b'Weve recently been underwrittenAlberta whos spreading the word tointo that breachto help combat the by CWB, a huge industrialnancer,his colleagues about our process ef- currentthreat,andtoensurethat Johntoldmeexcitedly.Whenafectiveness.Thats a game changer. once its at long last defeated, anotherbackerlikethatusestheCurrenteventssuggestthereiswont follow in its wake and exact asnancial phrase were behind you, you knowno immediate light at the end of thedevastating a toll.One business at a BATTLING COVID-19 your initiative has some real traction. COVID tunnel.And even when thetime,JohnKirkandSpenergywill CWB may represent the big picture,threatdoesinevitablysubside,thehelp those responsible for health and buttheendorsementofindividuallessons it has painfully delivered aresafety, literally andguratively, to see businessesisequallyimportant,es- bound to linger, and wisely so.Thethe light.peciallyinenvironmentswheretheprocessofcleaning,anditsimpor- For more information, visit cleansingcapabilityhasitsclearesttance to public health, will never be Shining a application. adentistonboardinthe same in the post-COVID world.www.spenergycerti ed.comWehaveSomething will be needed to stepBy Scott Mercer, Focus on Scugog Light on GERMSGermshaveneverhadahigherhospitals. Spenergy made it more costcompanies insurance. Could a new type of ultraviolet lamp be pro le than in 2020. e ective, so it was suddenly accessi- Youdthinkthatthewidespreadused in stations, airplanes and schools to kill Hand washing was a basic and ear- ble to a wider range of applications. marriagebetweentheongoingdangerous viruses, becoming a game changerThe screen explains UV, A, B, C ranges.ly lesson ingrained by parents.Later,Talk about timing. COVID crisis and a proven-e ectivein the COVID-19ght? Hand held disinfecting wands (the real thing, supposing you worked as a teenagerNoquestion,theCOVIDpan- system would be a natural evolution,UVC portable diseaseghting cart. not a pretty light) for disinfecting surface items.in a fast-food restaurant, conspicuousdemic elevated the need.SpenergysandSpenergysUVCtechnology signageremindedyouofitsimpor- originalmissionhadbeensolelytowould be, by now, sweeping the land. tance with Mom and Dad no longerhelp companies reduce energy costs,Whilehepredictsthatmayindeed around to reinforce the lesson. but when this new development sur- someday be the case, John explains Regardlessofage,theongoingfaced and proved economical, com- that the word still has room to spread.pandemichasprovidedallofusparedtotraditionalcleaningmeth- Ourgreatestchallengeuptill with a potent wakeup call about theods, they recognized the potential itnow has been getting through doors. spread of germs, reminding us dailyhadbeyondjustindustrialsettings:Once we have a companys ear, and of how critical hygiene truly is to ourhotels, salons, medical oces. after they hear the presentation, the ownand otherscontinued goodTherevolutionarycleaningpro- decisiontoadoptbecomesano-health.And how easily transmissioncess, he explains, uses a specializedbrainer.Ourmarketingstrategyis can occur. variety of light. educate and execute.JohnKirkspreviouslyprofes- UVCmeansultra-violetlight,Afterall,headds,thecostsof sional activities had focused on solarlevel C. Its the highest concentra- UVC cleansing will often be funded energy projects, but when he learnedtion possible. throughtheenergysavingsby aboutanacquaintancesgerm- Tostarttheprocess,thetargetedSpenergys analysis. initiative,somethingspokespace mustrst be cleared of humanThink of the cost of this system asghting to him.Discussions led to his volun- trac.A series of UVCs emit in afound money.Most companies will teering as a consultant at Spenergy,cone-shaped pattern, which John com- recover their investment in just a year whose initial mandate was tond en- pares to the coverage provided by do- or two.ergy savings for industrial customers. mestictubes.ToanAndwhenimprovementsareorescent nish, It mymoralcompass,heautomated audit minimizes canyonmadetothecleaningsystem,userst explains of his decision to accept ae ect,areaswheretheUVCshadwill be contractually covered.consultantspositionwiththe been less e ective due to shadowing. Eachcompanyhasaservicerm. TherecertainlywasaneedandIIn a merefteen minutes, the pro- contract which includes monitoring, understood the industry. cedure is complete. maintaining,andupgradingtheir Thetechnology,whichhadsoSpenergysdeliverysystemissystem.moved John, was designed to disin- the best in the world, he says. ItInspiteoftheearlychallenges, fect large spaces with UVC light. includesacomponentwhichlogsthereareemergingsignsthat ThatcapabilityhadexistedforthatthecleaningprocesshasbeenSpenergyisachievingimpressive 50 or 60 years, and had been used bydoneandwhenthatscriticalforinroads.32 FOCUS - DECEMBER 2020'