Blog

We’re still talking about mercury.

abroccolo@RISEengineering.com (Andrew Broccolo, RISE Sustainability Analyst) — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 18:10:16 GMT

RISE has been talking about mercury for years! The metal, that is, not the planet in retrograde or the Roman God. We’ll leave those discussions for the breakroom.

Why are we still talking about mercury?

We are still talking about mercury because many homeowners are unaware that they still have mercury-containing devices in their homes and may not know of the dangers of not disposing of mercury improperly.

RISE Engineering is uniquely equipped to replace your old mercury-containing devices and properly manage the toxic waste, protecting your home and the environment from the dangers of mercury exposure.

What are mercury-containing devices in the home?

Historically, mercury has been used in applications ranging from mining to mirrors. Today, mercury has largely been phased out of use in common household products due to human and environmental health concerns, however, remains present in many homes.

Thermostats
Fluorescent lightbulbs
Thermometers
Gas-fired appliances
Some pharmaceuticals and pesticides
Some cosmetics and whiteners
Old button batteries (mostly hearing aids)
Other old batteries pre-1990

How to Recycle Mercury?

We are so glad you asked. RISE engineering has been a recycling partner with the Thermostat Recycling Corporation (TRC), a non-profit stewardship organization that facilitates and manages the collection and proper disposal of mercury-containing thermostats. The TRC was founded in 1998 by leading HVAC manufacturers in the United States as a voluntary venture whose collective goal is to keep mercury out of the waste stream in order to protect the environment.

Since 2016, RISE Engineering has been recognized as a top recycler of mercury-containing thermostats in Rhode Island, and a strong participant in other states such as Massachusetts.

How can you help with the proper disposal of mercury?

Burn fewer fossil fuels, particularly coal
Properly dispose of mercury-containing objects so they don’t end up in waste and they aren’t incinerated
Properly handle mercury-containing devices so they aren’t broken and released into the environment
RECYCLE!!! Especially paper products that will cut down on paper mills.

Call RISE Engineering today to see if you have any mercury-containing devices in
your home and for a no-cost home energy assessment.

UV Air and Surface Sanitization

info@riseengineering.com (RISE) — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 19:29:32 GMT

RISE Engineering provides a multitude of solutions to eradicate virus and bacteria from various environments. It is more important than ever, to disinfect spaces for a clean and healthy environment. RISE’s experience installing a multitude of measures on commercial and other institutional buildings, and our background as a one-stop energy services provider, assure you of a UV installation fully optimized for virus and bacteria eradication.

3 DISTINCT RECOMMENDED PATHS

1. Specialty Lighting Fixtures

These specialty light fixtures flood the room with special UV-C Mercury Vapor lighting. Also available as a combination of the flood strategy supplemented by luminaires with onboard circulation fans.

2. Portable Light Stations

Convenient and flexible, these portable light stations can be moved from room to room after hours.

3. Special UV-C Mercury Vapor Lighting Kits

Special UV-C Mercury Vapor lighting kits are installed in HVAC ductwork. They sanitize the air while HVAC systems are running.

Suitable for:

Retail Spaces
Manufacturing
School Systems
Municipal Facilities
Office Buildings
Hotels

JUST SAY YES AND WE’LL TAKE CARE OF THE REST.

RISE’s energy experts will perform a no-cost site assessment, and present you with a turnkey proposal. If you choose to proceed, our licensed staff will install the system, guarantee all work, and remain available to make sure you are completely satisfied. It couldn’t be easier.

6 impactful Energy – Efficiency upgrades to implement in your hotel.

info@riseengineering.com (RISE) — Fri, 06 Aug 2021 14:13:48 GMT

Controlling and reducing operating expenses is top-of-mind for many in the hospitality industry. Employing energy efficiency measures can provide a high return on investment, and when combined with financing and incentives from utility and program sponsors, it allows for maximum savings. These incentives can cover a significant amount of the project's cost.

Here are the top 6 measures you can implement to lower your energy bills, improve sustainability and reduce maintenance without sacrificing your guests' comfort:

1. Lighting & Occupancy Sensors

Replace all interior and exterior incandescent/fluorescent lights with more efficient LED fixtures. LED bulbs to use 1/3-1/5 of the electric power of regular bulbs and last 8-15x longer. Occupancy sensors are ideal for places like closets, storage, hallways, stairways, back-of-the-house areas, and locations not always in use.

2. Building Automation Systems

Control everything from HVAC, refrigeration, and lighting to regulate, monitor, schedule, and maintain your inside and outside environments.

3. VFD/Variable Frequency Drives

Install a variable frequency/speed drive for your HVAC system. This device will increase or decrease the fan speed of your pumps and controls by monitoring the demand and increasing or decreasing the rate as required.

4. Water devices

Upgrading your spray valves, faucet aerators, and showerheads can reduce water usage and save energy without compromising performance. Water-saving devices like these may be no-cost to you if you’re a gas water heating customer.

