Category: FM Perspectives

FM Perspectives provides a platform for leaders and change-makers of the facilities management community to share their thoughtful insights and opinions.

The $150 Billion Energy Waste Problem Buildings Are Ignoring

Editor’s note: FM Perspectives are industry op-eds. The views expressed are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of Facilities Management Advisor.  The residential and commercial building sector is the leading energy consumer in the U.S. economy, accounting for approximately 40% of the nation’s entire energy consumption and 35% of U.S. carbon emissions. What’s worse? The […]

Why Efficiency Must Lead the Response to AI’s Surging Energy and Water Demand

Editor’s note: FM Perspectives are industry op-eds. The views expressed are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of Facilities Management Advisor. As artificial intelligence (AI) accelerates the construction of data centers, utilities are rapidly investing in energy infrastructure, including new power generation, transmission lines, and grid upgrades, to keep pace with the surge in energy […]

The Emotional Labor of Facilities Management: The Hidden Work No One Talks About

Editor’s note: FM Perspectives are industry op-eds. The views expressed are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of Facilities Management Advisor.  Facilities management is often defined by its technical responsibilities—HVAC systems, electrical distribution, preventive maintenance, capital planning, compliance. But anyone who works in FM knows the job extends far beyond equipment and infrastructure. It’s people […]

The Building Systems Nobody’s Securing

Editor’s note: FM Perspectives are industry op-eds. The views expressed are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of Facilities Management Advisor. I was on a call with an operations director at a big ag plant. She’d been running the place for years, knew her equipment inside and out. Her question was one I hear in […]

Facilities Management Might Be the Most Overlooked Financial Lever in Your Business

Editor’s note: FM Perspectives are industry op-eds. The views expressed are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of Facilities Management Advisor.  In many organizations, facilities management (FM) is still viewed as a cost center. Something breaks. It gets repaired. The invoice gets paid. When budgets tighten, FM is often one of the first places company […]

Women’s Place IS in Facilities Management

Editor’s note: Originally published in 2025, this FM Perspectives op-ed is being reposted in honor of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day (observed March 8). 22: The percentage of women in the global FM labor force. 45: The average age of women in FM. These two pieces of data are from IFMA’s “Women in Facility Management: A […]

Cleaning Staff Retention Is Your Secret Weapon for Operational Excellence in 2026

Editor’s note: FM Perspectives are industry op-eds. The views expressed are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect those of Facilities Management Advisor. Ask facilities managers about their biggest operational challenges, and staffing consistently ranks near the top. Cleaning teams face unique pressures—and the consequences show up everywhere, from inconsistent cleanliness to rising costs to guest complaints. […]

3 Physical Security Predictions for Facilities in 2026

Editor’s note: FM Perspectives are industry op-eds. The views expressed are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect those of Facilities Management Advisor. Economic conditions don’t just change balance sheets—they change behaviors, operating rhythms, and the amount of “slack” organizations have to absorb disruption. That’s why I believe 2026 will be a year when facility security becomes […]

Navigating NYC’s Building Decarbonization Law: From Compliance to Reality

Editor’s note: FM Perspectives are industry op-eds. The views expressed are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect those of Facilities Management Advisor. New York City’s Local Law 97 (LL97) is often looked at as a hurdle for facilities managers and not as a strategic opportunity to improve for the future. As buildings over 25,000 square feet […]

Tapping into the Hidden Returns of Greener, Safer Cleaning

Editor’s note: FM Perspectives are industry op-eds. The views expressed are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of Facilities Management Advisor. Facilities managers are sitting on an untapped treasure trove: cleaning. By rethinking their cleaning practices, they could access higher returns on multiple fronts. Out of sight shouldn’t mean out of mind, and the microscopic […]