Category: Uncategorized

Melink Develops 1.26MW Solar Arrays At University Of Dayton

Posted on by Lindsey Burbee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CINCINNATI, OHIO – Melink Corporation has announced a partnership with the University of Dayton to install 4,026 solar panels with a capacity of 1.26 megawatts of power at two of the University’s campus locations; Curran Place and Fitz Hall. Melink Corporation will engineer and construct the arrays, as well as own them and sell the electricity to the University as part of a long-term power purchase agreement.  The University has an option to purchase the arrays after eight years.

The solar arrays will provide nearly 10 percent of the power consumption of both buildings as well as power electric car stations at the two locations. Overall, the panels will provide approximately 2 percent of the campuswide power consumption and offset carbon emissions by about 1 percent annually. Offsetting campus carbon emissions by 1 percent in a year is equal to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of 278 cars or the annual carbon dioxide emissions from 1.4 million pounds of burned coal, 140 homes, or conserving 3,010 barrels of oil.

 “We are super-excited to partner with the University of Dayton, said Melink CEO Steve Melink.  “This is an opportunity to educate and inspire not only the students and faculty but the public
throughout Ohio and the Midwest.  Sustainability and clean energy are the way of the future, and U.D. has just put a big stake in the ground as a leader.”  

 

Melink Corporation and the University of Dayton will work together to provide opportunities for students, faculty, and researchers to participate in the installation of
the modules, and document the process for future use. Post installation, the Hanley Sustainability Institute and the University of Dayton Engineers in Technical Humanitarian Opportunities of Service learning (ETHOS), among other faculty, staff and students,  plan to use the modules for sustainability research and/or incorporate them into the curriculum or other programming.

“One attractive feature of working with Melink is that Melink involves our students in this project from the very beginning and on an ongoing basis,” said Bob Brecha, director of research in the University of Dayton Hanley Sustainability Institute. “Our campus has quite intentionally become a giant sustainability lab where students from all majors can have a hand in many of our efforts to become a greener campus.”

Learn about how solar could benefit your school or business at melinkcorp.com.

About Melink Corporation: We are a global provider of energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions for the commercial building industry. With four business units and a singular energy mission, we help companies save energy, increase profits and make the world a more sustainable place.

Love What You Do

Posted on by Lindsey Burbee

Not long
before Christmas I was out to dinner with some friends and family.  At one
point during the night, the topic shifted toward the Sunday night anxiety
that comes in anticipation of the work week.  Folks went around the table
describing why they get grouchy on Sunday and dread the upcoming week.
Eventually my turn came and I couldn’t help but chuckle and, somewhat
sheepishly, say, “I feel sorry for you guys… I love what I do!”. 

 

As a
business leader, this conversation really stuck with me. I’m really
disheartened to know that so many people don’t enjoy their work.  Let’s
face it, most of us spend more time working than with our own families, and spending
that much time unhappy is nothing short of tragic.  So, why do so many
people struggle to enjoy their work? 

 

I’m sure
there are plenty of books and articles out there on this topic.  It
may be easy for me to say that I love what I do, but what about the rest of the
Melink Team Family?  One of our top strategic
objectives every year is to ensure our organization is considered a Great Place
to Work. While I try to keep an active pulse on this year-round, I am always proud
when I see the results of the annual Great Place to Work survey. Here’s what
people have to say about why they love coming to work at Melink.

 

 As
for me… I’m certainly no expert, but I believe life is what you make of
it.  I don’t view my work as “work” and my personal life as “personal life”…
to me, it’s all just life.   Every day will come at us with an
astounding number of challenges.  We can choose to view these as problems
or opportunities.  Personally, I prefer to view each day as a gift, and
each problem an opportunity.  It also helps to know that I have the
pleasure of working with a world class team of professionals.  This Melink
Family is working to change the world, one building at a time, to
improve our global economy, security, and environment – for our children and
future generations.  As a father of three, how can I not be absolutely in
love with what I do?   

 

 

Is Your Business Haunted Or Is It Something Worse??

Posted on by Lindsey Burbee

Has your business experienced…

Zombie Levels of Productivity

Poor levels of fresh outside air leading to insufficient IAQ can decrease air quality. According to a study done by Harvard University, productivity levels can be increased by up to 61% when the proper amount of air quality is introduced into the space, and can be increased by 100% when doubling the ventilation.

Chills Running Down Your Spine or Sweaty Palms?

Improper heating and cooling due to an unbalanced building means air is distributed unevenly which creates temperature variation. Hot and cold spots around your building are probably signs of an unbalanced building, or are they??

