Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
Tuning in to employee feedback isn’t just an exercise in goodwill—it’s a powerhouse strategy to elevate performance, streamline operations, and ultimately, pad the bottom line. According to Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace: 2023 Report, employees not feeling engaged—or worse, being actively disengaged—is costing the workplace world a hefty $8.9 trillion. Employee engagement refers to […]
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has announced plans to invest $80 million from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into smart building technologies that will help reduce emissions, increase efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance comfort across an estimated 560 federal buildings. The GSA said the investments, impacting 49 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, […]
Light plays a critical role in our ability to see via day and night vision. But just as important, nonvisual receptors in the eye regulate our internal body clock, sleep patterns, and overall well-being. Traditional lighting design primarily focuses on visual comfort, ambiance, and task illumination. However, recent scientific studies and technological advancements have introduced […]
A new survey found that 36% of business leaders agree that artificial intelligence (AI) can be a useful crime-fighting tool, but only 7% have actually adopted it in their physical security strategy. While these numbers are better than in years past, it shows that AI still has awareness gains to be made before more organizations […]
The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) has released “Experts’ Assessment, Vol. 2: Future working environments and support functions toward 2030.” The in-depth analysis covers what the facility management (FM) industry has learned since IFMA’s first Experts’ Assessment study was conducted in 2020, as well as how changing organizational priorities are shaping the future of the built […]
Columbia University announced that it has achieved Fitwel certification for 600 W. 125th Street, its new 34-story building to house graduate students and faculty members on the southwest corner of 125th Street and Broadway in New York City. The building earned three stars—Fitwel’s highest standard—in Fitwel Version 2.1 Multifamily rating for its design, construction, and sustainability principles as well as its commitment to resident health and well-being. The […]
Triple-platinum status isn’t just for rock stars and rappers anymore! The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that its headquarters in Washington, D.C., has been awarded a prestigious triple Platinum certification in LEED, TRUE, and WELL. This trio of certifications reflects USGBC’s commitment to healthy, productive, sustainable, and responsible work environments. The new headquarters, which also houses Green Business Certification […]
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) intercepted 1,503 firearms at airport security checkpoints during the first quarter of 2024, which ended March 31. This total represents an average of 16.5 firearms per day, comparable to the same period in 2023. During both time periods, more than 93% of firearms were loaded. The number of airline passengers […]
The latest safety trend for construction workers may have been established by a New York City (NYC) law signed by Mayor Bill de Blasio in October 2017. Local Law 196 set forth new training requirements for employees at certain construction jobsites. The requirement—a minimum number of hours of training on specific safety subjects for workers […]
When upgrading a building’s envelope, facilities managers and designers should use materials created to protect aging structures while modernizing their visual aesthetics. The building enclosure separates the interior from the environment, shielding it from external elements. Most aging structures were created with outdated materials, decreasing their thermal efficiency and providing less protection. Metal panels may […]