,

Do You Need an Emergency Electrical System for Your Business?

Electricity is easy to take for granted – until the grid suddenly goes down. While a rare few businesses can deal with an occasional power outage, that’s not the case for all the vast majority of commercial locations. This article will discuss what kinds of businesses need to have an emergency electrical system in place.

 

If you decide an emergency electrical system is important for your business, Varney is the right commercial electrician for the job. Give Varney a call today to learn more.

 

What Would Be Lost?

As you think about whether you’d like to add an emergency electrical system to your commercial property, it can be helpful to picture what it would look like if the power went down for an extended period. You can use your imagination to work through this exercise, or you might have recently experienced it firsthand during an outage.

 

Consider what you would lose while you were stuck without power. For most businesses, this comes down to two things – inventory and the ability to serve customers. For example, a restaurant that can’t run without power would not only lose sales during those dark hours, but also may lose inventory that couldn’t be kept cold in the fridges and freezers. So, for that restaurant, losing power would be a significant financial hit.

 

On the other hand, a commercial location that serves other business clients and doesn’t carry any perishable items might not be at as much risk. The production schedule will be thrown off, but you might be able to work with your clients to get back on track shortly. For that kind of operation, a backup electrical system is probably useful but may not be absolutely essential.

 

What Can You Run?

The other important question in this discussion is what you can run if you do invest in backup electricity. Depending on the kind of work you do at your business, and the kind of equipment you run, an emergency electrical system might not be able to keep you completely operational. It should be plenty to run things like lights and computers, but you may not be able to operate industrial manufacturing equipment, etc. Thinking about how close a backup system will get you to 100% operational is a worthwhile question to ponder.

 

Get Professional Help

Every business is in a unique situation. Some businesses will be far better off with emergency electrical in place, while others it might be an option that you decide not to invest in in at this time. If you’d like help making this choice, reach out to a professional team like Varney. That way, you can get direct answers to any questions you may have regarding how long the backup system could run, what it would be able to power, and more. Without getting professional input, you’ll won’t be able to make the best choice for your business – and this decision is too important to make on guesswork alone. Between the expertise you have in running your business, and the insight that can be provided by the professionals at Varney, you can make the right choice for your needs.

/by

The Importance of an Integrated Security System

Is your building fully secure? Both during business hours and after hours, it is extremely important to have an integrated security system to protect your building, people, and assets. Integrated commercial security systems in Virginia have become a business staple as building managers are realizing the numerous benefits, such as significant declines in incidents.

What is an Integrated Security System?

A traditional security system may monitor your building using cameras, door alarms, smoke detectors, etc. But an integrated security system connects all of those things in a network that combines computers, phone lines, and even plumbing. All of your business systems can work seamlessly together, making it easier to monitor everything whether you’re at work, at home, or even out of town. You can manage your entire building from a single computer or device, either remotely or in person.

What are the benefits of an Integrated Security System?

Adding or upgrading to an integrated security system offers many benefits to your business, such as:

  • Increased safety. The single most important concern when operating a business is the safety of people; the employees, visitors, customers, and anyone else who enters the building. Integrated security systems help to keep people safe by monitoring who enters and exits the building to fire safety risks.
  • Better communication. With all of your systems working together in a seamless network, communication is improved in every aspect of your business from technology to individuals. Building systems, such as HVAC and plumbing, communicate with each other and are able to self-regulate. You can communicate with all of your integrated systems through a computer or mobile device.
  • Theft prevention. It goes without saying that preventing theft is beneficial to your business. Employees and customers alike are less likely to consider stealing when they know they are being monitored by video surveillance. And in case an incident does occur, you have video evidence.
  • When your security system is integrated with the rest of your building’s systems and easily monitored by mobile device, efficiency increases on multiple levels. Your personal efficiency is improved because you spend less time monitoring your building and more time working on business. Building systems like electrical, HVAC, and plumbing operate more efficiently too with integrated systems, saving your business money.
  • Increased productivity. Integrated systems streamline business processes, helping everything run more smoothly and increasing productivity. Also, employees tend to be more productive if they know they could be monitored.

Varney Inc. Installs Commercial Security Systems in Virginia

If you’re ready to realize all of these benefits for your business, Varney can install an integrated security system in your building. Varney is a top expert in integrated systems in the southeastern US, having completed successful installations of commercial security systems. Save time and money with integrated systems from Varney Inc.

Call (540) 343-0155 or request service today.

/by

How Integrated Systems Can Save You Money

Is your business as efficient as it could possibly be? You probably have a variety of measures in place to save money within your building and your business operations. But what if you could do even more to save money? What if there was another way to streamline your business to make it more efficient? 

 

The good news is that there is a way. It’s called integrated building systems and it’s a very effective way a building or business owner can improve their bottom line. 

 

What is Integrated Building Systems?

If you’re not familiar with the term, integrated building systems is essentially just what the name suggests. It is the concept of integrating or networking the various systems throughout your building. You may have heard the term “internet of things” or IoT, referring to the ability for all electronics to be connected to the internet and therefore controlled from a distance. 