Something Strange in the Air?

Air drafts can be caused by too much air being delivered to certain areas and then the air moves between rooms in order to reach an equilibrium of pressure.

Musty Odor Means Something Is Lurking

When air isn’t cycled properly through the building on a regular basis and you let the humidity get too high, you provide a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. Considering the average adult spends 92% of their time indoors, that means a lot of time breathing in these gross pollutants!

Mysterious Noises No One Can Explain

Have you been startled by an abrupt sound somewhere in your building that you can’t pinpoint? Poorly sized belts or pulleys can cause RTUs to squeak as they are operating, and duct leakage has been known to create some creepy noises as well.

Doors Opening and Closing With No One There

Pressure differentials caused by an imbalance of air being delivered to certain rooms can make doors open and close on their own.

Don’t call Ghostbusters just yet! There is a good chance you building is not actually haunted but instead just needs a good balance. Many of the above culprits can be easily fixed, and will not only improve your building’s health, but the health and productivity of everyone inside (one study shows estimated productivity benefits from increased ventilation could be as high as $6,500 per person per year!).  Learn more on what a building balance is here or contact us for more information on how to get rid of the pesky (and creepy) issues you are having!

Study Finds Building Mold Can Become Airborne, Highlighting Need for HVAC Test and Balance Services

Posted on by Lindsey Burbee

A recent study by The National Veterinary School of Toulouse in France revealed that mycotoxins can be inhaled and should be investigated as parameters of indoor air quality. This means that food fungus formerly thought to have no effect on air quality can actually become airborne and dangerous to building occupants. The results were published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, which is the American Society for Microbiology’s journal.

 

The researchers were interested in the fact that far less research exists on the dangers of airborne fungal toxins compared to fungal toxins in foods. The research team focused on three fungi commonly found in contaminated food: Penicillium brevicompactum, Aspergillus versicolor and Stachybortys chartarum. The research team conducted this study by creating a flowing stream of air over a piece of wallpaper contaminated with the three fungi and then analyzing the samples of air.

 

The results showed some toxins from the contaminated wallpaper were present on tiny particles of dust that were considered to be easily inhalable. If you own a restaurant, hotel, retail location or supermarket, these results should be eye-opening. These findings should amplify the importance of performing regularly scheduled HVAC test and balance services to ensure your HVAC system is operating as designed, and not contributing to organic growth.

 

As a business owner, it’s extremely important to make sure that your building’s HVAC system is working properly, not only for health reasons like the airborne fungus we specified above, but for first impressions of new customers. An unbalanced HVAC system may cause humidity problems, and this may result in fogged over windows in the morning, which prevents customers from being able to see inside. Poor air pressure can even make it difficult to open doors.

 

An unbalanced HVAC system can also result in uncomfortable temperatures and humidity that does damage to ceiling tiles and creates slippery floors which can become both a safety issue and legal liability. In kitchen environments, an unbalanced HVAC system can also cause smoke and odors to flow past the hood and  seep into the dining area.

 

Here at Melink we provide HVAC test and balance services, HVAC commissioning, indoor air quality tests and water balancing services that will help to alert you to dangerous conditions within your building.

 

 

 

Our 100 percent self-performing network of technicians ensure consistency across your locations. Mechanical systems fall out of alignment over time, you should keep your HVAC at peak performance by rebalancing it every three to five years. We also offer comfort investigations that can be conducted after HVAC complaints or negative building pressure issues.

 

Many of the largest chains in the US recommend Melink because of the convenience, consistency and cost effectiveness of our service. They also know that our reputation for integrity, quality and service is proven. As we’ve demonstrated, not only can overlooking the air quality of your building be dangerous for the health of the building’s occupants, but it can also cause a business owner to lose customers. In order to best help business owners decide if it may be time for an HVAC Test and Balance service, we’ve provided these questions to ask yourself:

 

Is there a draft at the front door of my building?

Is there leakage from units in the ceiling?

Is there condensation dripping from diffusers?

Are there noticeable hot and cold spots?

 

If you answered yes to any of these question, you are likely due for some servicing. Reach out to us today to improve the conditions of your building and increase the quality of your business!

Meet Jason O’Connell, Intelli-Hood Technical Support Specialist

Posted on by Lindsey Burbee

Jason has been with Melink’s technical support team for 2 and a half years. If you have ever called in with a question or need help troubleshooting for Intelli-Hood, Jason may have been the man on the other side of the phone! He has a passion for solving problems and learning more about every person he helps.

Business Unit and Job Title

Intelli-Hood Technical Support

What does your job entail?

