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Business Journals
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Journals
How refrigeration commissioning helps safeguard long-term performance and profitability in cold storage construction
As industrial refrigeration systems grow in complexity and cost, commissioning has emerged as an essential element for ensuring long-term efficiency, reliability and financial return. In industries where uninterrupted cooling is critical, such as cold storage, food and beverage, and pharmaceuticals, commissioning is not just beneficial — it is vital. Understanding the role of commissioning in industrial refrigeration Refrigeration systems account for the highest energy usage in cold storage facilities, with maintenance, refrigerant management and energy costs comprising a large portion of lifecycle operational expenses. Traditional questions during planning phases — such as installation cost and schedule — fail to address deeper operational concerns like long-term serviceability, lifecycle cost, regulatory impact and energy efficiency. These factors directly affect profitability and should be prioritized early in project planning. A well-structured commissioning plan addresses these gaps, beginning at design conception and continuing through installation, startup and the first year of operation. The purpose is to validate that systems are installed and functioning according to the design intent and operational requirements, ultimately supporting consistent performance and reduced lifecycle costs. Modernizing practices: The value of early and thorough commissioning Historically, commissioning in refrigeration projects was minimal, often limited to post-installation punch lists. Today, enhanced technologies — such as commissioning software, Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) services, other software tools such as energy modeling, BIM and EMV (Evaluation, Measurement and Verification) — make it easier to justify early commissioning efforts. These tools provide a baseline design comparison, visibility into system integration and performance, improve energy efficiency and help avoid costly failures. Forward-thinking developers and owners increasingly recognize that robust commissioning plans significantly reduce emergency service calls, product losses and operational disruptions, especially in mission-critical environments like data centers, food production and health care storage. Core phases of a refrigeration commissioning plan 1. Planning and design Objective: Ensure the refrigeration system is designed to be commissionable. Key actions: Form a Commissioning (Cx) team with defined roles and responsibilities. Develop foundational documents: Owner Requirements (OR), Basis of Design (BD) and Construction Documents (CDs). Align Cx efforts with budgets and schedules early in design. 2. Construction and installation Objective: Ensure critical systems are installed correctly to meet operational and energy performance targets. Key actions: Define clear responsibilities across contractors and subcontractors. Plan for pre-functional testing and system integration early in scheduling. Maintain quality control over major refrigeration components and controls infrastructure. 3. Startup and operation Objective: Validate that the system operates as intended and supports long-term operational goals. Key actions: Perform thorough system startup procedures and documentation. Facilitate training for facility operations teams. Conduct post-occupancy evaluations and adjustments during the first year. Bridging design and execution: The CxA advantage A Commissioning Authority (CxA) serves as a critical bridge between design and execution. Their early involvement helps identify scope gaps — such as those related to refrigeration controls or electrical systems — that might otherwise go unaddressed until late in the process, leading to change orders or costly delays. By engaging a CxA at the outset, stakeholders benefit from proactive risk management and coordinated delivery. Stakeholder collaboration and accountability Commissioning thrives on cross-disciplinary collaboration. Owners, design teams, refrigeration contractors, engineers and CxAs must each understand their role within the Cx process. When clearly defined, this shared accountability helps prevent scope omissions and reinforces alignment throughout the project lifecycle. Commissioning as a competitive advantage In markets where reliability is paramount, commissioning can differentiate a project. It ensures that refrigeration systems support operational goals, adhere to regulatory codes and reduce total cost of ownership. Flexible designs with redundancy, room conversions and future expansion capabilities also elevate a project's long-term value. As cold storage and industrial refrigeration markets expand, facilities equipped with thorough commissioning protocols will enjoy enhanced reliability, energy efficiency and cost control. In an environment where downtime translates to direct financial loss, commissioning is not a luxury — it is a necessity. Brinkmann Constructors is the employee-owned leader in the construction industry with a passion for finding creative solutions that save time, minimize costs and deliver the greatest value. With five offices and a project footprint in over 40 states, our reach spans nationwide with a vast portfolio of projects in multifamily, senior living, industrial, cold storage, retail, automotive and more. Mike Bildner has approximately 20 years of construction management experience, most notably 10 years of experience designing and managing refrigeration mechanical projects for a leading full-service mechanical contracting firm before joining Brinkmann. As the MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing) manager, Bildner is responsible for managing and leading MEP subcontractors throughout the project, developing the CPM schedule for all MEP installation activities, reviewing and approving material and equipment for MEP systems before installation, monitoring the installation and startup of the MEP systems, and commissioning of the project with the engineer and owner.
