Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR program is celebrating over 25 years of achievements in lighting efficiency. The celebration comes as the ENERGY STAR label for most lighting is poised to sunset after a long, successful run and the recently enacted federal sales ban on incandescent bulbs. Since the ENERGY STAR label for […]
In recent years, facilities managers have been increasingly tasked with making their operations not only more efficient but also more environmentally friendly. One area that has garnered attention is the adoption of green cleaning products. Across multiple industries, there is a growing recognition of the benefits that come with this strategy—including a healthier workforce, cleaner […]
Carbon data management is an enterprise-wide effort, requiring the tracking of resources including energy, waste, and more. Facilities managers (FMs) play a crucial role in supporting an organization’s sustainability efforts. Working closely with carbon and sustainability teams within their organization and incorporating data-driven decarbonization strategies into day-to-day facility operations can simultaneously drive sustainability goals and operational […]
Facilities professionals involved with the new construction and renovation of commercial, industrial, educational, and governmental properties should be familiar with ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) and their importance. Understanding and using GFCIs can help protect against electrocution and reduce the chances of fires, overheating, and destruction of wire insulation. What Are GFCIs? According to the […]
While facilities professionals who work in the public and private sectors are tasked with ensuring their facilities are ready when disaster strikes, increasing amounts of greenhouse gas (GHGs) have resulted in more destructive and extremely hot weather, which greatly impacts residents and businesses. Specifically, these conditions can severely impact the power grid. Municipalities should therefore […]
The beauty of snow is one of the silver linings of cold winters in the northern U.S., but with sleet and ice added in, it may be a time when facilities managers put in more work. Snowfall may even sneak up on you in unexpected locales like it did on the Gulf Coast in January. […]
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has awarded $12 million in School Security Equipment Grants to 96 school divisions and 472 schools to help protect students, faculty and staff, and visitors. Virginia is one of many states throughout the country, including Pennsylvania, New York, Louisiana, and Missouri, that have invested millions of dollars into school security amid rising concerns about safety. “Every child […]
Groundbreaking legislation, called Local Law 97, which was enacted in 2019, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in New York City by reducing the carbon impact of the city’s largest buildings is expected to encourage building owners to work more closely with facilities professionals for compliance. According to Urban Green Council, the law is […]
On April 12, the Biden administration finalized congressionally mandated energy efficiency standards for the most common residential and commercial lightbulbs. The standards will go into effect in July 2028 for newly produced bulbs. Over 30 years, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) projects the standards will save Americans more than $27 billion on their utility bills […]
American industries are facing growing pressure to modernize production methods and improve energy efficiency without compromising the bottom line. Now more than ever, it is important to drive research, development, and pilot-scale demonstrations within industrial projects, with plans to bolster confidence in the buildings space for further adoption of net-zero practices. When combined with standards […]