVAC systems of the operation rooms with the thermal imaging camera.

Insulation Defects:

During a recent building project large parts of the hospital where renovated. The Flir thermal imaging camera was used to verify whether the insulation was working perfectly. Inspections showed that there was some warmth leakage at the window stills and that there was insufficient insulation in the attic roof. Also detected was incorrect installation of some of the radiators. Based on the information from the thermal imaging inspections these faults were corrected, ensuring that the new renovated parts of the building are well insulated.”

Thermal Imaging Vs Spot Pyrometers:

Before the use of thermal imaging camera, hospital technicians had to base the maintenance inspections on contact measurements. The personnel had to either touch warm components manually or use a spot pyrometer. Thermal imaging cameras have important advantages compared to spot pyrometers. For instance, the spot meter just gives a value of a small area. Using it for inspections is very labor intensive and it lacks the overview that a thermal imaging camera gives. On a thermal image one can immediately scan an entire area for thermal hot or cold spots and see at once where the problem is located. The details may vary, but a spot pyrometer is basically similar to a thermal imaging camera with one pixel as in that it tells the temperature of one spot. A thermal imaging camera will provide the same accurate temperature readings, but it gives you not one, but thousands of temperature readings at the same time.

Also, with a spot pyrometer it is very easy to miss crucial information as it gives a number while; thermal imaging presents an image of the entire area. Thus, one can immediately see the temperature distribution in the entire area and quickly spot problems that would otherwise remain undetected.

Versatile Tool

Flir Ebx-Series-models have an image quality of up to 320x240 pixels and include the features needed to make well informed building decisions like built-in insulation and dew point alarms. The cameras are specifically designed for building inspections such as, HVAC heating and cooling issues, air flow, moisture detection, insulation problems and other heat related building issues. Other features include Wifi connectivity, iPad compatibility, easy use and built-in picture-in-picture & thermal fusion.

FURNITURE EFFECTS ON IAQ

The reclassification of Formaldehyde by the International Agency for research on Cancer as carcinogenic to humans has triggered enormous concern globally. Lack of awareness in India on the formaldehyde emissions from UF bonded panels is even more worrisome.

Furniture is a functionally needed utility, keeping in view the ergonomic design needed for good working conditions. One of the most neglected aspects in India is the knowledge of acceptable level of formaldehyde emissions in the office or home interiors. It is mostly released from the wood panels used in the fabrication of furniture like Plywood, Block board, Particleboard and Medium Density Fiberboards (MDF). Therefore, it is preferable that the furniture manufacturers use wood panels with E1 certification.

Formaldehyde exposure potentially causes a variety of symptoms and adverse health effects, such as eye, nose, throat, and skin irritation, coughing, wheezing, and allergic reactions. Long-term exposure to high levels of formaldehyde has been associated with cancer in humans. Formaldehyde can affect people differently. Some people are very sensitive to formaldehyde at a certain level while others may not have any noticeable reaction to the same level.

Formaldehyde levels in indoor air can vary depending on temperature, humidity, and air exchange rate within the indoor space. In addition, several studies have shown that, in the presence of ozone, formaldehyde levels increase; therefore, the outdoor and indoor ozone levels are also relevant.

Formaldehyde levels in internal office or home spaces may change with the season, day-to-day and day-to-night. Levels may be high on a hot and humid day and low on a cool, dry day.

Major sources of Indoor Formaldehyde emissions

Measuring formaldehyde emissions from individual interior product is difficult because a variety of furnishings in the office or homes can release formaldehyde or trap formaldehyde emitted from other sources. Products with greater emissions and larger surface areas in the office or homes will most likely have a greater contribution to indoor air formaldehyde levels.

Pressed-wood (i.e., hardwood plywood, particleboard, and medium-density fiberboard (MDF)) and wood-based products, especially those containing UF resins, may be a significant formaldehyde source. Moderate levels of formaldehyde initially follow application of wallpaper and paints. Some paints are now available with low-VOC formulations. Formaldehyde can be created from the chemical reaction between ozone and other VOCs during the use of personal computers, laser printers, and photocopiers. Products, such as carpets or gypsum board, do not contain significant amounts of formaldehyde when new. However, they may trap formaldehyde that is emitted into the air from other products and later release it into the indoor air.

RSG: HIERARCHY OF SAVINGS

RSG: HIERARCHY OF SAVINGS: A system that first takes care of fundamental concerns and only then moves to higher levels, can ensure disciplined investing You’ll ...

