Resource Library

Dual Sourcing: White paper

Abstract: A sole source vendor can be appealing: one contact for everything a building needs, no stocking surplus equipment or training staff on multiple systems. But sole sourcing also exposes the facility manager to the single vendor's fee structure. The flip side to sole sourcing is entertaining open or competitive bids. However, the mix of different products present in facilities increases the complexity of service and support required. How can facility managers get the best of both worlds? The answer is dual sourcing.

Building Automation Systems in Healthcare

Abstract: In today’s environment of healthcare consolidation, mergers, acquisitions and alliances, there is a strong need for hospitals to be more competitive and better manage overall operating costs. One significant way to reduce costs while improving efficiencies and patient comfort—thus improving a hospital’s image—is to upgrade its building automation systems. Some hospitals have already realized savings by replacing their old pneumatic systems with “direct digital control” (DDC), but there is a hidden and costly trap in systems with a single supplier. The best cost containment and efficiencies are found by integrating the entire building using an open communication protocol standard such as BACnet.