Hans India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Free Speech Does Not Mean Hurting Sentiments of Others: Justice V Ramasubramanian
Hyderabad: 'Free speech does not mean hurting the sentiments of others,' remarked Justice V. Ramasubramanian, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and former judge of the Supreme Court of India, while addressing a national seminar on Judiciary as the Guardian of Human Rights: An In - Depth Evaluation on Tuesday. Justice Ramasubramanian emphasized the delicate balance courts must maintain when constitutional freedoms come into conflict. 'When two rights compete, the courts must apply extreme caution. In such cases, Article 18 helps determine which right prevails,' he noted. India is not an easy country to govern, he said, highlighting the judiciary's role since Independence and classifying its contributions into four key areas. The first, he said, is facilitating access to justice. 'Facilitating access to justice for the common man is the first step,' he said. Expanding the Scope of Article 21, which guarantees the right to life and liberty, has evolved to include the right to livelihood, dignity, and freedom of movement. The third important contribution, he noted, is uplifting Directive Principles. He explained that the judiciary has interpreted the Directive Principles of State Policy as enforceable by aligning them with Article 21, thereby giving them constitutional strength. The fourth core contribution, he said, is creating laws where none exist. He praised the courts' proactive role in establishing temporary legal frameworks - such as gender sensitization committees for women - in the absence of formal legislation. Justice Dr Shameem Akhtar, Judge of the Telangana High Court, remarked, 'No system is perfect, but ours is evolving towards a more just and compassionate society.' Dr Vidyadhar Bhatt C., Secretary and CEO of the Telangana State Human Rights Commission (TSHRC), stated that in a democratic country, the judiciary is the guardian of human rights. The seminar concluded with a consensus that the judiciary remains the most trusted and consistent guardian of human rights in India. The event was attended by senior members of the bar, law students, civil society representatives, and members of the media.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
FDIC Rates Banner Bank ‘Outstanding' in Recent Community Reinvestment Act Performance Evaluation
WALLA WALLA, Wash., June 03, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Banner Bank leadership team is pleased to share the Bank again earned an 'Outstanding' rating from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in the Bank's recent Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Performance Evaluation. 'Outstanding' is the highest available rating in a CRA evaluation and only 10% of all U.S. banks achieved it over the past five years. Under this Act, the FDIC evaluates the performance of banks in helping meet the credit needs of clients, businesses and local communities. It assesses how well banks serve and support low- and moderate-income (LMI) individuals, LMI neighborhoods and small businesses in ways that are consistent with safe and sound operation and banking practices. All banks are regularly evaluated in this area. "Earning the FDIC's highest rating is a reflection of our employees' commitment to consistently implement the core principles of CRA every day," said President and CEO Mark Grescovich. "This achievement is an outcome of our team's thoughtful, intentional effort to do the right thing for our clients and the communities we serve." This is the second consecutive exam cycle Banner earned an Outstanding rating. Since 2021, only one other bank in the 'large bank' category also earned this back-to-back rating throughout the four states we serve. "The Outstanding rating recognizes our hard work and genuine care to serve those in need—community is rightfully at the core of this effort," said Senior Vice President & CRA Director Camino Smith. "We are grateful for the strong partnerships we have built with so many community organizations that offer us invaluable feedback on how to make the greatest impact." In announcing the results of our CRA Performance Evaluation, the FDIC shared these highlights: Banner Bank has an excellent level of community development investments and grants, often in a leadership position, particularly those that are not routinely provided by private investors. The Bank makes use of innovative and/or flexible lending practices in order to serve the assessment area's credit needs. Banner Bank is a leader in providing community development services. The Bank's lending levels reflect good responsiveness to the assessment area's credit needs. Geographic distribution of Banner loans reflects good penetration throughout the assessment area. Banner Bank exhibits a good record of serving the credit needs of the most economically disadvantaged areas of the assessment area, low-income individuals, and/or very small businesses, and is a leader in making community development loans. Banner Bank delivery systems are