In an effort to keep the Oregon Zoo green and energy efficient, the Zoo’s “green team” recently installed Bigfoot CMMS (computerized maintenance management software) from Smartware Group.
According to Smartware Group, there has recently been a sharp increase in the number of clients using Bigfoot for managing the maintenance of equipment and building infrastructure systems for optimal uptime, reduced repair costs, and sustainability, health and safety compliance. Oregon Zoo is the latest addition to Bigfoot’s impressive client portfolio.
In a press release, zoo authority said that the facility is leveraging the capabilities of Bigfoot to monitor thermostats, fans and lighting. The software is also being used for creating a maintenance schedule supporting the zoo’s filtration system. The system helps generate potable water from animal pools.
From limiting vehicle use on the zoo grounds to providing biodegradable plates and utensils for “compostable picnics,” Oregon Zoo is known for its commitment to green practices. However, the zoo was on the lookout for an advanced system to upgrade its maintenance system.
As a result of using an outdated maintenance system, the zoo administration was facing a lot of problems that ranged from loss of work order to the zoo’s failure in tracking or scheduling maintenance checks.
In a press release, the Zoo authority announced that Bigfoot is now hugely helping the zoo’s green team to improve the facility’s eco-friendly infrastructure by tracking energy consumption, reducing water waste and distributing compost more efficiently.
“We’re trying to achieve a level of transparency and Bigfoot will open up our maintenance profile considerably. It will keep track of every machine and every change. Also our repair technicians appreciate Bigfoot’s easy user interface, which assures that maintenance work orders, schedules and history will be kept up to date. Basically, wherever there is equipment to be managed for maintenance it will be on Bigfoot. We expect to be up and running with Bigfoot by mid-April,” facilities operations manager for the Oregon Zoo Chris Massey said in a statement.
The zoo administration also revealed that the zoo will also use the solution for tracking the zoo’s manure-composting system. The manure from herbivore animals is composted and transformed into ZooDoo, a fertilizer produced in two 1,600 square-foot areas.
“With Bigfoot we can monitor the amount of compost we generate and distribute. We can track what we take in and what we take out,” added Massey.
Bigfoot will also support the Oregon Zoo with its leak detection system, which maps and identifies potential damage in valves and fresh water lines.
In addition, Bigffot will be used by the staff to monitor the efficiency and condition of its HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems and its inventory and replacement of florescent lighting.
Zoo staffers will use Bigfoot to manage inventory for replacement parts, as well as the product’s asset life cycle management feature to grade equipment and machines over time, based on repair history, performance and condition, the Smartware group said in the press release.
In other company news, last month the Oregon Zoo announced the appointment of its new marketing communications manager: Stephanie Cameron, former director of marketing at Portland's Doubletree Hotel. Cameron, 39, has worked in sales, marketing, hospitality and tourism for nearly two decades. She has served on Travel Portland's convention sales and steering committee and been involved with projects focusing on sustainability, one of the key philosophies behind zoo operations.
Madhubanti Rudra is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.Edited by
Janice McDuffee
