Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has released its annual list of U.S. states leading the way on green buildings, and New York topped the list for the first time during a record-breaking year in 2023. The USGBC ranking is based on Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified gross square footage per capita over […]
While the open office was nearly killed by work-from-home policies during the COVID pandemic, the return-to-work movement is ushering in a rebound—making it clear that the open office isn’t dead, at least not yet. Despite decades of research finding that open office plans may be bad for companies, bad for workers, bad for health, and […]
Healthy buildings mean healthy people. A person’s environment has a major impact on mental and physical well-being, so it’s incumbent upon facilities managers to help protect building occupants and provide a positive experience. Join Facilities Management Advisor throughout Healthy Buildings Week 2023, Aug. 14-18, for FREE educational webinars and resources exploring the many tools available […]
North American tech companies, once the vanguard of workplace innovation, are still catching up to new work patterns. With average peak utilization not exceeding 34% in tech offices, up to $40 million in rent costs are wasted annually on underused space. That’s according to a new report from international design practice Hassell and workplace analytics company Density. The State […]
The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced an enforcement memorandum for a short-term increase in highly focused inspections directed at hospitals and skilled nursing care facilities that treat or handle COVID-19 patients. For two years, millions of the nation’s healthcare workers have been battling the coronavirus. Many have endangered […]
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced plans to use $975 million in Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding to upgrade federal buildings across the country with emerging and sustainable technologies. These plans are in line with President Joe Biden’s Executive Order 14057, which launched the Federal Sustainability Plan and charged the federal government to “lead by […]
As a new academic year begins, the Biden administration has issued a back-to-school fact sheet highlighting guidance and resources available to help protect students and staff from COVID-19 spread and keep schools safely open all year long. The fact sheet calls for vaccination, testing, and improved indoor air quality. It also notes actions the administration […]
During spring, businesses often find themselves confronted with the unpredictable nature of changing weather patterns. Recent forecasts have indicated a “Polar Coaster Spring,” marked by fluctuating temperatures and potential severe weather events. As the seasons transition, here are a few steps to help better prepare and protect your business, mitigating risks and ensuring continuity in […]
Energy use is a significant percentage of an airport’s operating costs—as much as 10-15% of these facilities’ entire operating budget. Upgrading to LED luminaires greatly reduces airports’ energy consumption because, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, they use up to 75% less energy than traditional luminaires. LED luminaires also reduce maintenance costs because they […]
Beep! Beep! What eliminates the carbon dioxide equivalent of 42 trees, and can be found zipping around the College of Southern Maryland’s (CSM) La Plata and Regional Hughesville campuses? It’s the college’s new Polaris GEM utility vehicles—a sign of things to come as CSM begins transitioning to a smaller, less gas-reliant fleet of vehicles. This […]