Thank you to everyone who came out to support Signature Control Systems’ Open House! It was a great day!

Signature Control Systems & Federal APD were thrilled to be a part of the Big Ten/Midwestern Universities Transportation and Parking Conference!

Signature Control Systems will be at the Big Ten/Midwestern Universities Transportation and Parking Conference. Register Today to Join Us!

http://tppr.osu.edu/bigten2012/

See Story by visiting the Columbus Business First Website.

There has been quite a bit of hoopla in the news recently regarding the growing need for charging stations. In fact, electrical vehicle (EV) charging stations are being installed in parking garages, college campuses, and apartment complexes at an increasing rate.  Just this past summer, Loyola University, installed its first EV charging stations in two of its campus parking areas.  The EV charging stations are available to staff, faculty, students and campus visitors. According to Charlie Marshall, Loyola’s Director of Facilities System, “There’s the idea you charge from home, but just as people stop to put gas in their car, they’ll need to place a plug in.” This leads us to the economic model of supply and demand.

The more EV’s that are purchased, the more stress it puts on the Utility Distribution System, especially if EV owners have only one option of charging at home during peak hours (day/evening hours), as opposed to off-peak (overnight) hours.   Communities will  need electrical charging stations to lessen the stress on residential utilities.  In addition, EV owners, such as college students or apartment/condo residents, who do not have access to a residential garage, cannot feasibly stretch electric cords out windows to charge their cars parked a block away.

There is a solution and it offers a revenue stream.  Charging stations can easily be installed in public garages, parking lots, and apartment and condo complexes, at a relatively low cost.   For example, a public garage purchases a charging station and installation for approximately $2,000-$3,000.00.  The garage then sells EV owners a subscription and key that activates the charging station.  An average EV driver expends approximately $600 a year in subscription fees, ensuring the garage significantly increases their annual revenue.

As Loyola’s Charlie Marshall so concisely sums it up, “There’s definitely going to be an increase on campus and off (in electrical vehicles).  The technology increase is going to gain traction.”  Knowing this and observing press’ reporting on the increase of the EV trend, it would be a wise move to jump on the “innovative electrical changing station train” before being pushed off the tracks for waiting too long to enter the market… a market that provides an essential service needed by communities and EV drivers.

Statistics prove that home burglaries increase during the summer.  The warm weather draws everyone outside more, and people are more likely to leave their doors and windows open or forget to lock them when closing them.  This time of year owning a security system is more important than ever; in fact, a study by Temple University showed that homes without security systems are three times more likely to be burglarized than a home with a security system.

Every home is unique and there is no “one size fits all” security system, so it is important to partner with a company that can design a custom system that will fit your specific needs.  It is recommended that you interview no less than three security companies before making a decision on which company is right for your family.

Once your security system is installed it is important that you are trained on the features and use of the system.  A security system is only part of your overall plan to protect you and your family.  You still need to make sure to lock all doors and windows before leaving, make sure to stop newspaper and mail delivery if you’re leaving for an extended time, and have a friend or neighbor keep an eye on things while you are gone.

Finally make sure you advertise!  Yard signs and window stickers are a great way to let potential burglars know you have taken additional measures to protect your home and family, making it more likely they will move on to look for an easier target.  For more information see our page on security systems to find out what security system is best for your home and family.

Managing the parking operation at a public venue can be challenging, you need to be able to efficiently park cars and provide quality customer service while keeping control of your revenue.

Signature Controls Systems offers a variety of solutions to help you meet your goals, including ZipPark.

Some of the features and benefits of ZipPark include:

-Wireless parking and revenue control

-Option to pre-sell parking online with partners like Click and Park

- Handhelds that allow for payment by cash, credit card, & pre-pay; as well as printing receipts on demand

-Real-Time credit card processing in the lane

-Integration with Facility Management Software

ZipPark is completely customizable to to fit your specific application, and is a great ROI solution to reduce your payroll.

For more information on ZipPark, or any of our other technology solutions for parking, please visit our parking and revenue page.