accessible to essentially all portions of the assessment area. The Bank exhibits good responsiveness to credit and community development needs and occasionally uses innovative and/or complex investments to support community development initiatives. Our complete CRA Public File is posted and available to view on our website at: Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Public File | Banner Bank About Banner Bank Banner Bank is a Washington-chartered commercial bank serving consumer and business clients in Washington, Oregon, California and Idaho. With more than $16.2 billion in assets, Banner Bank is part of Banner Corporation (NASDAQ: BANR). Visit Banner Bank at View source version on Contacts Kelly McPhee, Senior Vice President, Communications(509) 232-1968 or Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
NDTV
24-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
PM Modi To Chair NITI Aayog Meet Today With Chief Ministers Of Several States
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair an significant meeting of the NITI Aayog on Saturday at the Bharat Mandapam in the national capital. This is the first major talks between the Prime Minister and the Chief Ministers of all states after the Indian Armed Forces successfully carried out Operation Sindoor, dismantling nine terrorists camps and their training centres in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir earlier this month avenging the recent horrific Pahalgam terror attack. According to a statement from NITI Aayog, the meeting underscores the Prime Minister's commitment to work with all states as "Team India" for achieving the goal of a developed Bharat. "As India progresses towards becoming a developed country, it is essential that states leverage their unique strengths and drive transformative changes at the grassroots, ensuring that the aspirations of 140 crore citizens translate into tangible outcomes on the ground," the statement said. The meeting, themed 'Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat@2047', aims to foster cooperative federalism and align state-level aspirations with the national goal of making India a developed country by its 100th year of Independence. The discussion will centre around enabling states to formulate bold, long-term, and inclusive vision documents aligned with national priorities yet rooted in local reality. States are expected to focus on human development, economic growth, sustainability, technology, and governance reforms, with an emphasis on data-driven and outcome-based strategies. Institutional mechanisms like Project Monitoring Units, ICT-enabled infrastructure, and Monitoring and Evaluation Cells will support accountability and course correction. The Governing Council meeting serves as a platform for the Centre and States/Union Territories (UTs) to deliberate on development challenges and explore how states can act as the building blocks of a Viksit Bharat. Topics such as entrepreneurship promotion, enhanced skilling, and sustainable employment generation will also be discussed. The meeting will also seek to build consensus on the themes of the fourth National Conference of Chief Secretaries, held from December 13 to 15, 2024. The conference, which saw participation from Secretaries of the Union government and Chief Secretaries of states and UTs, contributed recommendations under the overarching theme of 'Promoting Entrepreneurship, Employment and Skilling-Leveraging the Demographic Dividend'. Six key thematic areas emerged from the conference: 1. Creating an enabling ecosystem for manufacturing in Tier 2 and 3 cities; 2. Creating an enabling ecosystem for services in Tier 2 and 3 cities; 3. MSME and informal employment in rural non-farm sectors; 4. MSME and informal employment in urban areas; 5. Opportunities in the green economy through renewable energy; and 6. Opportunities in the green economy via circular economy initiatives. A senior government official noted that the deliberations are also likely to include initiatives from Budget 2025-26 and the prevailing economic challenges. The official said that the Indian economy, despite headwinds such as reciprocal tariffs from the US and global slowdowns, is expected to grow between 6.2 and 6.7 per cent in the current fiscal. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank have revised India's growth projections for 2025-26 downwards to 6.2 per cent and 6.3 per cent respectively, citing global uncertainties and trade tensions. The Governing Council, the apex decision-making body of NITI Aayog, includes all Chief Ministers, Lieutenant Governors of UTs, and several Union Ministers. PM Modi, who has chaired the body since its inception, will preside over the meeting. Notably, 10 states and UTs did not participate in last year's meeting held on July 27. NITI Aayog is in the process of preparing a consolidated vision document to guide India's journey to becoming a $30 trillion economy by 2047. Entrusted in 2023 with integrating ten sectoral thematic visions, the document will encompass economic growth, social development, sustainability and governance as key pillars.
