Happy Holidays from Melink

As CEO of one of the greenest companies on Earth, I want to take this opportunity to thank our many customers!  Together, we are changing the world one building at a time … by saving energy and reducing the carbon footprint of millions of square feet every year.

Since the spirit of the Holidays is about giving, let me share some ideas about how you can accelerate your journey to a clean energy future at your business and home:

  • Replace your high-usage lights with LEDs.
  • Improve your building envelope with additional attic insulation and triple-pane windows.
  • Upgrade to a geothermal HVAC system when it is time to replace your existing system.
  • Install a heat-pump water heater – and connect to your geothermal system after it is upgraded.
  • Purchase only high-efficiency appliances.
  • Install a solar PV array on your roof, ground, or parking lot to offset your remaining electrical loads.
  • Select the green power option from your local utility for any power you buy form the grid.
  • Purchase or lease only hybrid and preferably electric cars, vans, and trucks.
  • Install EV charging stations at work to educate and inspire your employees and visitors.
  • Install a battery storage system to reduce peak demand charges and ensure against power outages.

Every homeowner and business can reduce its energy/carbon use by 50% or more.  In fact, many of the largest and most successful businesses, universities, and governments across the U.S. and world have already achieved carbon neutrality.

This is about our economy, security, environment, and health!  We can be part of the problem or part of the solution.  Be a leader, do the right things, and your brand and business will benefit.

Thanks again for the privilege and honor of working with all of you. We’re humbled by your passion and trust to make the world a better place for us and future generations.

Cheers!

Steve Melink

CEO

Melink Corporation        

Meet Matt Meyer, Director of Field Service for Melink T&B!

Business Unit and Job Title

Director of Field Service, Melink T&B

What does your job entail?

Leading and developing the T&B National Network and continually refining field operations to improve customer service and profitability.

What is your personal philosophy?

Enjoy what I do, enjoy who I spend time with, and be passionate in all that I do.

What did you do before coming to Melink?

Project Manager and Service Department manager in the commercial roofing industry for several years and before that I was a Captain in the US Army.

What is your favorite aspect of working at Melink?

The people, hands down the best group of people I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. The passion that is displayed each and every day is infectious. You cannot help but try to be your very best when you work here.

What do you like to do in your time off?

I like spending time and traveling with my family. We love to go to museums, parks, zoos, sporting events and just hanging out at the house too! I also like working with my hands and working in the yard.

Tell us something that might surprise us about you.

I’m a history nerd. I named my son, Jackson, after my favorite US President/War of 1812 General and also my favorite Civil War General.

What are you most proud of?

My wife and kids!

What are your hopes for our industry?

I hope that our industry continues to grow and evolve. And that Melink is at the forefront of innovation as buildings become more intelligent and consumers seek to become more energy and environmentally conscious.

Motto or personal mantra?

It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed. – Theodore Roosevelt

Do you collect anything?

OH YES! I collect Beer Steins, Pint Glasses, Coasters, Bobbleheads – pretty much anything for my basement bar.

Higher Education Dining Trends Impact On Energy Usage

The dining experience at Colleges and Universities across the country has changed drastically over the last decade. Although it has been about ten years since I left, it feels like just yesterday I was on campus at the University of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky University. During my tenure, the options were limited; you might find a handful of cafeterias across campus and a few popular fast food places like Wendy’s, Subway and Pizza Hut at the student union. Visiting campus now I can’t believe the changes; there are hundreds of options. The student unions have started to look more and more like casino food courts that include local options and big names. Students are seriously taking food offerings into account when considering a school, especially if they’re going to live on campus. Colleges are majorly using it to their advantage to recruit students and provide a better campus life. In 2008, NKU even constructed a new Student Union Building to compete with other local area colleges.

Over the last 7 years or so, I’ve toured dozens of higher education kitchens and the cooking operations are huge. West Point, for example, serves around 5,000 meals in a very short amount of time on any given day. All the Big 10 schools have between 7 and 10 dining halls on campus that are running for 3+ meals a day and serving a variety of options from soups and chili to baby-back ribs. With the large operations come large costs! Not just in the obvious costs including wages, salaries, and benefits, but in big time energy usage. Running the exhaust fans and the corresponding MUA units 16+ hours per day is a ton of wasted electricity. Additionally, the number of commercial exhaust hoods required to prepare the diverse food preparation means there is a ton of exhausted air and reconditioning of air required.

As schools continue to compete for higher enrollment rates and evolve with demand, they have to respond to the increased energy usage and operating expenses to ensure they can remain competitive with pricing. Many colleges and universities have tight operating budgets for their facilities, so it’s especially important to find low or no-cost ways to reduce energy expenditures. To combat these new challenges, Campus Energy Managers have started considering Demand-Controlled Kitchen Ventilation (DCKV) systems to help save the electric energy being wasted on all the new fan motors and reconditioned air. These systems conserve energy, save money and make for a quieter and more comfortable cooking experience.  Energy Managers have also started engaging students and faculty in energy conservation to save on campus energy bills. At many higher education institutions, students are the biggest advocates for energy efficiency and will respond enthusiastically to educational initiatives and conservation pledge campaigns.

 

Could Intelli-Hood be a fit for my project?

Is energy usage a pain point in your campus kitchen? Are you curious how much energy Intelli-Hood could save you?  Submit an energy savings estimate request form at the bottom of our Intelli-Hood page to get started.

 

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Intelli-Hood Case Study – Corporate Dining

CONTEXT

The goal for the new R&D Center was to make a state-of-the art building that was also energy efficient. The current energy  incentives made the decision even easier, knowing they would save money on the installation as well as through the life of the product. The goal for the kitchen build was simple; keep a clean aesthetic using the latest technology to improve efficiency and reduce overall costs.

RESULTS

The results and savings exceeded all expectations. With the use of the energy incentives and the efficiency of the upgraded system, they made a 118% return on their investment before the end of the first year. Additionally, the new system was able to reduce fan speed over 60% on average, saving almost $45,000!

SITE INFORMATION

Total Motor Power: 35 HP

Daily Operating Hours: 19

Days Per Week: 7

Weeks Per Year: 52

Cost Per Kilowatt Hour: $.09

Below is a sample graph of the varying exhaust fan speed for one day at the Resort:

 

Could Intelli-Hood be a fit for my project?

Are you curious how much energy Intelli-Hood could save within your commercial or industrial kitchens?  Submit an energy savings estimate request form at the bottom of our Intelli-Hood page to get started.

 

Email this case study or share it to your social media by clicking the icons below.