Tag: Indoor Air Quality

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 […]

Crypto.com Arena Scores Another WELL Healthy Building Certification

Crypto.com Arena, home of the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers, the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, and the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, has earned a healthy building certification from the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) for a second year in a row. Arena owner and operator AEG also secured new WELL certifications for the 7,100-seat Peacock Theater and its AEG […]

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 […]

DOE Offers $90M to Public Schools for Clean Energy Upgrades

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has opened applications for the 2025 Renew America’s Schools Prize, which will offer $90 million for facility upgrades that improve health, safety, and energy costs in K-12 public schools across America. Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this third round of funding builds on $178 million awarded in 2023 and […]

ASHRAE Releases Indoor Air Quality Guideline to Protect Against Wildfires

As wildfires and prescribed burns increasingly impact communities worldwide, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has published a new resource aimed at safeguarding indoor air quality (IAQ) during these events. ASHRAE Guideline 44-2024, Protecting Building Occupants From Smoke During Wildfire and Prescribed Burn Events, outlines best practices for building design, operation, and […]

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 […]