Category: Maintenance and Operations

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 […]

5 Quick Tips to Prevent Frozen Pipes

As temperatures begin to drop across the country, Rainbow Restoration is urging property owners and managers to take immediate action to protect against the costly and disruptive effects of frozen pipes. Frozen pipes are one of the most common and expensive causes of winter property damage. When water inside pipes freezes, it expands and places extreme pressure […]

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 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 […]

From Spreadsheets to Smart Systems: The Future of Inventory Control in FM

Facilities managers have a storied history of relying on spreadsheets to keep track of tools, parts, and supplies. And that worked perfectly fine until buildings became more complex, maintenance demands multiplied, and the margin for error got slimmer and slimmer until nearly disappearing. Today, the migration toward automation is reimagining how facilities handle their inventory. […]

The Importance of Proper Cleaning for Your Office Holiday Parties

The holiday season is now fully underway, bringing with it a wave of corporate parties, cocktail hours, and family events. These celebrations are intended to offer a well-deserved break and revitalize hard-working employees. However, poor planning or inadequate preparation by cleaning teams can lead to unforeseen issues that quickly dampen the festive spirit. Cleaning personnel […]

The Louvre Heist: Security Lessons for All Types of Facilities

On Oct. 19, robbers pulled off a daring, midday heist at the storied Louvre in Paris, France. They made off with $102 million worth of crown jewels in a move reminiscent of a Hollywood blockbuster.  What many didn’t know at the time was that France’s court of auditors had urged the world-famous museum to hasten […]

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 […]

Will the ENERGY STAR Program Survive?

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin is reconsidering plans to end the ENERGY STAR program, the New York Times reports. Marked by its well-known bright blue trademark logo, the ENERGY STAR label signifies government endorsement of energy efficient appliances, electronics and homes. The program is a public-private partnership administrated by the EPA with assistance from the […]

N.J. Facility Faces $1 Million OSHA Fine After Fatality

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited a fresh-cut vegetable processing company for willfully and repeatedly violating safety requirements after a worker was fatally injured while cleaning and sanitizing a machine, the agency announced Nov. 24. The agency initiated an inspection into Taylor Farms New Jersey Inc. after being notified of a fatality […]