Author: Joe Bebon, Editor

Green Building Groups Launch Coalition for Sustainable AI Data Centers

On Earth Day, nine of the world’s major built environment and sustainable finance organizations launched the Greening AI Data Centers Coalition (GADCC)—a new global initiative to set clear, credible standards for sustainable data center development as artificial intelligence (AI)-driven demand for computing power accelerates worldwide. According to the groups, the GADCC will develop transparent benchmarks […]

Skilled Trades Labor Shortage Reaches ‘Critical Inflection Point’

As the United States grapples with aging building stock and the need for infrastructure modernization, a critical workforce challenge threatens the commercial real estate sector’s ability to maintain, modernize, and operate the built environment. JLL’s latest skilled trades talent research reveals that by 2030, an estimated 2.1 million skilled trades positions for electricians, HVAC technicians, […]

Space Management Isn’t a Floor Plan Problem. It’s Bigger.

Facilities teams have invested heavily in booking platforms, occupancy sensors, and space-planning tools. Yet many organizations still face a common problem: empty desks reserved but never used, crowded collaboration areas midweek, and employees who bypass the system altogether. According to JLL’s Global State of Facilities Management Report, 38% of facilities leaders rank space utilization and […]

How Facilities Leadership Is Driving Food Waste Recovery at the College of Charleston

At many colleges and universities, sustainability goals are set at the institutional level, but execution often depends on one critical group: facilities management. At the College of Charleston in Charleston, S.C., that connection is on full display, where the facilities department is playing a central role in advancing a comprehensive food recovery program that is […]

The Evolution of Security Operations in High-Risk, High-Visibility Environments

If you’ve ever worked security at a stadium or festival, you know how those large-scale venues bring people together. The bad news, however, is that they also bring complex risks. The crowds are larger, so threats can appear faster. Our standby techniques, like gates and guards, can no longer get the job done on their […]

Walmart Launches Facility Services Business

Retail giant Walmart is getting into the facilities management business. The company has launched Upstream Facility Services, a new business that will offer the retailer’s in-house maintenance expertise to other companies nationwide. Leveraging the systems and scale that support thousands of Walmart and Sam’s Club locations, Upstream is designed for companies managing complex facility operations, especially […]

District Energy and Data Centers: A Strategic Partnership for the Future

Hyperscale data center growth is running headlong into real-world constraints—interconnection queues, transformer lead times, water stress, community scrutiny, and tightening climate policy. At the same time, the thermal profile of the data center sector is shifting decisively from air to liquid cooling, concentrating heat into a form far more useful than a plume of hot […]

OSHA Renews Heat Hazard Emphasis Program

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) renewed the agency’s Outdoor and Indoor Heat-Related Hazards National Emphasis Program (NEP) on April 10. OSHA updated its 2022 NEP to protect workers from outdoor and indoor heat-related hazards, directing agency resources to where they can have the greatest impact by focusing inspections and outreach on industries and workplaces where […]

5 Best Practices for Balancing Security and Data Privacy at Facilities

Modern facilities generate vast amounts of data through physical security systems. This includes video feeds, access control records, visitor logs, and license plate information, among others. For facilities managers, it’s an operational concern that affects risk management, compliance, and day-to-day decision-making. Responsibly protecting this data has become a core part of running safe, compliant, and […]

Beyond Compliance: How Skilled Electrical Contractors Meet NFPA 70B and Evolving Safety Standards

Nearly every modern facility relies on electrical systems, whether it’s a data center, manufacturing plant, school, hospital, or public infrastructure. In all cases, reliability, safety, and uptime are critical. That’s why NFPA 70B, which moved from a recommended practice to a mandatory standard in 2023, has become a focal point for facilities managers across industries. […]