Staff in Action

Custodial Equipment Innovations Save Time

You may notice several new tools around campus that are helping Custodial Services improve service levels. Seeking inventive ways to meet the needs of the campus is a key focus of Custodial Services, especially with the additional cleaning requirements prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The use of new equipment, including robot floor scrubbers, new paper towel dispensers, and touchless restroom cleaners, is one way that the custodial team has proven to find innovative solutions to new challenges. 

Customer & Employee Feedback Key to Success!

Understanding how people use dashboards and tools has provided Facilities Management (FM), Energy & Engineering’s Kiernan Salmon with a new perspective on the design and usability of products. As Kiernan understands more, she is able to build tools that give FM staff valuable insight that allows us to provide better customer service to the UC Davis campus. 

Bringing PG&E Smart Lab Projects to UC Davis

This summer, two buildings: Earth & Physical Sciences (EPS) and Sciences Laboratory, worked with FM: Energy & Engineering to pilot a Smart Labs program.  Smart Labs is a utility incentive program through Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), which provides funding for implementing energy-saving solutions in laboratory buildings within the PG&E service area. Completion of this program will result in safer labs, fewer carbon emissions from reduced energy use, and lower utility bills.

Innovation Increases Revenue for UC Davis

After UC Davis took over the Renewable Energy Anaerobic Digester (READ) Biodigester facility in 2017, staff ramped up efforts to increase usage of the facility. They started by investigating removing ammonia from the digestate (the material remaining after the anaerobic digestion of a biodegradable).

Hanging Emitter Lines Saves Water

This past March and April, water conservation projects were completed by the Facilities Management Plumbing Shop in TB 183, Poultry House X, and Poultry House Y room 3. The team installed new water emitter systems in the three buildings. The new systems provide water when it is needed by the animals, rather than water constantly flowing. James Medeiros, Gary Fitzpatrick, Chris Persons from the Plumbing Shop worked to install this new system. It took some planning and creative thinking to route and support these lines systems.

Paint Shop Preserves Racetrack History

On the southwest corner of Maddy Equine Lab, wooden striped racing poles are scattered around the western exterior of the building. These wooden poles were originally used as markers at the TanforanRacetrack in San Bruno. Due to the age and historical importance of the poles, it’s a priority to ensure they’re kept intact and well preserved. When Chase Fowler, from the Building Maintenance Services (BMS) PaintShop, was assigned the task of preserving the poles, he knew the importance of keeping these wood poles intact and was excited about the task!

Resourcefulness Leads to Big Savings!

In April 2020, Facilities Management (FM) was notified by Design Construction Management (DCM) of several buildings on the Davis campus that were slated to be decommissioned. The notification allows our teams the option to identify any equipment or materials that might be useful to use for future projects.

FCA Team Tackles Project - Benefiting All UC!

In 2016, Facilities Management (FM) started a venture with the University of California, Office of President (UCOP) to create a UC-wide program to evaluate every significant piece of real property on campuses. This program would evaluate the property’s current condition, potential failure and mission-critical-importance level. Today, ten UC campuses utilize this program to have an accurate assessment of Deferred Maintenance (DM) needs for all UC buildings and infrastructure including equipment based on actual asset conditions.

Unleashing Creativity

It is all about creativity and communicating for third year, Communications and Professional Writing student Cassandra Ng. She began working in Operations Support as the Communications Intern in November 2020. Her associate of arts degree in journalism allowed her to hit the ground running at a socially distanced pace and quickly become a valuable asset to the team. Since then she has been using her talents to create billboard slides, creating and editing newsletter articles, and revamping the Facilities Management social media pages.

Stormwater Infrastructure

Acknowledging stormwater as a valuable resource, The UC Davis Long Range Development Plan (LRDP) has guided new campus construction to incorporate stormwater strategies to mitigate construction impacts by reducing runoff and improving water quality.  Campus Planning and Landscape Architecture works closely with EH&S to guide and shape the designs for these features.