Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
Federal safety inspectors found that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) endangered maintenance workers at its healthcare facility in Prescott, Ariz., by allowing them to work on steam lines without ensuring they followed required safety procedures. Similar hazards previously killed two workers at a VA facility in Connecticut. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety […]
Every facility needs to have an adequate fire prevention and preparedness strategy. This is especially true for facilities with warehouses on site, where facility managers need a unique strategy depending on the types of products or materials that are stored on site. These concerns were on attendees’ minds in the standing-room-only crowd for Tim Dietz’s […]
In honor of Net Zero Buildings Week June 13-17, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) highlighted a milestone reflecting the growing demand for net zero buildings: The organization announced nearly 100 net zero certifications have been earned under the LEED Zero program, representing more than 23 million square feet of space. One-fourth of LEED Zero […]
More office space will be removed from the U.S. market this year than added to it for the first time since at least 2018 and likely longer, providing another indicator of the market’s stabilization and nascent recovery, according to a new report from CBRE. CBRE’s analysis of office-market activity across the largest 58 U.S. markets […]
As facilities managers begin planning seasonal maintenance for chiller systems in preparation for spring, Goodway Technologies emphasizes the importance of conducting routine maintenance and cleaning procedures to ensure optimal performance. Regular chiller tube cleaning and maintenance not only increases operating efficiency, but also reduces energy costs, decreases downtime, and improves the overall performance of the […]
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released the 2022 Better Plants Progress Update, a report highlighting more than 270 manufacturers and water utilities who partner with DOE to increase energy and water efficiency. Collectively, these partners have saved $10.6 billion in energy costs, 2.2 quadrillion British thermal units (Btus) of energy, and more than 130 million […]
The start of a new year brings new resolutions—but for pests, the goal remains the same: finding warmth, shelter, and food inside homes and other buildings. With colder weather in full swing, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) is urging homeowners and businesses to prepare for an influx of rodents, cockroaches, and overwintering pests seeking […]
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $149.87 million for 67 energy conservation and clean energy projects at federal facilities across 28 U.S. states and territories and six international locations. Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the selected projects will advance the adoption of cleaner, more cost-effective technologies to slash the federal government’s carbon footprint […]
Thanks to recent innovation pairing mineral fiber ceiling panels with phase change material technology (PCM), architects, designers, facilities managers, and other key players in construction and renovation projects are rethinking the role ceilings play in supporting environmental objectives—especially energy savings. As a space warms—typically during the day when it is occupied or receives sunlight—the crystalized […]
Despite concerted efforts to reduce both serious injury and death on the job, workplace fatality rates in the United States have remained largely unchanged over the past three decades. To help reverse this devastating development and assist organizations on their safety journeys, the National Safety Council (NSC) recently released a white paper through its Work to […]