Category: Maintenance and Operations

USGBC: New Budget Law Undermines Green Building Policy

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. It wasn’t long ago that Republicans and Democrats in Congress overwhelmingly supported tax incentives and other economic carrots encouraging investment in homegrown energy industries to boost energy security and affordability. That bipartisan tradition ended […]

Top Issues on the Minds of Facilities Managers

Between the impacts of tariffs, return-to-office mandates, aging infrastructure, and an understaffed workforce, there is undoubtedly much on the minds of facilities managers right now. But which aspects of the job take up the most mental space? A new “Voice of the Facility Manager” report from MRI Software surveyed FMs to gauge top trends and […]

JLL Report: Workplace Strategies Shift as Hybrid Work Slows

In a dramatic swing that signals evolving corporate real estate (CRE) priorities, JLL’s 2025 Occupancy Planning Benchmark Report reveals portfolio optimization has surpassed cost-cutting as the primary focus for CRE leaders and office utilization has increased as organizations tighten policies on hybrid work. Improving space data accuracy and reporting; increasing employee presence on-site; and growing the use […]

IFMA Welcomes 2025-26 Global Board of Directors

The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) has announced the member-elected executive committee and appointees to the global board of directors for the 2025-26 fiscal year. Effective July 1, Christa Dodoo, CFM, FMP, CIWFM, CMQ-OE, begins her term as board chair. She is joined by First Vice Chair Luis R. Viña and Second Vice Chair Wayne […]

Navigating California Building Codes: Best Practices for Facilities Managers

California has some of the most complex and stringent building codes in the United States, primarily within Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations. These codes are designed to ensure public health, safety, and welfare, and they cover a wide range of building-related issues, including structural, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, energy efficiency, and accessibility. For […]

For Thermal Heating Upgrades, Don’t Wait Until Winter

For facilities managers, the systems used to generate and store heat tend to be all-important—at least amidst plunging temperatures and bleak winter elements. As soon as outside conditions turn warm, thermal heating systems are more easily placed out of sight and out of mind. The sunny days of spring and early summer are no time […]

ASHRAE Guideline 36 and Advanced Tech Propel Industrial HVAC Decarbonization

American industries are facing growing pressure to modernize production methods and improve energy efficiency without compromising the bottom line. Now more than ever, it is important to drive research, development, and pilot-scale demonstrations within industrial projects, with plans to bolster confidence in the buildings space for further adoption of net-zero practices. When combined with standards […]

How AI Can Help Facilities Combat Costly Water Leaks

Facilities managers know all too well the high cost of inefficiency—how anything from a lack of insulation to a poorly maintained HVAC system can lead to compounding utility costs. Inefficiency isn’t just about energy, though—it also encompasses water waste. And one of the most common sources of water waste is undetected, unaddressed leaking. Leaks can […]

Balancing Budget Constraints with Facility Needs in Schools

Across the United States, aging schools are in dire need of repair, and for many, patchwork maintenance is the only way to keep facilities operational as administrators and facilities managers balance limited budgets with pressing needs. School budgets are complex, and disparities in funding have become a topic of dispute in the state courts. The […]

Building Loyalty with Gen Z: The Engaged, Always-On Workforce

As scores of skilled trade workers age out of their careers and settle into retirement, the industry is taking a tumultuous turn. Even though the demand for construction and other skilled trade projects is steadily increasing, 41% of the current workforce is expected to retire in the next six years. These projections aren’t just trends, […]