Mission Statement

The building services department is dedicated to providing an attractive, clean, accessible, safe and sustainable environment.  Building services facilitates the city of Des Moines in providing and maintaining essential services that meet the needs of the citizens of Des Moines, while maintaining a minimal environmental impact.  All efforts of the department are service based, and satisfactory customer service is an essential component and goal of all department actions.

Vision Statement

Building Services vision is to achieve customer satisfaction and employee excellence. We value accountability, communication, sustainability, cooperation, safety, fairness and trust. These values are directed toward the pursuit of sustainability in the maintenance and operation of all facilities.

Roles and Responsibilities

Preventive Maintenance

Perform specific written preventive maintenance procedures (such as lubrication, cleaning, changing filters, making adjustments, inspecting roofs and accessories, and replacing parts) on building structural, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and steam equipment in assigned area.

Operations

Building Equipment Operators do routine maintenance and repair needs with in their assigned areas. Investigate maintenance and operational problems by conferring with building occupants. Notify occupants of maintenance and operating conditions, which may affect them, such as building service interruptions, the reasons behind service interruptions, and length of the interruption. Respond to initial maintenance request from building occupants, assess problem. Perform necessary repairs or enlist shop support to complete repairs.

Inspections

Perform inspections of building structural systems, electrical, mechanical, steam and plumbing equipment in assigned area on a periodic basis in order to determine operating efficiency and to locate and alleviate potential malfunctions. Troubleshoot and repair building structural systems, electrical equipment, light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, heating, air conditioning and ventilating equipment, and controls in assigned area.

Safety

Apply necessary safety precautions while working with electrical, steam, or mechanical equipment and while working on roofs, doors, windows, and ceilings and other building system components.

Energizing Taxpayer Dollars

The Park and Recreation Department is responsible for the operations and maintenance of all Des Moines municipal buildings. To make the city’s buildings and facilities more energy efficient, Parks has been utilizing input, expertise, and services of lighting and heating contractors, providers, energy professionals, and the State of Iowa. The city began a building energy conservation project in 2004, with the first phase focused on lighting retrofits at City Hall, the Argone Armory, and Police Station. Since then, a second phase of the project has addressed similar needs at ten fire stations, police site offices and the five community center buildings. The buildings have been equipped with high-energy efficiency lighting, resulting in more light for less cost. These changes have also resulted in cash to the city in the form of energy-saving incentive rebates. More than 150 motion-sensor light switches have been installed, with more to be changed over by year’s end. These projects have 1 to 5 year payback on their lifecycles.

Phase three, which is now underway involves improving or replacing more complex and expensive energy equipment. The roof of the Armory building will be covered with energy-saving material, a similar product was installed on Four Mile Community Center this past fall. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems (HVAC) are also being updated, including boilers at City Hall and Police Headquarters. A grant award from the US Department of Energy to the city will underwrite the cost of replacing all windows in City Hall and the Armory beginning this summer.

Another project being coordinated with MidAmerican Energy allows the city to cycle their HVAC equipment start-ups with non-peak and less expensive energy rate times. An Iowa Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant will provide financial assistance in expanding and updating the HVAC controls for eight municipal buildings for a projected annual 10% energy savings. These and more steps to be taken in the future are moving city building operations toward becoming an “energy star.”

Energy Conservation Links of Interest

US Department of Energy

Energy Star

Home Energy

Iowa Office of Energy Independence

Appliance Rebate Program