Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released program guidance and opened applications for $400 million in formula funding to states and territories for adopting and implementing building energy codes that reduce utility bills, increase efficiency, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and make buildings more resilient to climate disasters. “A transition to a clean energy economy […]
With the upcoming primaries and the big general election in November, it’s never too early to prepare for security threats at polling places such as schools, community centers, and other facilities. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has released the Physical Security Checklist for Polling Locations, a new tool designed to bolster security preparedness for […]
California has some of the most complex and stringent building codes in the United States, primarily within Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations. These codes are designed to ensure public health, safety, and welfare, and they cover a wide range of building-related issues, including structural, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, energy efficiency, and accessibility. For […]
The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) and Texas-based developer Vesper Energy have cut the ribbon on the Gaucho Solar project. Built on 68 acres near Pittsburgh International Airport, the 20 megawatt project features about 55,000 panels and is one of the largest solar arrays in Western Pennsylvania. Through a power purchase agreement with Vesper Energy, the […]
A forthcoming proposed rule from the Biden administration will require contractors supplying goods and services to the federal government to disclose greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other climate-related risks. The rule follows similar requirements proposed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) related to the disclosure of climate change risks. The proposed changes to the Federal Acquisition Regulation […]
More than 2 million new jobs and up to 141 million additional job years can be created in Europe and the United States by adopting clean energy technologies in new and retrofitted buildings, according to a joint study from Schneider Electric and Boston University. The open-access paper, “Building a Green Future: Examining the Job Creation Potential of Electricity, Heating, […]
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized 103 U.S. manufacturing plants that earned the agency’s ENERGY STAR certification in 2023, a designation reserved for manufacturing plants in the top 25% of energy efficiency in their sector. Together, these facilities prevented more than 8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to the emissions from […]
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 […]
Summer may bring beautiful weather, but facility managers need to be extra vigilant when it comes to controlling workplace safety and health hazards that peak during the summer months, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Region 7 office in Kansas City, Missouri.
In downtown Tampa, Fla., officials celebrated completion of the Tampa Convention Center’s largest renovation project since the facility was built in 1990. The $44.5 million capital improvement project featured a 23,500-square-foot, two-story expansion, including 18 new waterfront rooms to provide flexible meeting and event space. Improvements were also made to the popular Tampa Riverwalk outside the […]