Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
On Sept. 27-29, thousands of industry professionals from across the globe converged on Denver for the International Facility Management Association’s (IFMA) World Workplace Conference and Expo. The event offered educational sessions, networking opportunities, and more. On the closing day, IFMA announced the recipients of the 2023 Awards of Excellence. The annual awards recognize exceptional contributions to […]
As a nation, our buildings will play a pivotal role in achieving our clean energy future. Buildings are where we live, work, and play—so it makes sense that we spend 90% of our time in buildings and that our buildings use a substantial amount of energy. Residential and commercial buildings are among the largest sources […]
Federal prosecutors have charged a Florida man and Maryland woman with conspiracy to destroy an energy facility. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) alleges that the defendants—Brandon Clint Russell, reportedly a neo-Nazi leader, and Sarah Beth Clendaniel—planned racially motivated attacks on multiple electrical substations in an effort to “completely destroy” the city of Baltimore. The […]
On March 31, Governor Andrew Cuomo took a breather from his “troubles” and signed the Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act of 2021. New York now joins its neighbors Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Jersey in allowing recreational cannabis for use by adults 21 years old and older. Citing “social justice” as a driving force, the governor’s […]
Held on June 20th, our FM NOW: Secure Buildings virtual summit covered critical topics for facility security, including system integration, live events, and active shooters. If you missed any of the webinars, here’s a rundown with key takeaways and links to FREE on-demand recordings. Opening Keynote | Design Development Considerations for Security Systems Integration Speaker: Frank Santamorena, […]
Business leaders are itching to solve the labor shortage puzzle—and for good reason. In critical trades like plumbing, HVAC, construction, and manufacturing, there’s been a 70% decline in labor force participation since the end of 2019 due to the aging workforce. Today, the average facility worker is 51 years old. As older employees retire, there […]
Every so often there’s a facility-related story that is too strange to ignore. This week, there were two. Since it’s Friday, let’s have a weird news roundup.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) compliance officers typically arrive without advance notice, which is enough to raise alarm bells in the minds of many employers. You might know why they’re there. Or you might not have any idea. Whatever the situation, step one should be to ask yourself: Should I demand the inspector come […]
Since 1970, Earth Day has provided an annual reminder of our responsibility to protect the planet. Though corporate pledges and sustainability standards are more common than ever, many businesses still view going green as a daunting, costly effort. Google Cloud’s latest Sustainability Survey reflects this contradiction. Though 96% of surveyed organizations say they have at […]
From surveys, we know that nearly 50% of U.S. consumers want to change their consumption habits to save the environment. In fact, one environmentally-focused survey found four out of five people describe themselves as likely to choose a brand that prioritizes environmental sustainability. This desire also impacts where employees want to work, as companies that […]