Recently, The Holocaust Museum Houston has won the Houston Business Journal’s 2020 Landmark award for Community Impact. This renovation project was a highlight of our year and we couldn’t be more pleased with the museum getting the recognition it deserves. We encourage everyone to visit the newly renovated spaces and explore the important historical lessons the Holocaust Museum Houston has on display. We would also like to congratulate all of our partners in this project for an excellent job in updating such an important site in our community.

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And Pieper couldn’t be happier! We’ve been working on Sugar Land’s brand new performing arts center since December of 2014 to install electrical infrastructure — including specialty color changing lighting throughout the facility and DMX lighting control, as well as fire alarms, structured cabling, security-cameras and access control. The new facility’s size exceeds 200,000 square feet, including multi-level seating and a basement, presenting an enjoyable challenge! The Smart Financial Centre will be kicking off its impressive 2017 line up with a celebration starring Jerry Seinfeld on Jan. 14. Make plans to check out a show this year, and the lighting!

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Just like skipping your annual physical, it can be tempting to not call your electrician until a problem arises. However, that approach, called reactive maintenance, isn’t always the best course of action. A strong preventative maintenance program can save money by reducing the number of equipment failures you face and keeping your facilities running at optimal levels. It can also help keep costs within budget by allowing property managers and engineers to better anticipate and schedule any needed updates or replacements.
Reactive Maintenance
Pros:

• Lower initial cost
• Lower employee cost

Cons:

• Increased cost due to unexpected downtime
• Higher labor costs, especially if overtime is required
• Unexpected manufacturing and shipping fees
• Back-up equipment becomes stressed
• Unhappy tenants

Preventative Maintenance
Pros:

• Cost-effective in capital-intensive processes and equipment
• Maximizes life of equipment and electrical system
• Energy savings as equipment runs at optimum levels
• Reduces equipment and/or process failures
• Improved efficiency, due to scheduled downtime
• Long term savings over reactive methods

Cons:

• Risk of catastrophic failures reduced but not eliminated
• Labor intensive
• Initial higher cost

Keep your building running efficiently with preventative maintenance from Pieper’s service department. We maintain a range of facilities from stadiums, like NRG Park, to industrial facilities, like Alcon. During a maintenance check-up, we’ll come on site, assess the building and make recommendations on how to improve the electrical system. Because as always, Pieper is with you every step of the way.

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Safety advancements along with new technology have reduced the number of arc flash incidents that occur each year. Unfortunately they still happen, often sending workers to the emergency room for care.
What is an Arc Flash?
According to OSHA, it’s “a phenomenon where a flashover of electrical current leaves its intended path and travels through the air from one conductor to another, or to ground.”
What Causes an Arc Flash?

• Dust
• Dropping tools
• Accidental touching
• Condensation
• Material failure
• Corrosion
• Faulty installation

Arc flashes are dangerous and can cause serious injury and damage. In addition to burning workers who are nearby, they can also send objects flying, including molten metal, and can easily cause a building fire.
Because of the serious risks associated with arc flashes, the National Fire Protection Association has laid out NFPA 70E, a guide to safety practices and procedures for the prevention of arc flash accidents. Among those practices are procedures are the use of personal protective equipment and clear labeling on equipment such as panel boards, switchboards and industrial control panels.
At Pieper, we’re here to guide you every step of the way, helping to ensure that you are in compliance with NFPA 70E and keeping your maintenance staff safe. Call our service department today to schedule an arc flash hazard analysis.
Jeff Hisaw
Service Department Director
713.875.5263 | jeffh@pieperhouston.com

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As the temperatures continue to drop, it’s common for heaters, and with them electric bills, to rise. However, there are countless small steps that you can take to cut back on energy expenses. Here are a few simple ways to keep those bills from getting the better of you this winter.

Skip the Screen Saver

Screen savers certainly look nice, but they are actually a big energy waster! In fact, it can take as much as twice the energy to run a screen saver as it does for basic computer use. So this year, try skipping the screen saver and instead let your computer fall into sleep mode when you are not using it.

Unplug Before You Unwind

Did you know that an average of 75% of the energy used by electronics and appliances is consumed when they are plugged in, but not in use? That’s right! One of the easiest and quickest ways to save around an office is to not only turn off appliances, but to unplug them over weekends and holidays.

Printer Perfect

Everyone knows that printers are office essentials. What people are less likely to know is that the type of printer used can play a big role in your energy bill. Inkjet printers are much more efficient, using up to 90% less energy than their counterpart, the laser printer. Another easy change is to have all employees print to the same printer, meaning fewer printers to maintain and less energy used by printers that are on, but not in use.

Timed Right

Leaving lights on overnight and on weekends at the office can add more than $50 to your energy bill each month. One way to sidestep those charges is to install timers or motion sensors on lights around the office. This will ensure that you aren’t unnecessarily running lights when they aren’t in use.
Give Pieper a call to really amp up your energy efficiency at the office. We can make sure your electrical system is running efficiently, and help with other upgrades, like switching incandescent lightbulbs for significantly more efficient LED lights.