Fielding calls and emails from sites which employ one or multiple versions of our Intelli-Hood system. I help to troubleshoot and in most cases can either repair remotely or diagnose the issue and supply the appropriate parts to rectify the issue.

What is your personal philosophy?

Work smarter… not harder.

 What did you do before coming to Melink?

Field Service Engineer – Extremity MRI

What is your favorite aspect of working at Melink?

People. The ones I work with and the ones I help.

What do you like to do in your time off?

Spend time with my family and work on my MINI.

Tell us something that might surprise us about you.

I love sci-fi and horror movies and listen to EDM when I’m in a bad mood

What are you most proud of?

My son. I never thought I would actually be a father until I was. Now he is the most important thing in my life and I will move heaven and earth to make sure he is taken care of and knows he is loved.

What are your hopes for our industry?

My hope is that everyone wakes up and realizes how much in their lives is truly wasteful. So many products we use every day are sold in containers that cannot be degraded yet we throw them away and they get to fill a giant hole in some landfill. Reduce the products we buy that use these containers, reuse the containers for other purposes or recycle the container appropriately.

Motto or personal mantra?

Love yourself because being loved starts inside. If you CAN’T love yourself, you need to rethink where you are or what you are doing.

Our Melink Culture

Posted on by Lindsey Burbee

By Steve Melink

Our culture is everything.  It is our vision, mission,
and values all wrapped in one.  It is who we are, what we do, and why we
do it.  It is how we treat and support one another.  It is our
brand.  We can’t separate the parts and still have the whole.

But the foundation is one word: Integrity.  Everything
we say and do should model honesty and respect for others at all times.
We should always strive to show positive intentions.  Negativity, gossip,
and pettiness are counter-productive.  We choose to be genuine and
sincere.

It starts with simple things like acknowledging one another
… with eye contact, a smile, and saying the most important word in the English
language to the other person: their name.  It’s the ordinary hello, thank
you, and have a good day … with an extraordinary result.  Trust.

These small words, gestures, and actions when multiplied
thousands of times over the course of days, weeks, and months … by individuals,
teams, and ultimately all of us … help make our company the safe and healthy
workplace we all want and need.

And this promotes a sense of family.  This is where we
can be ourselves.  This is where we can learn, grow, and flourish.
This is where we can fall, but then be picked up by our peers and
leaders.  This is where we can and will do our best work and make a
difference in the world.

Last, our culture is intentional.  It is not an
accident.  It takes leadership from all of us and takes years to
build.  Let’s never take it for granted.  Let’s build on this
foundation and make it better.  We are a best place to work!

Steve Melink presents the 2017 Xavier University Commencement Address

Posted on by Lindsey Burbee

Steve Melink gives the 2017 Xavier University Graduate Commencement Address and emphasizes the importance of integrity in developing a personal brand.  Like corporate brands, nothing is more valuable and indicative of future success than one’s reputation.  Based on his experience, success and happiness depend more on living a life of integrity than chasing jobs and money.  Find your purpose and pursue it with passion.  The world needs transcendent leadership now more than ever.

Steve Melink is a national clean energy expert with three decades of successful experience as founder and CEO of Melink Corporation. He also is author of the book CEO Power & Light: Transcendent Leadership For A Sustainable World.

Climate Change: How Cincinnati Businesses Can Make a Difference

Posted on by Lindsey Burbee

How Cincinnati Businesses Can Impact Climate Change

Climate Change in Today’s World
How Businesses Can Lead in a Warming Climate

President Donald Trump recently withdrew the United States from the Paris Climate Accord—a global agreement aimed at addressing climate change. The backlash was immediate, significant and deserved.

The agreement was signed by almost 200 countries. This was a landmark achievement in a fractured world. More countries agree on the why and how of fighting climate change than how to battle terrorism.

Furthermore, the agreement was supported by many of the largest and most successful companies in the U.S., including Apple, Google, Microsoft, P&G and General Electric. Most major U.S. universities and many religious groups also urged the president not to withdraw from the agreement.

President Trump justified his decision by saying jobs would be lost. But the opposite is true. The greatest economic opportunity of the 21st century is a global shift to clean energy. The solar and wind power industries are growing by double digits and far outpacing new jobs in coal and natural gas. New batteries and electric vehicles are leveraging these industries. Tesla, for example, is now worth more than GM and Ford.

China, however, is leading the world in clean energy research, manufacturing and deployment. In fact, China’s leadership and investment are resulting in the U.S. becoming increasingly dependent on it. This means our national economy and security are at risk in the name of sovereignty, coal and politics.