HIERARCHY OF SAVINGS

A system that first takes care of fundamental concerns and only then moves to higher levels, can ensure disciplined investing

You’ll probably be familiar with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, if you've studied psychology, or more likely, marketing as part of your business school curricula. This hierarchy was formulated by Abraham Maslow to classify and understand levels of needs that human beings have. Starting from the most basic level, these roughly correspond to physiological needs, safety, social needs and, at the top of the hierarchy, what he called, self-actualization. According to Maslow, needs at a higher level become important only when those at the lower level are met. Someone who does not have enough to eat or whose basic physical safety is not assured is unlikely to worry too much about the deeper meaning of his or her life.

It is interesting to see that this idea of hierarchy of needs can be useful in planning one’s savings and investments. There are types of investments that belong at a higher level of a ‘Hierarchy of Savings’ and shouldn't be attempted before the lower levels are taken care of.

Here’s what I think this ‘Hierarchy of Savings’ should be like.

Level 1: Basic contingency funds: This should be the money that you may need to handle a personal emergency. Should be available instantly, partly as physical cash and partly as funds that can be immediately withdrawn from a bank.

Level 2: Term Insurance: A realistic amount that should be calculated to allow your dependents to finance at least short- and medium-term life goals if you were to drop dead is struck with a debilitating injury or disease.

Level 3: Savings for Foreseeable Short-Term Goals: Money that is needed for expenses that are planned to be made within the next two to three years. Almost all of this should be in minimal risk deposit-type savings avenues.

Level 4: Savings for long-term foreseeable goals: Same as level 3, except the planned expenses are more than three to five years away. This level should be invested in equity and equity-backed investments like equity mutual funds.

One could think of many other levels beyond this and really, the details matter much less than the concept. Also, depending on one’s circumstances, any of the levels may have to be modified. However, this is not an asset allocation tool. The point of this exercise is to prevent yourself from going to higher level unless the lower one is fulfilled. It’s simply a way of reinforcing that there’s little point in trying to fine-tune how much you will earn in an equity investment if you haven’t put away cash for an immediate emergency or adequate term insurance cover.

GREEN FACTS - ECO FRIEDLLY FACTORIES

Sustainable construction practices and eco-friendly operations are becoming the standard in every industry to increases bottom line and protect the future of our planet.

Energy efficiency to cut

Regularly replace HVAC filters, check window seals and use caulking and weather stripping to insulate buildings. Make use of CFL fixtures and programmable thermostats to reduce energy waste.

Renewable energy and

Green energy from wind, solar, hydro, or biomass sources is a reliable and consistent source of clean on-site energy that can even contribute back to the grid. Build your own source of renewable green energy on the premises.

Reduce and reuse cycle

Less waste means less money spent on waste removal, lower costs on raw materials and higher levels of efficiency overall. Use inexpensive post-consumer recycled raw materials and redesign packaging to avoid wasteful materials.

Planned and pre-assembled building components reduce waste to 10%. Because the building parts are factory-made, measurements are precise. Large pieces fit together whereupon the unit is sealed tightly to conserve energy. The construction renders almost zero waste and air & noise pollution.

Conserve water

A water efficiency program is a smart way to conserve water in heating, cooling, treating and disposing of it. Appropriate technology can help to minimize discharges to sewers and waste-water.

Cut back on pollution

Staunch the flow of waste at its source, eliminate raw materials from the manufacturing process that aren't needed in the final product. Use in-process recycling to get the most out of the materials and recycle used equipment instead of sending it to simmer in a landfill.

CHEMICALS TO COMBAT HOSPITAL INFECTION (HAI)

The medical care industry in India has grown multifold and upgraded its facilities by providing a clean environment or even a five star hospital experience to its patients. But to what level have hospitals upgraded their cleaning programme is a subject to be revisited.

Disinfection of the patient environment is a key component of the infection prevention and control process in a hospital. One of the most critical interventions that can be performed to decrease the risk for cross-transmission and the development of hospital acquired infection (HAI) is routine cleaning and sanitizing of the medical care environment. This includes both medical equipment and environmental surfaces. In order to gain cleaning efficiencies, one needs to be strong enough to justify its labour resources and have the tools to forecast staffing, chemical and equipment needs. Medical care facilities:

• need to protect their patients, families and staff
• need both conventional and sustainable programmes and products to aid in reducing infection rates and cost within their facilities

Threat and Objectives:

• Gain cleaning efficiencies

• Mitigate HAI risk

• Reduce overall maintenance costs

The Indian cleaning market now consists of a wide range of products both domestic as well international, making selection of the right product a challenge. One needs to assess the level of cleaning, disinfecting, sanitation and sterilization required in the facility. There are a few simple steps to identify the right product.

Common Surface Disinfectants:

Synthetic phenols kill a wide range of organisms and are widely used in operating rooms. They are excellent products for destroying the tuberculosis organism and do not lose their effectiveness in a soiled environment. They are corrosive and should never be used around newborns.

Quats are the most widely used disinfectants in market today. Due to their versatility and cost effectiveness, they kill a wide range of microorganisms including Staph, Salmonella, and Pseudomonas.