5. Pipe Insulations

Thermal or acoustic tank wrap and pipe insulation can be used on tank and pipework that saves energy by reducing unwanted heat flow. It can also prevent condensation (which contributes to pipe corrosion) and pipe-freezing, protects against temperature-related contact injuries, and helps dampen or control noise.

6. Refrigeration and Hood Controls

Whether you're serving for room service or large banquet events, ensuring the efficiency of your kitchen equipment can reduce energy by 30-60% while improving and monitoring temperature food safety requirements.

Get started on improving your hotel today and schedule a no-cost assessment. An energy specialist will outline a proposal with recommended energy efficiency measures with incentives, which can be installed at your convenience and minimal to no disruption of your business.

Contact us Today!

efficiency@RISEengineering.com | 401.784.3700

You’re spending more time indoors with an Air Purifier.

ebarrett@riseengineering.com (Eileen Barrett) — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 12:34:52 GMT

Improve the quality of air in your home and help remove allergens, dust, odors and VOCs. Air purifiers can help remove airborne particles and improve air quality, especially if you have allergies, pets, or stale indoor air.

Using an Energy-Efficient Air purifier can save you $25 every year, while keeping the air in your home healthier.

Take a look at rebates for Air Purifiers for Massachusetts residents

LEARN MORE

Take a look at rebates for Air Purifiers for Rhode Island residents

LEARN MORE

Other rebates for Air Purifiers directly from ENERGY STAR

LEARN MORE

Air Purifiers can help against:

Smoke
Mold
Pet Dander
Allergens
Indoor toxins like household cleaning products

Other Tips:

Get the right sized purifier for the room you are placing it in
Routinely clean and change the filters in your purifier
Vacuum and dust your home often
Include house plants in your home to help clean the air naturally

Facts about Heat Pumps

ebarrett@riseengineering.com (Eileen Barrett) — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 14:43:50 GMT

The popularity of Heat Pumps has risen dramatically over recent years. This has not been purely for their high energy efficiency ratings but is also due to the numerous practical, convenient, and environmentally friendly benefits that ownership and installation can bring.

Heat Pumps can be used for Heating and Cooling

The most obvious benefit of a heat pump system is its ability to provide warmth. Heat pumps can very quickly increase the temperature of a room. BUT Heat Pumps can be used for cooling i.e. Air Conditioning. The “reverse cycle” in the full name of a heat pump refers to its ability to work backward. In addition to extracting heat energy from outside and bringing this in to your home, your heat pump also has the ability to extract heat from inside your home and transfer this outside (in exactly the same way as a fridge works).

Heat Pumps are very energy efficient
Heat Pumps are currently the most cost-effective form of heating using electricity and most good quality systems achieve average COP (Coefficient of Performance) figures of four or more. This means that to achieve four kilowatts of heating or cooling power, they use an average of less than one kilowatt of electricity.

Heat Pumps are convenient
A heat pump enables you to increase or decrease the temperature of your room, or switch from heating to cooling in an instant and at the push of a button. Heat pumps can heat up or cool down a room within a few minutes, then, once the room reaches your preferred temperature, the heat pump will maintain that temperature for as long as you require it to. Many heat pumps come with programmable timers and even Bluetooth for connection to

Heat Pumps don't create smoke, ashes, moisture, or any waste material
There are no trips required outside in the cold and rain for wood or pellets or to the petrol station to fill up your gas bottle. When cooling or dehumidifying your home there is no need to empty the reservoir of water as your heat pump is plumbed in and has a permanent drain to the outside.

Heat Pumps are safe
Unlike gas heating or wood burners, there are no flames or hot surfaces that children or pets can touch and burn themselves on. They can also be safely left on while you’re out or asleep.

Heat Pumps improve air quality
Heat pumps don't create smoke or add any fumes to the air. Also, as your Heat Pump circulates the air in your room, the filters clean and purify the air removing dust, mold spores, odors, smoke, and other particles. They are excellent for people who suffer from asthma and allergies.

Heat Pumps add value $
As Heat Pumps become more popular, they are adding value to your home. A warm, dry, comfortable environment with the addition of air conditioning will always be first choice over a house without such sought-after benefits.

Heat Pumps are Eco-friendly
The combustion process of wood burners causes fumes, soot and smoke which provide a major burden on the environment in terms of its carbon emissions. As the Heat Pump does not burn anything at the heat energy source, there are no additional carbon emissions other than the small amount of electrical energy required to run the compressor. Heat Pumps are environmentally friendly – most new heat pumps use R410A refrigerant which does not harm the ozone layer if released and is also more energy-efficient.

Heat Pumps reduce condensation
During the summer, when you are using your heat pump for cooling, the room is automatically dehumidified as a function of the Heat Pump. As the warm air circulates through the unit moisture forms on the cold surface of the coil and then drains outside. During winter the heat pump prevents condensation from forming on cold surfaces such as windows by circulating warm air around the room similar to demisting a car windscreen on a cold morning.

