“Smoke alarms that are 10 years old are near the end of their service life and should be replaced. Some people think that their smoke alarm sits idle until smoke is present. But it is working every minute, constantly monitoring … Continue reading
Category Archives: Equipment
Do you have an inventory of your air conditioners? Do you know when they were purchased? Do you have a schedule to show you when they need to be replaced? The life expectancy of commercial HVAC systems is about 15 … Continue reading
Have you seen a solar-powered picnic table? At Mt. Hood Community College, three tables have been purchased. Check out these two websites for more information on how they work, how many recycled milk cartons were used in the manufacturing process, … Continue reading
Whenever a volunteer group (and sometimes even licensed contractors) come to CrossRoads, we end up supplying tools to finish the job. At the end of the day or at the end of the weekend, everything can get mixed together. To … Continue reading
With Canada Day and Fourth of July just around the corner, it’s a great time to do maintenance on your flagpoles. Preventive maintenance and maintenance Generally, the higher the expected wind speed, the smaller the flag you should fly. A … Continue reading
It’s a tough question. Earlier you determined the life expectancy for each item so you can be proactive in planning staffing and finances. But, when it’s due to be replaced, the question still comes up, “Do I REALLY need to … Continue reading
When was the last time you looked up at your ceiling fans? Periodically, it’s important to determine if they are wobbling and if the fans are circulating in the proper direction for the summer. If a fan is wobbling, it … Continue reading
Often, participants are bringing their own water bottles and filling them on site. Is it easy for them to fill their bottles? In a recently modeled building, the Warren Willis Camp, installed regular drinking fountains with a second spigot to … Continue reading
“What does your green dollar buy you in 2013? A whole lot, as it turns out…. …Though federal minimums are essentially invisible to the average consumer—every product sold meets the minimums, so consumers never really have to know what those … Continue reading
Fiske’s article describes eight ways to save money: keeping equipment clean, having regular maintenance, using reputable repair services, cooking efficiently, having complete loads in the dishwasher, turning off unused equipment, using energy efficient equipment, and regularly replacing equipment. There are … Continue reading
How often do you clean the vents in your facility (exhaust fans, cold air return vents, heating vents, etc.)? Are they are on a regular inspection and cleaning schedule? Clean vents can make for a positive guest/participant experience, equipment performs better, … Continue reading
Below are the published articles for November/December 2012 relating to site and facilities. Topics include: Flagpoles Solar panel installation Interpreting Green to Retreat Guests Insurance “Building Principles: On Old Glory.” By Rick Stryker, PE. ACA Camping Magazine. November/December 2012. “…U.S. flags … Continue reading
With the fall season upon us, it’s a great time to review your organization’s policies and procedures regarding using chainsaws safety. Does the chainsaw have all of the safety equipment required? If not, now is the time to upgrade your … Continue reading
Need a checklist for regular maintenance on your playground? Whether your playground is new or old, you need to regularly maintain the elements, surfaces, and stay on top of changes in the field. Checklists, starting on page 43. General maintenance, … Continue reading
With a red bench, your guests can find benches from a distance. Individuals may be less likely to accidentally trip over the corners or legs of a bench. Benches look sharper with red paint. This is because colors appear more … Continue reading