 

Integrated building systems is the process of connecting all of your building’s systems to a network that is easily controlled by an app on a phone, tablet, or computer. Systems that can be integrated include security, electrical, lighting, HVAC, plumbing, fire prevention, data centers, computers, and any other systems within a building. 

 

How Can Integrated Systems Help a Business Save Money?

Why is it beneficial to combine all of your building (and even multiple building) systems into one? Because it can save your business money in a variety of ways, such as: 

 

  • Improve Energy Efficiency. Energy usage is a large part of your business expenses. The amount of energy used depends on the size of your building and the type of business you operate. If your business consists of multiple buildings, your energy costs are even higher. 

 

But integrated systems can minimize energy usage for your building by connecting your HVAC, security system, electrical, lighting, plumbing, computers, servers, Wi-Fi, and everything else that consumes energy into one manageable application. Integrated systems software can monitor energy usage, create reports to show how energy is used throughout the building, and alert you to any potential problems or energy drains. This allows you to save energy and also locate and repair potential problems before they worsen. 

 

  • Increase Security. Theft, vandalism, and other security threats are an unnecessary expense. When you upgrade your security as part of integrated building systems, you can more effectively monitor your building to prevent break-ins, loss prevention, internal theft, and product shrinkage. 

 

Surveillance cameras, key card access, security lighting, and more, can all be easily monitored through a smart device that alerts you of any potential security concerns. When your building is secure with obvious signs to potential perpetrators, you’ll avoid losing money due to theft and damage repair. 

 

  • Fire Safety. Fire monitoring can also be included in integrated systems. Smoke detectors, sprinkler systems, and other fire safety measures can be integrated with the rest of your building systems. Fire prevention and early detection to stop any fires that do start from spreading can save your business from complete disaster.

 

  • Enhance Productivity. When all of your building systems work seamlessly together, especially computer systems, your employees can work more productively. Save money by avoiding slow-downs due to internet issues, slow servers, weak Wi-Fi signals, and other technical problems. 

 

Productivity is also improved when employees are in a comfortable working environment, which comes from an HVAC system that is working efficiently. HVAC keeps the indoor temperatures consistent, ensures proper ventilation, and improves indoor air quality for the good of everyone in the building. 

 

Save Money with Integrated Building Systems by Varney Inc. 

Are you ready to see how Varney Inc. can save your business money with integrated building systems? As a leading provider of commercial HVAC, electrical, and plumbing services, Varney also specializes in system integration for businesses of all sizes. Varney Inc. is based in Roanoke, VA and serves businesses in Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. 

 

When you choose system integration, Varney will handle the complete installation of your systems and software, as well as educate you and your staff on how to use the software to monitor your building systems. 

 

Call (540) 343-0155 today or request service. Get an estimate on how much you can save today. 

/0 Comments/by

5 Benefits of Integrated Fire Safety Features

integrated systemsDo you want your employees and your business to be as safe as possible from the risk of fire? Basic fire safety features are required for all commercial buildings, but the required equipment is truly the bare minimum. Going beyond what’s required not only protects people and property but offers additional benefits for your business. Consider including fire safety features as part of your integrated systems for your businesses in VA. 

Improved Safety

When fire safety features are in tune with security systems and other building systems, the result is an increase in overall safety. Integrated systems allow all of a building’s systems to communicate, including HVAC, plumbing, etc. which in turn makes the building safer for everyone who uses the building as well as neighboring buildings. 

Money Saved

Integrated fire safety features can both decrease the risk of a fire as well as improve the handling of a fire in the unfortunate event that a fire starts. Preventing fire will definitely save your business money and containing or putting a fire out quickly will prevent more costly damage. In addition, integrated systems can reduce the number of personnel needed for security and safety monitoring. 

Better Control

Integrated systems make it possible to control all of your building’s systems from one console, device, or location. It can also allow multiple people to access the controls from personal devices so that everyone who needs control will have it and those that don’t, won’t. You’ll also be alerted immediately when anything is amiss with the fire safety equipment such as a battery that needs to be replaced on a smoke detector or a malfunctioning part of the system. 

Convenience

Fire safety features that are designed to work seamlessly with security and other building systems make it easier to prevent fire and quickly extinguish a fire once it starts. When fire systems are integrated with plumbing, water sprinklers can quickly activate if needed. When fire systems are integrated with security, doors can be closed automatically to contain the fire to one area of the building. And all systems work automatically in the case of an emergency. 

Reduced False Alarms

Integrated systems are meticulously monitored so that false alarms are kept to a minimum. Security cameras deter people from pulling fire alarms when there is no fire and make it easier to identify anyone who does. Advanced technology also prevents smoke alarms or sprinklers from being falsely activated, preventing water damage and emergency services from unnecessarily reporting when there is no real emergency. 

Experience the Benefits of Integrated Systems for Businesses in VA

There are many benefits to incorporating integrated systems for your businesses in VA. These 5 are just the benefits of including integrated fire safety features. When all systems are integrated throughout a building and even between multiple buildings, the benefits only increase. Varney Inc. specializes in automated systems integration for businesses and has completed projects in Virginia and the surrounding states of West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. 

Call (540) 343-0155 to speak with the experts at Varney Inc. about all the ways integrated systems can improve your business.

/by