Category: Heating and Cooling

How Digital Twins Can Help Optimize Empty or Underused Buildings

The U.S. office vacancy rate reached another all-time high in the second quarter of 2025 at 20.7%, as Moody’s recently reported. That’s the highest vacancy rate in three decades, ABC News reported, with more than 900 million square feet of empty office space—enough to fill New York City’s One World Trade Center 300 times. U.S. […]

As Americans Spend More Time Indoors, Air Quality Is Becoming a Building Essential

As buildings seal up for colder months and occupants spend more time indoors, indoor air quality (IAQ) is becoming harder to ignore. What was once treated as a background mechanical function is now shaping comfort, complaints, and confidence in shared spaces. For facilities managers, this shift presents a growing challenge. People are making decisions about […]

American Lung Association Outlines State Policies to Boost Indoor Air Quality in Schools

Indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools is a critical but unevenly addressed public health issue. Poor IAQ negatively impacts asthma, absenteeism, and learning outcomes. However, state laws addressing school IAQ vary widely. To help move states toward comprehensive protections, the American Lung Association has released a new report, “A Win-Win for Lung Health: How Policies […]

12 Facilities Management Certifications to Help You Stand Out in 2026

New Year’s resolutions are a great opportunity to set professional goals. Are you looking to hone your facilities management skills, boost your career, or stand out in a competitive job market in 2026? Earning an industry certification can not only sharpen your FM expertise but also help you climb that company ladder or become a […]

Smart Surveillance, Real Results: How Sensors Are Changing Facilities Management

Facilities managers are used to wearing a dozen hats—problem-solver, safety officer, IT liaison, compliance expert. But today, that job’s gotten even tougher. Whether you’re running a school, hospital, office, or government building, your to-do list includes safety, air quality, compliance, and keeping everything running smoothly with fewer hands on deck. Video surveillance systems have long […]

Hotels in the Digital Age: Overcoming 9 Challenges of Smart Tech Adoption

Smart hotel development can be a worthwhile investment for facilities managers seeking to enhance the efficiency of their hotel. Automation and remote sensing improve experiences for both guests and staff. While the benefits are appealing, some challenges come with this new technology. Below are the most common challenges, along with viable solutions, to keep your […]

Facilities Management Advisor’s Top 10 Stories of 2025

‘Tis the season for “best-of” lists! As 2025 comes to a close, we at Facilities Management Advisor take a look back at some of our most-read (and -watched) content of the year. The top 10 list covers key industry trends ranging from office space and security to tech and workforce issues. 1. Preparing for Gen […]

Leveraging AI for Sustainable Building Management

The world’s climate clock is ticking, and the built environment stands at a crossroads. Buildings account for nearly 30% of global energy-related carbon emissions, making them both a challenge and an opportunity in the race to stave off the irreversible effects of climate change. At the same time, a new era is dawning, one where […]

Is Your Facility Winter-Ready? Best Practices for Protecting Key Assets 

The winter season presents facilities managers with a critical decision point. While basic winterization measures should be standard practice, a more sophisticated (and effective) approach is to create seasonal shutdown protocols that save organizations money and minimize structural risks. It’s a proactive shift that reimagines how facilities can operate in the colder months and against […]

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

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. 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 […]