Guardian Service Industries, Inc.

Patricia Kirk Energy-efficient buildings have lower operating costs , but also tend to command higher rents and enjoy higher occupancy and tenant retention levels than traditional buildings. A recent  Energy Efficiency Survey , developed by the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) in collaboration with the Institute for Market Transformation, looked at what motivates office building owners to improve energy performance. The survey focused on how financial methods used to evaluate capital expenditures impact decisions to invest in improving energy efficiency. IREM and the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) distributed the survey to their members and received 307 responses, which represented 1.7 percent of the total survey distribution. The survey found that most respondents use simple payback calculations to evaluate energy efficiency projects, usually basing decisions on recovering the investment in one to two years. The study revealed that this simple pay

BY  REW   •   FEBRUARY 9, 2017 Construction costs in New York City increased by approximately 4 percent in 2016, which is slightly less than the 5 percent rate of cost inflation that was experienced annually throughout the five boroughs from 2013 through 2015. By comparison, U.S. construction costs rose between 3 and 4 percent in 2016 after rising between 2.5 to 3 percent annually from 2013 through 2015. The construction executives interviewed for this report expect that New York City construction costs will continue to accelerate at roughly the current rate of one percent per quarter through 2017. During the height of last decade’s building boom, construction cost increases exceeded 6 percent nationally but were nearly twice as high in New York City, with reports of construction cost increases reaching 12 percent in 2006 and 11 percent in 2007.  In 2009, in the aftermath of the Great Recession, costs declined both nationally and in New York City and registered a nominal g

BY  REW   •   FEBRUARY 8, 2017 The move represents a significant expansion of the partnership between the City and private and institutional sector leaders, who have committed to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from their buildings by 30 percent or more in 10 years. To achieve these reductions, existing participants as well as new commercial owner and tenant participants have committed to work together to identify strategies for co-ordinated implementation of energy efficiency projects in their buildings. Today’s expansion of the NYC Carbon Challenge to the 22 commercial owners and tenants adds more than 58 million square feet to the Challenge and is projected to reduce citywide GHG emissions by an additional 60,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) – the equivalent of taking almost 13,000 cars off the roads – and result in an estimated $50 million in energy cost savings. The launch of the NYC Carbon Challenge for Commercial Owners and Tenants marks

Snow Removal 101 Did you know as part of the Guardian janitorial solution we provide snow removal? Guardian has the best equipped and trained grounds management team in the industry. We take pride in managing award-winning properties and meeting the toughest grounds care challenges, particularly those required during winter weather.  Our clients trust us to provide reliable, efficient and effective solutions to ensure operations continue as usual, regardless of what Mother Nature has in store. We are up to the challenge.  Guardian has decades of experience and is an active member of the Snow and Ice Management Association. Our expertise, coupled with our superior grounds management services, ensures responsive solutions. From roadways to entry ways, you can count on Guardian to ensure surfaces are safe and will help keep your business running. We uphold our promises. And our sustainable approach further guarantees our snow clients spend their money wisely.

A record high temperature was set in Central Park Wednesday, ahead of a winter storm expected to dump nearly a foot of snow across parts of the region. Central Park hit 62 degrees at 12:59 p.m., breaking the previous record of 61 set in 1965. Still, a Winter Storm Warning has been issued for the New York area through Thursday evening as a rapidly developing system threatens to plummet temperatures and bring heavy snow. The warning covers  covers most of the tri-state viewing area. A blizzard warning  has been issued for Suffolk County on Long Island. Temperatures will begin to drop and winds pick up early tonight. Heavy wet snow will develop overnight and continue into Thursday, possibly falling at a rate of an inch or two an hour at times. #BeSafe #StayConnected #BeWell #StayWarm

Studies show working in a green-certified building has its benefits By  Michael Molinski When evaluating a job offer, there's more to consider than salary and health care benefits. New research suggests that working in a green-certified building could improve productivity, job performance and overall well-being. A series of new  studies , led by Harvard University and SUNY Upstate Medical University, found that occupants of high-performing green buildings showed higher cognitive function scores, fewer sick-building symptoms and higher sleep quality scores than workers in high-performing buildings without green certification. "One thing employees might not be thinking about, but should, is their workspace," said Joe Allen, assistant professor at Harvard University's School of Public Health and co-author of the report. The studies, he said, "found that green certification, thermal conditions and lighting influenced worker perception of their space as w

99 Years And Still Going Strong Providing excellence in commercial and office cleaning services is always about people, training and flexibility. Our people are the key to Guardian’s success and a critical factor in consistently providing the very highest quality commercial/office cleaning services. Servicing New York City and the Tristate for 99 years, Guardian offers an extensive range of expert contract commercial cleaning and complementary, specialist cleaning services. Additionally, we are an environmentally sustainable full service facility solution provider delivering a single source for services, including: Engineering & Operations Janitorial Lighting & Electric Marble, Metal, Wood Restoration Pest Control Window Cleaning Security We specialize in provide subject matter expertise, management and staffing in all areas of facility management and deliver to customer – CIMS Certified & LEED Certified Experts on Staff Customized cleaning services