Category: Maintenance and Operations

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 […]

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 Most aging structures were created with outdated materials, decreasing their thermal efficiency and providing less protection.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 […]

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 […]

FMA Shorts: How Can Healthcare Facilities Benefit from Smart Building Tech?

On this latest episode of FMA Shorts, Camilla Yamada, director of special projects at UMC, explores the myriad benefits of smart building technology in healthcare facilities. This clip was taken from a webinar titled “How Building Tech Is Improving the FM Industry.” The full session is available for FREE on-demand here.

Back to Basics: Combatting Winter Respiratory Disease Season with Indoor Air Quality

Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important but possibly overlooked information facilities management professionals should know. Now that fall has arrived, are you ready for this year’s winter respiratory disease season? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predicts that COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections will lead to a […]

DOE Announces $150M to Advance Net-Zero Projects at Federal Facilities

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $149.87 million for 67 energy conservation and clean energy projects at federal facilities across 28 U.S. states and territories and six international locations. Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the selected projects will advance the adoption of cleaner, more cost-effective technologies to slash the federal government’s carbon footprint […]