Quats are less corrosive and are used in schools, institutions, supermarkets and hospital settings.

Hypochlorite/Bleach is corrosive and should be restricted in use. It should not be used in general building operations because of the potential of interacting with other chemicals, which can result in a toxic gas. Although it can be used as a disinfectant or sanitizer, it is not an effective cleaner. Never mix bleach with another chemical.

Hydrogen Peroxide is more user-friendly ingredient versus bleach and will perform similar tasks. Peroxide products demonstrate versatility in cleaning glass, hard surfaces, carpets and restrooms. These are the most sustainable of the disinfectant products.

Iodine is a powerful disinfectant that, when used in the form of iodophors, will kill a wider range of pathogens than quats and phenolics. As a primary use disinfectant it is not desirable due to its staining properties. Because of iodine’s acidic qualities, its use is restricted to specialized areas, such as surgical settings.

Alcohol provides an efficient means of killing pathogens. Typically, ethyl or isopropyl alcohol is used for smaller area surface disinfection. These products are usually packaged in sealed aerosols or smaller-use containers, since alcohol can pose a fire hazard.

Sanitizers are used to reduce, but not necessarily eliminate, microorganisms from the inanimate environment to levels considered safe as determined by public health codes or regulations. Sanitizers are normally used in food service, food preparation, food processing areas and hand care products. The entire range of these products is available now in the Indian market. It is important to understand these chemicals not only for their efficacy, use and application but also in terms of their environmental effect. These products are mostly used in closed small areas and thus, the level of VOC needs to be referred to as acknowledged by the EPA. High level of VOC also has an adverse effect, as it promotes multiplication of certain bacteria.

Hence, there is urgency for the medical care segment to create a standard of cleanliness which is the best line of defense against HAIs. The need for right products for cleaning, disinfection and sanitation has never been so grave before. The time is ripe for facilities to adopt cleaning practices in the best interest of patients, healthcare professionals, and society in general.

HOW TO CONTROL SPENDING AND START SAVING

The biggest challenge for young investors is to control spending. Here are eight ways you can transform from a spender to a saver

You may have landed yourself a good job, earn a fat salary and have a bright future. Yet, none of this is quite evident when you look at your savings. This is not a one-off case and you are not the only one to have not paid heed to saving for the future. Young people often find it difficult to save in the initial years of their careers. Studies reveal that discretionary spending can be as high as 18-20% of the income for young people. A 2011 study by Assocham revealed that almost 35% of the urban youth spend up to 5,000 a month on clothing alone. This is one of the reasons most young people have such low savings. “Gen Y usually focuses on their EMIs, but ignores their SIPs. They want to splurge on the latest smartphones and the newest cars but not save for their future.

Discipline and self-regulation are the cornerstones of a successful investment plan. We know it is difficult to salt away money when everyone around you is spending as if there is no tomorrow.

There is tremendous peer pressure and even the most level-headed youngsters can stumble. Our cover story this week looks at 8 secret mantras that can help transform a spendthrift into a saver.

MANTRA #1 SAVE BEFORE YOU SPEND Many people are not able to save enough because they don't have anything left after all their expenses. Their financial equation is: Income Expenses = Savings. Legendary investor Warren Buffett offers a simple solution. He says the equation should be changed to Income Savings = Expenses. Instead of saving what is left after expenses, you should spend what is left after you are done with your savings for the month.

We know controlling expenses is easier said than done. However hard you may try, there will be some expense that will gobble up the surplus and prevent you from saving. The solution lies in automating your savings. If you give an ECS mandate to your bank for an SIP, the money will automatically flow into your mutual fund even before you can withdraw it. Ideally, the savings should flow into an investment option that does not allow easy withdrawals. This is one of the reasons that make the Provident Fund such an effective tool for long-term savings. Every month, the employee's contribution is deducted from the salary and deposited into his PF account.

The money keeps growing till the person retires. He can access the corpus before retirement only in certain circumstances.

MANTRA #2 WAIT BEFORE YOU SPLURGE The urge to buy something you like can be overwhelming. Easy financing options and plastic money prevent an individual from distinguishing his wants from his needs. Whenever you want to buy something expensive but not essential, follow the 30-day rule. Just postpone the purchase by 30 days. During that period, think hard whether you really want the item. At the end of the month, if you still want to buy it, go ahead and purchase it. However, if the item was not really essential, you will get over the urge to buy and will probably junk the idea.

This simple rule works very effectively in case of gadgets, apparel, footwear and accessories. It's also not very difficult to follow because you don't actually deny yourself the item. You merely postpone the purchase by a month. As a fringe benefit, you also get to research the item over the next 30 days.

