Ask the Expert: What are some basic ways I can enhance my shop environment while also boosting my bottom line?

May 21, 2019
With improved airflow and lighting, technicians and service staff are more motivated, accurate, and efficient.

Q: What are some basic ways I can enhance my shop environment while also boosting my bottom line? 

A: In the auto industry, workers must wage daily battles with extreme temperatures and poor visibility that leave them exhausted, frustrated, and less productive. By using high-volume, low-speed (HVLS) fans and modern LED fixtures to keep conditions comfortable and well-lit, managers at garages and service centers can improve productivity, employee morale, and energy efficiency.

Improved airflow makes comfort a breeze

In summer, HVLS fans such as those from Big Ass Fans make people feel up to 10 degrees cooler. In winter, the fans mix heated air down from the ceiling to where workers need it. More comfort means workers take fewer breaks and face fewer symptoms of heat stress. This translates to less distraction and more focus on production and accuracy.

For facilities with HVAC systems, HVLS fans more effectively circulate conditioned air, improving system efficiency and reducing runtime for annual savings of up to 30 percent.

Big Ass overhead and mountable directional fans also improve worker safety by eliminating tripping hazards and clutter created by pedestal and box fans.

With LEDs, seeing is believing

Traditional lighting consumes excessive electricity and produces far more heat than light. Today’s LED fixtures far surpass metal halides, halogens, and fluorescents in output, efficiency, and lifespan, and their costs have come down as technology has improved. For example, Big Ass Fans’ LED products offer outputs of up to 72,000 lm at 185 lm per watt and are rated for over 150,000 hours (17 years of 24/7 use) without any bulb or ballast replacements. LEDs’ cool operation requires no warm-up time and produces virtually no unwanted heat, while their uniform light distribution helps technicians clearly see every wire connection, scratch, and paint job.

Regardless of the space or season, improving productivity comes down to this simple premise: take care of your employees and they’ll take care of business.

Information provided by Big Ass Fans 

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