Facilities Management

Since the Fall of 2021, the Energy and Engineering office has been working with two Graduate Student Researchers: Tanner Palmer and Pratik Raj Khadka. Both are first-year graduate students pursuing their Master of Science in Energy Systems and using their knowledge to contribute to FM projects. They enjoy working with experienced team members at the office, and the staff applauds the new ideas and energy that students bring to the office.  

When an outdated heating system caused the water temperature in Storer Hall’s tropical fish lab to drop to dangerously low levels, Facilities Management’s Building Maintenance Services (BMS) HVAC and Energy and Engineering team collaborated with the Laskowski Lab researchers to improve operations.  

The UC Davis Facilities Management (FM) Fleet unit received several honors with the 2021 Green Fleet Awards and proved that this teams' dedication to innovation and sustainability is gaining national recognition.  

An academic collaboration with UC Davis Chemical Engineering (Process Systems Engineering) results in an algorithm that optimizes chiller deployment. As a result, the university improves its green energy use and saves money. Interested in the details? Learn more in the published research article.

This past summer Facilities Management (FM) completed what was a yearlong project that brought together Building Maintenance Services (BMS), Utilities, Energy & Engineering, Transportation Services construction, Design and Construction Management (DCM), and a contractor. This project is another great example of what we are capable of building when we work together with the resources we have here on campus.

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. Read more about the new equipment that the custodial team is using today. 

Smart Labs is a utility incentive program through Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), which provides funding for implementing energy-saving solutions in laboratory buildings. Completion of this program will result in safer labs, fewer carbon emissions from reduced energy use, and lower utility bills. Read how Energy and Engineering coordinated bringing this program to UC Davis buildings.

The arrival of the first compost truck on campus earlier this year signaled the further expansion of compost collection toward the university’s zero waste goals and compliance with state regulations.  

Custodial Services is in the process of installing new Tork PeakServe® paper towel dispensers. The new dispensers are not only the latest innovation designed for high-traffic washrooms, they are more efficient than past dispensers.