Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
Just as the autumn air turns chilly and colder temperatures become the norm, the ramp-up of the holiday shopping season brings ever-larger crowds of people into shopping centers and outlet malls. For facilities managers, ensuring consistent comfort across high-traffic areas is a top priority. In some cases, it can also be a major challenge. While […]
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced its annual “Top Cities” list, spotlighting the cities with the greatest number of ENERGY STAR certified commercial and multifamily buildings in 2021. Los Angeles leads with nearly 650 ENERGY STAR certified buildings. Close behind is Washington, D.C., with nearly 500 buildings, followed by Atlanta in third place. […]
COVID-19 brought wellness to the forefront of everyone’s minds, and as infection numbers are yet again going up, many facilities managers are looking for ways to make their facilities healthier by becoming WELL-certified through the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). Angela Spangler, senior director of global market development for IWBI, was the speaker for the […]
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released the Fall 2021 Better Buildings, Better Plants progress update. The report highlights more than 250 manufacturers and water utilities that have introduced energy efficiency and decarbonization measures, cumulatively saving $9.3 billion in energy costs and 1.9 quadrillion British thermal units (Btus)—more energy than the state of Wisconsin consumes […]
Four years following the pandemic, a new survey from JLL finds that hybrid working is now the most common workstyle globally, with 87% of organizations operating with a hybrid program today. Hybrid work has proven to have a lasting impact and is “here to stay,” according to JLL’s new 2024 Global Occupancy Planning Benchmarking Report. The […]
Regardless of whether former President Donald Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris wins the presidential election in November, a coalition of green building advocates is calling on the next administration to help address several commercial real estate (CRE) challenges. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), New Buildings Institute (NBI), Institute for Market Transformation (IMT), and Carbon Leadership Forum (CLF) partnered to release a […]
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 […]
Many building owners and managers realized when the COVID-19 pandemic arrived that they were not well versed in the rudiments of cleaning and disinfecting. In fact, many believed the two were the same, even interchangeable. That is not the case. In some instances, steps were taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 that later proved […]
The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) has announced its member-elected executive committee and appointed members of its global board of directors for the 2023-24 fiscal year. Led by Chair Dean Stanberry, CFM, SFP, who begins his term July 1, the board will concentrate efforts on ensuring facility management professionals worldwide have the resources and support to advance […]
Building drawings and facility information have long been undervalued, often relegated to storage rooms or legacy systems, considered a necessary cost rather than a strategic asset. However, this information is far more than a historical archive. It is the foundation for ongoing operations, informed decision making, and long-term resilience. As buildings age and evolve, the […]