BS: dirty jobs

Subject: BS: dirty jobs
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 27 Oct 08 - 10:18 PM

In our local news: click -- and no Windex or detergents allowed:

The 6,500 windows over Biosphere 2's 3.14-acre laboratory get their first cleaning in 7 years.

By Lori Stiles, University Communications
October 27, 2008

It's a window-washing job unlike any other.

Window washers will complete the Herculean task of cleaning all 6,500 windows that enclose the Biosphere 2's 3.14-acre living laboratory the week of Oct. 27.

A crew of six window washers from the 5 Star Window Care company of Phoenix have been working from sun up to sun down for more than a week to clean the windows, which haven't been washed in seven years, said John Adams, assistant director of planning and facilities at The University of Arizona's Biosphere 2.

Once cloudy, opaque glass in the 91-foot tall, 7.2-million-cubic-foot steel-and-glass space frame structure now sparkles, both enhancing the appearance of the stunning dome and increasing the amount of sunlight that 3,000 species of plants inside need for photosynthesis.

Windows over the rainforest, savanna, wilderness and ocean biomes now shine. Windows over the desert biome are the last to be washed.

Washing is a 3-step process. The crew first uses a special detergent and water-feed poles that look something like long car-wash brushes to break through years of biological and mineral build-up. The next step is pressurized-water rinsing using water filtered by reverse osmosis to prevent water spots. The final step is power rinsing using deionized water.

Adams originally estimated that the window-washing job would take more than three weeks, but the crew is finishing in about two.


~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: BS: dirty jobs
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Oct 08 - 10:23 PM

What is going on out there these days? The ill-fated "Lost: Biosphere" (I conflate and exaggerate) experiments are all over, right?

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: dirty jobs
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 27 Oct 08 - 10:51 PM

After the questionable early experiments there, management was given over to Columbia University, who had combined goals of research, education, and public outreach, but after about 8 years decided it was too expensive. They built dorms and had a semester residential program for students, as well as opening it to the public. It was not maintained as an entirely sealed environment.

The original owners sold it to a development company that has had plans for homebuilding, etc. on some of the property, but currently it's under the management of the University of Arizona. The UA has similar plans to Columbia's, but it should probably have an easier time of managing it locally, instead of cross-country. Ed Bass, the original finiancier of the place is still involved, supporting the university's work.

Here's the UA web site: click.

I went on a tour a few years ago and it was pretty interesting. There are certainly an assortment of scientific projects that can be carried out there in its relatively controlled environment, without the requirement for things to be totally sealed.

~ Becky in Tucson
(and UA employee)

Subject: RE: BS: dirty jobs
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Oct 08 - 11:31 PM

What an incredible effort. That's over 1,000 windows per washer. Looks as though they did a great job, too!

Subject: RE: BS: dirty jobs
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 12:02 AM

Ed Bass is from here in Fort Worth. They build things smaller here in Texas, apparently. Part of the Fort Worth Zoo primate enclosure.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: dirty jobs
From: Dead Horse
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 06:07 AM

I got a bucket an' a shammy leather, but some bastard beat me to that contract.