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Let Pieper help make this holiday season bright!
With all the bright, twinkling lights and warm, powerful heaters, the holiday season can put quite a load on your electrical system. Whether you need a dedicated breaker for Christmas lights or a back-up generator for your heating system, Pieper will make sure you’re never left with cold feet.
Call us today for all your holiday maintenance needs!
From building a new business to maintaining an existing one, Pieper is with you every step of the way.

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Pieper had a lot of little monsters running around this Halloween!

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Pieper had a great time at the TAHFM Clay Shoot with Duane Bennett from Emerus Health Care, Travis Hodges from Grace Presbyterian and Carl Biano with JE Dunn.

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It’s midnight on a Friday and the ER is filled to capacity. In the midst of this chaos, there is a sudden whirring sound. Then silence. Darkness. The backup generators are not kicking in as planned…
Preventive maintenance (PM) is essential to any hospital’s electrical maintenance plan. Electrical system failures, such as internal blackouts, directly impact patient care and drive maintenance and repair costs up. You can manage that risk and drastically reduce it, simply by maintaining a regular PM schedule. Here are some points made by David Stymiest in Health Facilities Management Magazine to bring home the value in PM:

• Systems are 3 times more likely to fail – Hospitals that choose to forego regular PM, use a strategy known as “run-to-failure” maintenance and are three times more likely to fail, according to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
• Loose electrical connections cause 25% of all electrical equipment failures – Sometimes loose from installation, other times from thermal expansion and contraction, loose electrical connections make up a full 25% of miscellaneous electrical equipment failures. Regularly checking connections can significantly reduce the risk of equipment failure.
• Dust and dirt cause 30% of all electrical equipment failures – When dust and dirt build up inside equipment and become conductive, it can lead to future short circuits. Because it is so avoidable and causes an estimated 30% of equipment failures, a thorough PM plan should include regularly cleaning equipment rooms, checking for water and, if necessary, changing air filters.

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Currently experiencing a downswing in skilled workers, the construction sector is actively implementing strategies to better market professional and craft worker positions. One standout organization involved in changing the population’s mindset is Construction Career Collaborative (C3), an alliance of owners, contractors and specialty contractors dedicated to addressing the issues facing the craft worker in the construction industry.

The C3 Focus

• Craft Training – Improving on current craft training strategies and optimizing the educational tools currently available will help promote a well-educated group of craft workers.
• Safety Training – Safety is at the forefront of everything in the construction industry. Through a standardized educational safety awareness course, C3 ensures safety and awareness will be the focus of every craft worker.
• Industry Awareness – Educational seminars and hosted presentations educate key players in the construction industry on the benefits of creating a safe and effective work environment for the construction craft worker.

Through the research of different industry organizations, it’s well-known that the missing piece in promoting industry training is the participation and support of company owners. It is up to the owner to mandate training and safety policies as well as encourage workforce development.

Pieper’s management team is proud to be involved in the ongoing efforts of C3. Our strong safety awareness as well as our willingness to share our knowledge through training or educational seminars proves we’re truly with you every step of the way.

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The summer storms in Houston remind us that summer is the peak time of year for lightning strikes. Did you know that lightning is one of the top three storm-related killers in the U.S.? Every year, an average of 54 people are killed by lightning, according to the National Weather Service. Just in 2012, there have been 26 deaths to date.

Protect yourself, your employees and your family by remembering these safety tips:

• Avoid contact with electrical equipment or cords.
• Unplug any electronic equipment well before a storm arrives.
• Do not hold onto metal objects. Large metal objects can conduct lightning, while small ones can cause burns.
• Avoid contact with plumbing by not washing your hands, taking a shower or washing dishes, as lightning can pass through metal pipes.
• Seek shelter in a safe building or vehicle, either of which should be fully enclosed. Unsafe shelters include: car ports, open garages, tents, sheds, golf carts or convertibles.
• Avoid tall or high places, such as rooftops, scaffolding, utility poles and ladders.

Lightning can enter your building from a direct strike, via wires or pipes that extend outside the structure and through the ground. From there, it can travel through the electrical, phone, plumbing and radio/television reception systems, so it’s important to not touch such equipment to avoid getting shocked.

At Pieper, our licensed service technicians can help evaluate and protect your electrical system with a maintenance check-up to help you weather the summer storms.

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Storm season is well under way in the Houston area. Rain and lightning alike have crashed down upon the city, increasing the risk of electrical fires due to downed trees and wires. While last year’s drought has made us grateful for the rain, these powerful storms are not welcome news for your business.

Learning to recognize possible risks during and after a storm can significantly reduce the possibility of an electrical event at your business. We encourage you to read and share the following warning signs and safety tips with your employees to protect your facilities from preventable electric damage.

