Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
As buildings seal up for colder months and occupants spend more time indoors, indoor air quality (IAQ) is becoming harder to ignore. What was once treated as a background mechanical function is now shaping comfort, complaints, and confidence in shared spaces. For facilities managers, this shift presents a growing challenge. People are making decisions about […]
Indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools is a critical but unevenly addressed public health issue. Poor IAQ negatively impacts asthma, absenteeism, and learning outcomes. However, state laws addressing school IAQ vary widely. To help move states toward comprehensive protections, the American Lung Association has released a new report, “A Win-Win for Lung Health: How Policies […]
Smart hotel development can be a worthwhile investment for facilities managers seeking to enhance the efficiency of their hotel. Automation and remote sensing improve experiences for both guests and staff. While the benefits are appealing, some challenges come with this new technology. Below are the most common challenges, along with viable solutions, to keep your […]
The world’s climate clock is ticking, and the built environment stands at a crossroads. Buildings account for nearly 30% of global energy-related carbon emissions, making them both a challenge and an opportunity in the race to stave off the irreversible effects of climate change. At the same time, a new era is dawning, one where […]
The winter season presents facilities managers with a critical decision point. While basic winterization measures should be standard practice, a more sophisticated (and effective) approach is to create seasonal shutdown protocols that save organizations money and minimize structural risks. It’s a proactive shift that reimagines how facilities can operate in the colder months and against […]
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. New York City’s Local Law 97 (LL97) is often looked at as a hurdle for facilities managers and not as a strategic opportunity to improve for the future. As buildings over 25,000 square feet […]
Hotel guest rooms are unoccupied around 60% of the time, even when rented. Heating or cooling to 100% occupancy, 100% of the time, equals approximately 40% energy waste. To lessen this waste, the hospitality industry is embracing occupancy-sensing smart thermostats, which allow the building management system to automatically adjust the temperature of unoccupied rooms. The […]
Amid rising electricity costs and a volatile macroeconomic environment, facilities managers and commercial building owners across the United States are seeking reliable, energy-efficient solutions that consistently support both employees and customers. One increasingly popular strategy is the installation of high-efficiency heat pump rooftop units (RTUs) to reduce energy consumption and improve overall building performance. Heat […]
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 […]
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. Last year, wildfires tore through vast areas of Los Angeles, prompting Mayor Karen Bass to introduce a waiver to exempt rebuilt structures and residences from the city’s all-electric building provision, citing the need to […]