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Utility, School District Use Electric Buses to Send Power Back to the Grid

California utility San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) announced that it has successfully deployed an innovative technology that enables eight electric school buses to put electricity back on the power grid when needed, such as on hot summer days. A collaborative effort between SDG&E, the Cajon Valley Union School District, and locally based technology company […]

DOE Initiative Aims to Help Public Buildings Cut Energy Costs and Make Upgrades

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is opening enrollment for the Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC) Campaign, which will help public building owners pay for today’s building upgrades with tomorrow’s guaranteed energy savings. The ESPC Campaign is a voluntary initiative that engages and supports state and local governments, universities and colleges, school districts, hospitals, and other market stakeholders […]

U.S. Green Building Council Finalizes New LEED v5 Certification

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has officially launched LEED v5, the latest version of its flagship LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building certification program. The USGBC released the first draft of the highly anticipated update in late 2023. In 2024, the group held two public comment periods, receiving more than 7,000 […]

How Digital Contact Tracing Could Help Facility Managers Limit COVID Outbreaks

From implementing new cleaning and sanitization guidelines to dealing with labor shortages and supply chain issues, facility managers are handling more moving parts than ever before because of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the virus transforming communal areas into new opportunities for infections, facility managers have a newfound responsibility to protect the health and well-being of […]

Security Industry Confidence Remains High Going into 2024

The security industry is forecasting a strong 2024, according to the results from the Security Industry Association’s (SIA) latest Security Market Index. The report is a bimonthly measure of confidence that is based on a survey of industry leaders. The November-December edition of the Index asked how respondents are expecting their businesses to perform in the […]

As Airport Travel Soars, TSA Catches Nearly 3,300 Guns in First Half of 2024

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which has screened higher passenger volumes this summer and a record-breaking 3 million passengers on Sunday, July 7, intercepted 3,269 firearms at airport security checkpoints during the first half of 2024. The first half of the year ended June 30, and the total represents an average 19 firearms detected per […]

The Case for Integrating UV Phone Disinfection Systems in Public Spaces

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. It’s 2024 and we can safely say that public spaces are back—or, more accurately, the “public is back in spaces!” Though COVID and the flu season are in full effect, people have been back […]

Construction Worker wearing personal protective hearing protection in a high noise area.

The Impacts of Hearing Loss on Safety

Hearing loss is a common disability, affecting about 48 million people in the United States. The impacts of hearing loss on the workforce are far-reaching, and can result in lost productivity, lower wages, and increased safety risks.

Georgia College Earns Top LEED Green Building Certification

Agnes Scott College’s Main Hall—an iconic building that has served as the architectural centerpiece of the Decatur, Ga.-based college since 1891—has been certified LEED Platinum, the highest level in the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification rating system. Following a renovation project, Main Hall now joins Rebekah Scott Hall as the college’s second building […]

Workers in facility with masks and proper distancing

CDC Mask Guidance: Employers Should Not Overreact

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) announcement that people fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can shed their masks in many settings, including indoors, no doubt came as welcome news to mask-weary workers, but employers are warned not to relax rules too quickly.