Reduce Electrical Fires with tips from the National Fire Protection Association

• Recurring blown fuses or tripped circuits are indicators of electrical problems, and need to be inspected by a qualified electrician before the fuse is replaced or the breaker reset.
• Getting a shock or tingling sensation when touching an appliance indicates a serious underlying issue. Unplug it immediately and discontinue use.
• Outlets that appear discolored, warm or are sparking indicate the possibility of loose terminations or compromised connections and should be checked.
• An overheating or malfunction appliance will often release a burning smell. Unplug it immediately or shut off the circuit breaker.
• Lights that regularly flicker or dim are indicators of a dangerous underlying issues, such as loose connections or defective components, and need to be inspected to determine the reason.

If you experience any of these issues in your office or facility, it’s vital that you contact a licensed electrician immediately to avoid an electrical fire. Pieper has an emergency staff on call 24/7 that can conduct a thorough electrical inspection of your system after an outage, and even perform a thermal infrared inspection to quickly diagnose all areas that may be compromised.

Let us help keep your company safe this summer. Call Pieper today to schedule an electrical checkup to make sure your building will be ready for a storm.

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Pieper employees along with family and friends enjoyed a night out at BBVA Compass Stadium, watching the Houston Dynamo take on the Portland Timbers. It was an exciting game with the Dynamo taking the lead in the 2nd half and ultimately winning 3-1.

The night began with 22 lucky Pieper children taking the players’ hands and escorting the athletes onto The Dynamo field. Further fun was found inside the run tunnel, lined with 150 Pieper Players and kids giving the Dynamo high fives and taking photos as the Players took the field. After the game, the Pieper Player teams, Manchester United and Barcelona, played a close and exciting match on the Dynamo’s pitch, ending in a 4-2 victory for Barcelona. Way to play guys!!

“At Pieper, we like to think that each of our dedicated employees, along with their individual families are an extension of our own family.”
– George “Bud” Walters

“Thanks, Bud, for the good time we had out there on Saturday. Me and my family feel blessed to be part of this company. It was so amazing to see all the families together there at the stadium having fun.”
– Julio Mejicanos

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Stop by our booth at the Houston BOMA Expo, where we’ll have fun giveaways and can answer questions about your building’s maintenance needs.

When:
May 21, 2015
2 – 7 p.m.

Where:
NRG Center
One NRG Park
Houston, Texas 77054

We hope to see you there!

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Thanks for rocking out with us at the AGC 24th Annual BBQ Cook-Off! We hope you enjoyed the great food and had fun hanging with friends. Check out some of the highlights from the day!

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When the bell for first period rings, students should walk into cool, bright and clean classrooms with good lighting, study materials and technology. Building and maintaining an environment that is conducive for learning (and teaching) can be a challenge. In fact, research shows that a facility’s condition directly relates to absenteeism, teacher turnover rates and occupant health.

When building a new school, local school boards often face tight deadlines and strict budgets, while still needing a school building that is energy efficient and safe. Once the school is up and running, energy costs are the largest operating expense for school districts after salaries and benefits.

Recently those costs have increasingly strained their already tight budgets, and these constraints result in an accumulation of deferred maintenance, which eventually leads to higher energy costs and more equipment malfunctions.

The ABC’s of Schools’ Energy Consumption:

• U.S. schools spend more than $7.5 billion a year on energy, which is more than they spend on textbooks and computers combined.
• Schools spent around $130 per student on electricity in 2005.
• Lighting represents about 26% of electricity consumption, not including its impact on cooling loads.
• Office equipment accounts for about 20% of electricity consumption.

Having enough light, but not too much, is the most important lighting criterion for classrooms, according to the U.S. EPA’s Energy Star program. Energy-saving lighting updates can save as much as 30 – 50% of lighting energy, plus 10 – 20% of cooling energy. It’s all about choosing the right type of lighting that best suits the activity, whether it’s reading, artwork, a lecture on a chalkboard or a multimedia lecture with a screen projection — all of which require different levels of lighting.

In addition, sometimes it can be tempting to focus on the lowest-cost energy-saving lighting updates with the fastest return on investment, but investing in higher-cost measures might be more beneficial and economical in the end.

Whether you need help designing the type of lighting for the various classrooms and buildings of a school or want guidance on the kinds of economical lighting updates that best suit the school, we can help.

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An important part of our everyday lives, lighting uses about 22% of all electricity generated in the U.S., according to Department of Energy statistics. It’s no wonder that the DOE and efficiency supporters have promoted upgraded lighting technologies to improve energy efficiency and reduce building energy consumption and costs.

In fact, a recent report by the DOE shows that LEDs are the most efficient and environmentally friendly option. when compared to incandescents and compact fluorescent lamps.

Let’s compare:

Have questions about the pros and cons of each type of light? We are here to help, whether you’d like more information or want us to take a look at ways we can improve your building’s energy efficiency.

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