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energy efficiency

EPA Reveals Top Cities for ENERGY STAR-Certified Buildings

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revealed its annual “Top Cities” list, spotlighting the cities with the greatest number of ENERGY STAR-certified commercial and multifamily buildings in 2023. Los Angeles leads the pack, with 876 ENERGY STAR-certified buildings. In second place is Washington, D.C., with 631 buildings, followed by New York in third place (390 […]

Expert Q&A: The Future of Sustainability in the Cleaning Industry

Cleaning is a key part of facilities management, providing a safe, healthy, and presentable space for facility occupants and visitors. At the recent ISSA trade show in Las Vegas, Steve Ashkin, president of The Ashkin Group and a leading voice for sustainability in the professional cleaning industry, was asked about the potential impact of the […]

washing hands

The Need for Speed: Paper Towels vs. Air Dryers in Restrooms

Two-thirds of consumers believe that drying their hands with 100% recycled fiber paper towels is more efficient and more effective than drying their hands with a jet air dryer with a HEPA filter, according to a new report from GP PRO. GP PRO, a division of Georgia-Pacific, recently conducted a survey of 500 consumers. Specifically, […]

Feds Issue Probe Update on Massive Fire, Toxic Plume at Georgia Facility

On Nov. 22, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released an update on its investigation into a Sept. 29 chemical reaction and toxic gas release at the Bio-Lab Inc., facility in Conyers, Georgia. The incident led to a massive fire and plume of toxic smoke that threatened the surrounding community and the metropolitan Atlanta […]

OSHA Cites Another Amazon Fulfillment Center for Ergonomic Hazards

A federal workplace safety investigation has again found workers at an Amazon fulfillment center exposed to ergonomic hazards, this time at a facility in Logan Township, N.J. In response to a complaint, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) opened an investigation in January 2023 and found the company was exposing employees to ergonomic hazards […]

TSA Caught Over 3,300 Firearms at Airports So Far This Year

On pace for another recording-breaking year, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) intercepted 3,251 firearms at airport security checkpoints during the first half of 2023, which ended June 30. The total represents an average 18 firearms per day at TSA checkpoints, and more than 92% of them were loaded. This is an increase from the first […]

Better Buildings Initiative Reaches $18.5 Billion in Energy Savings

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has published the “2023 Better Buildings Initiative Progress Report,” which summarizes the achievements of the DOE’s Better Buildings public- and private-sector partners since the initiative’s inception in 2011. The report shows that partnering entities, including more than 900 businesses, state and local governments, utilities, housing authorities, and other organizations, […]

The Importance of Reliable Energy Access for Facilities

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. Preparing reliable energy access for your facility can be essential if interruptions in power have big negative consequences. However, all types of facilities need to consider what effects a power outage would have—especially since […]

OSHA’s Next Move: Agency at Work on Permanent COVID-19 Safety Standard

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is moving forward with plans to issue a permanent rule aimed at requiring employees of large employers to either be vaccinated against COVID-19 or face weekly testing. OSHA announced on January 25 it is withdrawing the emergency temporary standard (ETS) it issued on November 5 and that […]

GSA Seeks Innovative Green Tech to Test in Federal Buildings

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), announced a new request for information (RFI) focused on enabling energy efficiency and decarbonization in commercial buildings, contributing to a more efficient electric infrastructure and improving resiliency and occupant health. This latest RFI comes shortly after the GSA selected 17 emerging […]