There is another guideline that can help you know the difference between wants and needs. The 30-minute rule says that if you are unlikely to use an item for at least 30 minutes a day on average, you should not buy it. The fancy coffee maker is really no use if you take it out once a month. Of course, this rule is only for gadgets and appliances and should not apply to other essential household items.

MANTRA #3 AVOID USING PLASTIC MONEY Credit and debit cards are essential because an increasing number of our financial transactions take place online.

However, plastic can be dangerous in the hands of a reckless spender. Studies show that people tend to overspend if they use a credit card for a purchase. If they have to make the payment in cash, they feel the pinch. Since the credit card user only signs on the slip, the full impact of the purchase is not felt.

To suppress the shopaholic inside you, leave your debit and credit cards behind when you go to the mall. Take cash instead. Experts recommend some extreme measures for serious shopping addicts. Some say you should just note down the card details and then cut the card into pieces so that you can't use it anymore. Others suggest you keep the card in a paper sleeve and stick pictures of your kids or spouse on it. You will be reminded of the other goals you may be jeopardising when you swipe the card for an unnecessary purchase. “Keep in mind that every craving sets you back when it comes to reaching your long-term goals". One bizarre idea is to literally freeze your card inside a block of ice. It won't damage the card, but the user will have to wait for the ice to melt before he can access it. However, we believe the average spender won't have to resort to such extreme measures.

Just keeping the card in a safe place instead of carrying it around in the wallet is good enough.

MANTRA #4 START SMALL TO SAVE BIG At the beginning of your career, your income may not be very high. In many cases, there is a very small investible surplus after the all the expenses. Still, this should not hold you back from saving. For a young investor, the low quantum of investment is more than made up by the long period available for the money to grow. The magic of compounding ensures that even a small sum grows into a gargantuan amount over the long term. The investment can be scaled up as the income grows in the coming years. However, it is difficult for the average investor to maintain the discipline required for this approach over a long period of time. Mutual fund investors start SIPs but don't enhance the amount every year. Ulip investors pay the same premium year after year without any top-ups. Investors in recurring deposits and fixed deposit don't even have the option to increase their investment in the same account.

MANTRA #5 DON'T BE PRESSURED TO SPEND Everybody's financial situation is different. Just because your colleague has bought a new car or booked a flat in a fancy location does not mean you should follow suit. 

When it comes to big-ticket items like cars and houses, do the math carefully before committing expenses. For instance, the total cost of ownership of a car is much higher than the price quoted by the dealer. You also have to include the cost of fuel, insurance, servicing, spares and repair. There are a few rules for buying a car. The price of the car should not be more than 60% of your annual household income. The EMI should not be more than 15% of your monthly income or 30% of your investible surplus after expenses. Besides, a new car should be used for at least 8 years for complete return on investment. Similarly, assess how much you really need the new smartphone before upgrading.

MANTRA #6 LEVY LUXURY TAX ON YOURSELF The intention of this article is not to make you deny yourself the very luxuries that you have worked for so hard to attain. Every now and then, you need to treat yourself and your family to some fun as well. 

If a dinner and movie with the family costs him 2,000, another 2,000 is put into his savings. There is another advantage of this rule. 

MANTRA #7 DON'T SPEND TO DE-STRESS For many people, spending can be therapeutic. It is a way to unwind after a stressful day and gives the person a sense of control. However, the aftermath of this de-stressing exercise can be even more stressful if it burns a big hole in your pocket. Worse still, if the bills you pile up remain unpaid, because it will definitely hurt your credit score and you might find yourself denied a bank loan if you happen to require one. “You must use your credit card wisely and with caution. If you use more than 30% of your total available credit card limit, it will affect your credit score adversely.

Do you also frequently head to the mall and pick up stuff to fight depression and anxiety? Get a grip on the situation and look for healthier (and less costly) alternatives to unwinding. When you feel overwhelmed by the urge to go on a shopping spree, go for a stroll in the park or do some light exercise.

This will act as a distraction and ease the urge to spend.

MANTRA #8 FIX A BUDGET AND STICK TO IT This should have been the first mantra, but has been deliberately brought up at the end because Gen Y is put off by the B word. The fact is that setting up a budget is the first step towards prudent financial planning, and it's not too difficult. You have to just set a limit on how much you are going to spend on your clothes, travel, movies and eating out in a month, and stick to your budget. Budgeting also helps you keep tabs on the itsy-bitsy expenses, such as casual shopping for clothes, eating out, gifting, and entertainment. Most of the time, these smaller items go unnoticed even though they take up a large portion of the total monthly expenditure.

In the good old days, financial planners advocated the `envelope' method, where the outlay for each head was put in separate envelopes. Now you can sign up with a money management portal.

These websites aggregate all your finances, from savings bank accounts and credit cards to loan payments and mutual fund SIPs. They help you keep track of your money , alerting you when a payment is due or when you have overspent under a certain head.