Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
As previously announced, the HCI organization has made the difficult decision to discontinue Facilities Management Advisor, effective Oct. 1, 2026. Therefore, this is FMA‘s final post. As the editor, I’ve been tasked with writing a farewell on behalf of our FMA team. But how does one say goodbye to a long-running publication, countless collaborators, and […]
Sustainability in facilities management is no longer defined solely by operational practices. Increasingly, organizations are evaluating not only the environmental impact of the products they bring into their buildings, but also how those products perform throughout the course of their life. For facilities managers, this shift means evaluating products not only for their upfront cost, […]
When something goes wrong in a building, the facilities team isn’t always the first to know. Often, it’s an administrative assistant, business services officer, executive assistant, or local office employee who sees the problem first. They hear an alarm. They discover a leak. They know employees can’t get through a door or that a scheduled […]
When facilities managers look for operational savings, they typically focus on HVAC systems, lighting, water usage, and preventive maintenance. These systems generate continuous streams of data, making it easier to identify inefficiencies and measure improvements over time. Commercial kitchens, however, have historically operated with far less operational visibility, despite being among the most resource-intensive spaces […]
Editor’s note: This is the second article in a two-part series. The first article is available here. Part I of this series covered water management regulations and infection prevention at senior living communities, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes. In addition to controlling pathogens and reducing the risk of infections in showers and other points-of-use, […]
A commercial restroom renovation can improve water efficiency, reduce maintenance, increase durability, support accessibility, and create a better experience for building occupants—especially when upgrades involve multiple restrooms. When one large office building planned renovations for 30 restrooms, the facilities manager consulted Klaus Reichardt, CEO and founder of Waterless Co. Inc., for recommendations on making the […]
Facilities managers are feeling increasing pressure to limit operational expenses and maintain aging buildings efficiently. Building information modeling (BIM) already serves as the digital underpinning for facility life cycle management. BIM, coupled with artificial intelligence (AI), is a more responsive technology that can analyze building data and support smarter decision-making. Why BIM Is Ready for […]
A large office complex recently issued a request for bids for filter maintenance. The scope called for 2,100 filter changes twice a year. When the facilities manager ran the numbers, he realized the program consumed roughly 400 labor hours annually. By optimizing the filter specifications and maintenance strategy, he determined he could cut that in […]
More than 10,800 K-12 schools representing 7+ million students across the United States now use solar energy, helping schools lower electricity costs, invest more resources in students, and strengthen their communities, according to a new report from clean energy nonprofit Generation180. The sixth edition of Brighter Future: The State of Solar & Battery Storage in U.S. […]
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 commercial buildings, the HVAC system is not broken. The plant runs. Occupants are mostly comfortable. The building automation system (BAS) shows no obvious crisis. However, the utility bill may still be higher […]