More importantly, our global health and environment are at risk. Climate change is universal and irreversible. And it is largely caused by human activity, based on the research of 97 percent of climate scientists around the world. (Despite what they say, politicians, fossil fuel companies and the media do not know more about this than the scientific community.)

The logical extension of our planet warming 4–8 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of this century is that it will continue even faster next century. This will result in many plant and animal species becoming extinct and higher sea levels slowly flooding coastal cities.

What is our opportunity and risk mitigation strategy? Where government fails us, businesses can lead and win. Pivoting to clean energy will get us on the right side of history. This will make our corporate brands stronger so we can attract and retain the best talent. Renewables will also secure for us the lowest long-term cost of energy, because the fuel sources are free.

Strategies for Business Leadership

Therefore, Tri-State businesses should consider five simple strategies to successfully compete in the 21st century:

– Divest of fossil fuel and utility stocks and mutual funds that impede a clean energy future. Invest instead in clean energy stocks and mutual funds.

– Reduce your enterprise carbon footprint 50 percent by 2025 and 100 percent by 2035. This can be accomplished by investing in energy efficiency, as well as renewable energy, onsite and offsite.

– Purchase clean power rather than brown power from utilities.

– Invest in workplace charging stations to promote electric vehicle use by your employees.

– Push similarly high standards and expectations on your supply chain.

Climate change is the defining issue of our time—and businesses have the power to lead where politics stalls. Future generations will thank us for this ultimate legacy.

 

As seen in the Cincinnati Business Courier.

Steve Melink’s 30th Anniversary Keynote – The Clean Energy Revolution

Posted on by Lindsey Burbee

Steve Melink celebrates his company’s 30th anniversary by inviting partners and friends to join the clean energy revolution. The U.S. led the flight, computer, Internet, and every other age of the 20th century, but risks losing the biggest opportunity of the 21st century to China.  The world’s population growth from 7 to 12 billion will not be sustained by fossil fuels.  For economic, security, health, and environmental reasons, the U.S. needs to pivot to clean energy.  Fortunately, the business sector is starting to lead the way to attract Millennials and build brand power.  Solar and wind energy, along with battery storage and electric cars, are the way of the future.  Kick the fossil fuel habit and become a leader in your industry and community by doing the right thing for the planet and future generations.  Not to mention your children.

 


Melink launches geothermal HVAC division to meet growing demand

Posted on by Lindsey Burbee

For Immediate Release

CINCINNATI
– April 6, 2017 – Data indicates a growing demand for geothermal heating and cooling technology, and Melink Corporation responded by starting a new Melink Geo business unit.

Geothermal heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) offers building owners a more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly solution than conventional systems. Structures using geothermal HVAC typically save between 25 and 50 percent on HVAC costs, reduce their maintenance costs and water usage, and extend the life of the building’s equipment.

Additionally, as part of Melink Geo, its team of innovators have developed a patented pre-engineered geothermal pump station. The Manifest™ eliminates the need to engineer a custom pump station for each individual geothermal HVAC project, thus making geothermal more affordable and efficient.

“With 30 years of experience in the HVAC industry, providing geothermal solutions for building owners is a logical next step for Melink,” said Steve Melink, founder and CEO. “We provide turnkey management of geothermal projects for architects, engineers, ESCOs and building owners. In this capacity, we also serve as a consulting engineer for architects and engineering firms across the nation.”

A report by Transparency Market Research stated, “the global geothermal heat pumps market is forecast to reach $130.5 billion by the end of 2020, exhibiting a 13.1 percent compound annual growth rate from 2014 to 2020.”

And a survey conducted by Consulting-Specifying Engineer showed that geothermal ranks in the top five of technology demands for office building projects. According to the survey, 42 percent of engineers expect to see increasing use of geothermal HVAC for office building projects.

What is geothermal HVAC?

Geothermal is a proven, reliable and efficient technology. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states that a geothermal HVAC system is the most energy efficient way to heat and cool a building.

Geothermal heat pumps use the ground as a heat exchanger via a closed­-loop water circuit. During the cold winter months, the geothermal HVAC system takes heat out of the ground and transfers it into the building. And during the hot months of summer, the system removes heat from the building and transfers it back into the ground.

Since the ground maintains a constant temperature of 55­­-70°F depending on location, a geothermal HVAC system can result in considerable HVAC savings for a building owner, compared to conventional systems using air­ source condensing units for cooling and fossil fuels for heating.

To learn more or to schedule an interview with Steve Melink, please contact Marketing Manager Allison Sternad at 513.965.7300 or [email protected].