Author: Chester Avey, Contributing Writer

Choosing the Right Air Compression Solution for Facility Operations

Facilities managers who oversee industrial, manufacturing, or workshop environments have numerous responsibilities to preserve the safety of their workforce and the stability of their infrastructure. One of those duties may extend to selecting a fit-for-purpose air compression system, a critical component of facility robustness and efficiency.  Air compression systems serve as the proverbial backbone of […]

Ahead of Holiday Shopping Season, Retail Workers Worry About Their Safety

A majority of U.S. retail workers (57%) report feeling unsafe going into the peak holiday shopping season, according to Motorola Solutions’ second annual U.S. Retail Worker Safety Report. This is understandable, as many of the 1,000+ retail managers and staff surveyed said they have experienced increases in various forms of crime in the last year, and […]

Building Envelope Upgrade: Can Metal Panels Breathe New Life into Aging Buildings?

When upgrading a building’s envelope, facilities managers and designers should use materials created to protect aging structures while modernizing their visual aesthetics. The building enclosure separates the interior from the environment, shielding it from external elements. Most aging structures were created with outdated materials, decreasing their thermal efficiency and providing less protection. Metal panels may […]

Expert Q&A: Controversial Return-to-Office Mandates and the Future of Work

Return-to-office (RTO) mandates have become a hot topic, with major corporations like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Dell insisting employees work on-site. However, Amazon’s hardline policy on returning to the office or else is being met with resistance, and other companies are considering their options. In a recent Q&A released by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s Haslam College of Business, Tim […]

EPA Celebrates $34M in Grants to Improve Indoor Air Quality in Schools

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) celebrated $34 million in Inflation Reduction Act grants awarded to five organizations to help school districts across the country improve indoor air quality (IAQ). EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz recently joined the grantees at Horatio B. Hackett School in Philadelphia to congratulate them on their awards, underscore the importance of IAQ, and highlight previous school efforts. “EPA is proud to […]

Niagara University Completes Major Solar Project

Niagara University, a private Catholic university in New York, recently powered up a 17-acre state-of-the-art solar array on its Lewiston campus. The $6.2 million, four-megawatt project, completed in partnership with Montante Solar and Pivot Energy, features 7,500 bifacial solar panels, mounted on a smart “tracker” racking that follows the sun throughout the day to maximize […]

Summer’s Over, but Preparations for Climate-Related Heat Safety Can’t Stop

Summer 2024 was the hottest on record—and most of the United States grappled with dangerously high temperatures throughout July and August. The country has cooled down since then. But this summer’s extreme heat was a warning sign. Earth is only getting hotter, and we’re likely to see increasingly dangerous temperatures that could put your employees at […]

Trump Wins: Security, Construction, and Clean Energy Groups React

The 2024 presidential election is over, with Donald Trump emerging as the clear winner and heading back to the White House next year. But what does a new Trump presidency mean for facilities management (FM) and related industries that impact FM, including the security, construction, and clean energy sectors? Only time will tell. Meanwhile, leaders […]

Exploring the Long-Tail Cost Savings from Switching to Green Cleaning Products

In recent years, facilities managers have been increasingly tasked with making their operations not only more efficient but also more environmentally friendly. One area that has garnered attention is the adoption of green cleaning products. Across multiple industries, there is a growing recognition of the benefits that come with this strategy—including a healthier workforce, cleaner […]

DHS Announces More Security Grants for Faith-Based and Nonprofit Groups

Amid a rise in hate crimes, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is offering $210 million more in Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) funds through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The grants are dedicated to helping protect faith-based institutions and nonprofit organizations against targeted attacks. According to the newly published Notice of Funding Opportunity […]