Tag: IAQ

The Real Story of Wildfire Smoke and Why It Matters for Schools and Hospitals

Wildfires may burn in specific regions, but their smoke is a global problem. It drifts across state lines, national borders, and even oceans—turning a localized crisis into a worldwide public health issue. Schools and hospitals, where vulnerable populations spend extended periods, are particularly susceptible to the long-lasting effects of wildfire smoke. The Hidden Danger of […]

Under Construction: Top Facility Projects of March 2025

Facilities Management Advisor’s “Under Construction” series highlights some of the latest, most interesting facility project announcements every month. All-Electric Hospital Major healthcare provider Kaiser Permanente broke ground on an 18-acre, sustainable medical center located at the historic Railyards in downtown Sacramento, Calif. The new facility is expected to help boost the local economy and “bring […]

K-12 Teachers Are Worried About Classroom Air Quality

Teachers across the United States and Canada are deeply concerned about the quality of their classroom air and believe school districts must do more to address the issue. That’s according to the third annual Clean Air Survey of North American Educators from Fellowes. The study, which surveyed more than 1,200 K-12 teachers, underscores the critical role of clean air in […]

Ritz-Carlton Renovation Earns LEED Green Building Certification

Who says going green can’t be fancy and stylish? The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, a luxury resort on Florida’s Paradise Coast, has received LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for its Vanderbilt Tower. As one of the world’s most widely used green building rating systems, the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification underscores the resort’s […]

Top 10 States for LEED-Certified Green Buildings in 2024

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 […]

L’Oréal Earns Top LEED and WELL Certifications for Corporate Office

L’Oréal USA, the U.S. subsidiary of global beauty and cosmetics giant L’Oréal Groupe, announced its corporate office in El Segundo, Calif., has been awarded two LEED Platinum certifications and a WELL Platinum certification. This achievement marks the first time a L’Oréal building has received three platinum certifications (the highest level available) in sustainability and occupant […]

The Importance of Air Conditioning and Air Quality in a Workplace

It’s Monday morning in the summer. You shuffle into the office, your laptop’s fan kicking in to do its best impression of a struggling jet engine. The air feels thick, the windows are fogging, and the thermostat might as well be set to “uncomfortable.” Suddenly, the whole day feels heavier. It’s no secret—air quality and […]

EPA Celebrates $34M in Grants to Improve Indoor Air Quality in Schools

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) celebrated $34 million in Inflation Reduction Act grants awarded to five organizations to help school districts across the country improve indoor air quality (IAQ). EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz recently joined the grantees at Horatio B. Hackett School in Philadelphia to congratulate them on their awards, underscore the importance of IAQ, and highlight previous school efforts. “EPA is proud to […]

Back to Basics: Combatting Winter Respiratory Disease Season with Indoor Air Quality

Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important but possibly overlooked information facilities management professionals should know. Now that fall has arrived, are you ready for this year’s winter respiratory disease season? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predicts that COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections will lead to a […]

Pennsylvania Awards Schools $175M for Facility Improvements

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro announced that the Commonwealth Financing Authority has approved 208 investments in school projects, totaling $175 million, under the new Public School Facility Improvement Grant Program. Launched earlier this year as part of the 2023-24 state budget, the new program provides grants of up to $5 million to public school districts and career […]