Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
School custodians play a vital role in creating a successful learning environment—inside and outside the classroom. However, their extensive schedules and strenuous duties often go unnoticed. To honor exceptional school custodians, Cintas Corp. has launched its 12th annual Custodian of the Year contest and is seeking nominations from the public through Feb. 7. “Beyond cleaning and maintenance, […]
In 2022, the Biden administration announced the first Federal Building Performance Standard, a set of steps aimed at reducing energy consumption and electrifying equipment and appliances in federal buildings by 2030. While this plan represents significant strides toward sustainability, the path to carbon neutrality remains less defined. As climate change drives devastating global risks, including […]
As devastating wildfires continue to impact businesses, schools, and the community at large in Los Angeles County, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) is reminding employers to protect workers from unhealthy air due to wildfire smoke. Several fires are impacting air quality in the region. Businesses and workers should refer to the California […]
A new survey found that 36% of business leaders agree that artificial intelligence (AI) can be a useful crime-fighting tool, but only 7% have actually adopted it in their physical security strategy. While these numbers are better than in years past, it shows that AI still has awareness gains to be made before more organizations […]
Every day, retailers across the United States contend with a staggering number of security challenges—ranging from theft and disturbances to loitering—that threaten their operations, employees, and customers. With millions of transactions and customers daily, maintaining a safe environment for employees and shoppers is a complex and critical endeavor. Interface Systems’ 2024 State of Remote Video […]
Calvert County Public Schools in Maryland announced that its new Beach Elementary School building has been awarded LEED Silver status in recognition of the sustainable practices used during construction. LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and is among the most widely used green building […]
The power demands of artificial intelligence (AI) are growing exponentially, with no signs of slowing down. The International Energy Agency (IEA) suggests that by 2026, power consumption related to AI, cryptocurrency, and the data centers necessary to power our increasingly automated world could double. AI-driven demand is only one cause of rising energy prices. Power […]
Fatal workplace injuries declined 3.7% in 2023, the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) announced with the mid-December release of its Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). There were 5,283 fatal work injuries recorded in the United States in 2023. The fatal work injury rate was 3.5 fatalities per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers—down […]
Like many industries, facilities management has traditionally relied on labor-intensive tasks, where reactive responses to issues make up the bulk of the work. When it comes to managing maintenance schedules or tracking equipment performance, various inefficiencies and downtime can occur, which is where artificial intelligence (AI) agents can be impactful. Recently, a survey from Forbes […]
Wilkes County Schools (WCS) has become the first school district in Georgia with an all-green school bus fleet, serving its 25 daily bus routes exclusively with zero- and ultra-low-emission buses. Blue Bird Corp. recently delivered five electric and 12 propane-powered school buses to the district. WCS said its new fleet will significantly improve air quality for students and […]