Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
Facilities managers must feel like they’re balancing several seemingly conflicting pressures. Chief among them: budgets. Every dollar counts, and pressures on both the supply chain and labor markets leave little room for unexpected cost premiums. At the same time, the incentives for more energy and water efficiency—and the long-term bottom line benefits they can unlock—are […]
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has released its annual Top 10 list of U.S. states LEED-ing the way on green buildings, with Massachusetts taking the top spot in 2024. The USGBC ranking is based on LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified gross square footage per capita over the past year. The LEED rating system […]
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. The construction industry stands at a transformative juncture. After years of technological advancements in sectors such as energy, healthcare, and telecommunications, construction is finally getting the innovative lift it deserves. At the heart of […]
Calvert County Public Schools in Maryland announced that its new Beach Elementary School building has been awarded LEED Silver status in recognition of the sustainable practices used during construction. LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and is among the most widely used green building […]
Planning a major facility renovation or new build in 2025? The state of the construction industry could have an impact on your project. JLL’s new 2025 U.S. Construction Outlook details the opportunities, challenges, and key focus areas for the U.S. construction industry in the coming year, accounting for a rapidly shifting political and economic landscape in […]
When upgrading a building’s envelope, facilities managers and designers should use materials created to protect aging structures while modernizing their visual aesthetics. The building enclosure separates the interior from the environment, shielding it from external elements. Most aging structures were created with outdated materials, decreasing their thermal efficiency and providing less protection. Metal panels may […]
Facilities Management Advisor’s “Under Construction” series highlights some of the latest, most interesting facility project announcements every month. Mass Timber Government Facility As more companies and organizations embrace sustainability, there’s been a rise in green construction materials for facility projects. General contractor McCarthy + Barnsley, A Joint Venture, recently topped out the Brookhaven City Centre, […]
In all likelihood, you’ve noticed—and participated in—the shift toward green facility management over the recent years. One overlooked aspect of sustainability is keeping things green even before a facility starts being used. By ensuring new facilities are built with sustainable principles, they are better suited to fit in with existing infrastructure. While it can be […]
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 […]
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced it’s implementing a new label program to boost clean American manufacturing by helping federal purchasers and other buyers find and buy cleaner, more climate-friendly construction materials and products. “The label program is made possible by a $100 million investment in the Biden-Harris Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and aims […]