Keeping Condominium Communities at the Cutting Edge of Energy-Efﬁciency Technology

info@riseengineering.com (RISE) — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 13:36:47 GMT

Do you remember life before email, the inter-net, or smartphones?
These advances might seem a lifetime ago, but technology changes at an ever-increasing pace—and right now, it’s happening in the realm of energy efficiency. Fortunately, RISE Engineering has been keeping pace with these changes on behalf of the condominium industry for decades and now is poised on the threshold of a new era. Learn More...

Hot Air Rises, But...

ebarrett@riseengineering.com (Eileen Barrett) — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 20:04:24 GMT

Ask RISE:

Should I change the direction of my ceiling fan’s paddles and push the rising heat back down?

Answer

When your indoor air temperature is below 100°F, moving air removes heat from your body by convection. This works wonderfully to your comfort in the summer months, but in the winter, ceiling fans (no matter which way the paddles are facing) can feel like you live in a drafty room.

However, if your home has a tall cathedral ceiling (16 feet at the top or more), using a ceiling fan can work to even out the temperatures in your rooms. This ‘thermal de-stratification helps to reduce the energy loss through your cathedral ceiling by reducing the indoor-outdoor temperature difference, (known as the Delta T) between the cathedral ceiling surface and the outdoors, as long as the air doesn’t blow directly onto the occupants using the room.

OUR ANCESTORS KNEW BEST

Try these easier, time-tested ways to save energy:

1. We’re mostly inactive inside our homes…
Snuggle up with warm socks and a sweater before turning the thermostat up. Have small throw blankets available in your living room.

2. No matter how new your windows are…
They are still only cold glass between you and the outdoors. Make sure they’re locked for an airtight fit and close the curtains/shades to slow down the heat loss at night.

3. Rearrange your furniture to be positioned on interior walls.
In the summer, move it back during your spring cleaning to be nearer the windows on exterior walls.

Why Business Owners Are Prioritizing LED Lights

Hossam Mahmoud — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 19:01:00 GMT

As a business owner, you always have a long list of potential projects on your mind. You’ve heard of LED light bulbs for your office or facility, but upgrading your lighting falls lower on your priority list. What if you knew that LED light could help improve workplace performance, increase employee morale or save thousands of dollars on your utility bills annually?

This is not hypothetical. When The Palace Theatre in Albany, NY upgraded to LED bulbs, the theatre saved an estimated $50,000 annually on electricity and was projected to be profitable for the first time in several years!

Compared to the traditional incandescent light bulb, LED lights have a number of benefits that improve energy efficiency and ultimately save you money. Below are 7 LED benefits to your business:

Reduction in energy use – LED lights can reduce your energy consumption anywhere from 50-90%. Over time, this reduction in energy draw can equate to huge savings on your utility bills. According to Eartheasy, switching from incandescent bulbs to LED can save your business ~$3,700 annually on energy usage (per 25 bulbs).
Longer-lasting – LEDs are notable for being extremely long-lasting products. Many LEDs have a rated life of up to 50,000 hours. This is approximately 50 times longer than a typical incandescent, 20-25 times longer than a typical halogen, and 8-10 times longer than a typical CFL. Used 12 hours a day, a 50,000 bulb will last more than 11 years. This means less money spent on replacement bulbs and more time enjoying your well-lit work space.
Increased quality of light – LED bulbs come in a variety of styles that offer a spectrum of illumination ranging from cool to warm, with around 20% higher quality of light compared to incandescent.
Employee health – LED lights are much more compatible with computer and electronic monitors and as a result won’t trigger mid-day migraines. Additionally, better lighting can affect employee mood and perception.
Employee productivity & performance – In properly-lit workspaces, employees are more efficient, energetic, and accurate in their work. In studies, switching from florescent lighting to LED resulted in improved performance in visual and cognitive tasks. This improved productivity, on top of the energy savings, means LED lighting can significantly improve your bottom line!
Reduction in heat, emissions, and noise – LED light bulbs generally produce less heat than traditional bulbs, so overtime heat won’t affect the bulb’s overall lifespan. LED bulbs also won’t buzz above your head and don’t produce UV emissions.
Can be recycled – Unlike incandescent bulbs, LED bulbs do not contain toxic mercury and can be recycled at the end of their usable life.

It’s never too late to implement energy saving measures for your business! Contact us today to see which energy-efficiency upgrades are right for your business.

HOME PRO: SAVING ENERGY

info@riseengineering.com (RISE) — Sun, 22 Jan 2017 22:10:00 GMT

This week's NBC10 Home Pro topic with Bruce Morris is about saving energy in your home. Interview with veteran Residential Energy Specialist Chris Aguiar from RISE Engineering. Part 1 of 2 segments.