Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
In Massachusetts, the Baker-Polito administration recently announced investments totaling more than $120 million to four public colleges and universities to renovate and expand campus facilities that further students’ skills in STEM fields. An additional $400 million will be invested over the next five years for critical building infrastructure. Salem State University, Massasoit Community College, Springfield […]
Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important, but possibly overlooked, information facilities management professionals should know. Facility professionals looking to have the most energy-efficient facilities should consider purchasing ENERGY STAR products and getting certified through the ENERGY STAR program. Sites eligible to participate in the program include manufacturing, industrial, commercial, and leased […]
In February 2020, the University of Pittsburgh announced its goal to go carbon neutral by 2037—13 years sooner than the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s call for global carbon neutrality. A new report, the Pitt Climate Action Plan, spells out how the university will achieve that goal through investments in clean energy, transportation, efficiency, and other areas. […]
As part of the new Biden-Harris Action Plan for Building Better School Infrastructure, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released a Request for Information (RFI) for a $500 million grant program from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for K-12 public school energy upgrades. According to the DOE, the program will help deliver cleaner and healthier classrooms, […]
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that 93 U.S. manufacturing plants earned the agency’s ENERGY STAR certification in 2021. ENERGY STAR-certified plants are verified to be among the most energy-efficient plants within their industries. Together, they prevented more than 5 million metric tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the industrial sector, which is […]
Fluorescent tube light bulbs, once embraced as an energy-efficient option, use “far more” energy than today’s LEDs and are now a “needless toxic health risk,” according to a new report published jointly by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), the Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP), CLASP, and the Clean Lighting Coalition. Laws and rules restricting the use of toxic mercury […]
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has opened the application process for airports to submit projects for the first $1 billion of the Airport Terminal Program funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The grant will fund safe, sustainable, and accessible airport terminals; on-airport rail access projects; and airport-owned airport traffic control towers. Projects may also include multimodal […]
Today, facility managers face challenges that can jeopardize profits, including volatile utility and operating costs. With geopolitical uncertainty and unprecedented climate events resulting in energy supply vulnerability and soaring energy prices, companies have increased pressure to make their businesses more resilient. For example, during the Texas Freeze of 2021, electricity prices surged to $9,000 per […]
The Biden administration is teaming up with states, cities, labor, and industry to launch the National Building Performance Standards Coalition, a first-of-its-kind partnership between 33 state and local governments dedicated to delivering cleaner, healthier, and more affordable buildings. President Joe Biden announced the new coalition during his remarks at the recent U.S. Conference of Mayors’ […]
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced the ranking of its annual Top 10 States for LEED, with Illinois once again topping the list and demonstrating leadership in green building. Illinois certified 3.16 square feet of building space per person under LEED in 2021. LEED is the world’s most widely used green building program and was created by […]