Hans India
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
PM Modi to hold NITI Aayog meeting today with CMs of all states after Op Sindoor
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair an significant meeting of the NITI Aayog on Saturday at the Bharat Mandapam in the national capital. This is the first major talks between the Prime Minister and the Chief Ministers of all states after the Indian Armed Forces successfully carried out Operation Sindoor, dismantling nine terrorists camps and their training centres in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir earlier this month avenging the recent horrific Pahalgam terror attack. According to a statement from NITI Aayog, the meeting underscores the Prime Minister's commitment to work with all states as "Team India" for achieving the goal of a developed Bharat. "As India progresses towards becoming a developed country, it is essential that states leverage their unique strengths and drive transformative changes at the grassroots, ensuring that the aspirations of 140 crore citizens translate into tangible outcomes on the ground," the statement said. The meeting, themed 'Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat@2047', aims to foster cooperative federalism and align state-level aspirations with the national goal of making India a developed country by its 100th year of Independence. The discussion will centre around enabling states to formulate bold, long-term, and inclusive vision documents aligned with national priorities yet rooted in local reality. States are expected to focus on human development, economic growth, sustainability, technology, and governance reforms, with an emphasis on data-driven and outcome-based strategies. Institutional mechanisms like Project Monitoring Units, ICT-enabled infrastructure, and Monitoring and Evaluation Cells will support accountability and course correction. The Governing Council meeting serves as a platform for the Centre and States/Union Territories (UTs) to deliberate on development challenges and explore how states can act as the building blocks of a Viksit Bharat. Topics such as entrepreneurship promotion, enhanced skilling, and sustainable employment generation will also be discussed. The meeting will also seek to build consensus on the themes of the fourth National Conference of Chief Secretaries, held from December 13 to 15, 2024. The conference, which saw participation from Secretaries of the Union government and Chief Secretaries of states and UTs, contributed recommendations under the overarching theme of 'Promoting Entrepreneurship, Employment and Skilling—Leveraging the Demographic Dividend'. Six key thematic areas emerged from the conference: 1. Creating an enabling ecosystem for manufacturing in Tier 2 and 3 cities; 2. Creating an enabling ecosystem for services in Tier 2 and 3 cities; 3. MSME and informal employment in rural non-farm sectors; 4. MSME and informal employment in urban areas; 5. Opportunities in the green economy through renewable energy; and 6. Opportunities in the green economy via circular economy initiatives. A senior government official noted that the deliberations are also likely to include initiatives from Budget 2025-26 and the prevailing economic challenges. The official said that the Indian economy, despite headwinds such as reciprocal tariffs from the US and global slowdowns, is expected to grow between 6.2 and 6.7 per cent in the current fiscal. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank have revised India's growth projections for 2025-26 downwards to 6.2 per cent and 6.3 per cent respectively, citing global uncertainties and trade tensions. The Governing Council, the apex decision-making body of NITI Aayog, includes all Chief Ministers, Lieutenant Governors of UTs, and several Union Ministers. PM Modi, who has chaired the body since its inception, will preside over the meeting. Notably, 10 states and UTs did not participate in last year's meeting held on July 27. NITI Aayog is in the process of preparing a consolidated vision document to guide India's journey to becoming a $30 trillion economy by 2047. Entrusted in 2023 with integrating ten sectoral thematic visions, the document will encompass economic growth, social development, sustainability and governance as key pillars.
