Tag: smart building

Why Facilities Managers Are Replacing Paper Visitor Logs with Smart Systems

A facilities manager’s day is full of urgent tasks. Managing the visitor log rarely feels urgent. But paper sign-in sheets create small costs that add up over time. First, lost records. Paper gets thrown away, coffee-stained, or torn. If an insurance adjuster asks for a thirty-day visitor history after an incident, a missing page becomes […]

Back to Basics: What to Know About Edge AI in Facilities Management

Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important, but possibly overlooked, information facilities management professionals should know. In facilities management, edge artificial intelligence (AI) can be transformative. Automating routine tasks and improving the accuracy of building data could streamline workflows and lower operational expenses. However, successful deployment requires management to understand what edge AI […]

World Refrigeration Day Highlights Growing Role of Intelligent Cooling

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has joined organizations, governments, and industry partners around the globe in recognizing World Refrigeration Day (WRD 2026) on June 26. This year’s theme, “Cool Intelligence,” showcases the innovation, expertise, and advanced technologies that are transforming refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump systems to operate more efficiently, […]

Twenty-Four Percent of Unoccupied Office Space Will Be Air Conditioned this Summer

That’s right, 24% of under or unoccupied office space will be blasting air conditioning for nobody this summer. At the end of each day, these same vacant, cooled spaces and unused bathrooms will be cleaned by the maintenance crew. The obvious contributing factors are summer vacations, hybrid schedules, and team outings. The less obvious and […]

5 Questions Facilities Managers Should Ask Before Trusting AI with HVAC Optimization

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.  Artificial intelligence (AI) is showing up in more conversations about HVAC energy savings. That is not surprising. Heating and cooling are expensive, controls data is increasingly available, and many buildings still have room for […]

Back to Basics: How Smart Sensors and AI Work Together

Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important, but possibly overlooked, information facilities management professionals should know. Smart buildings do much more than automate routine tasks. Today, facilities management teams can combine smart sensors with artificial intelligence (AI) to create workplaces that operate more efficiently, safely, and intelligently. This combination is known as the […]

Is Predictive Maintenance Reliable Enough to Be the Future of the FM Industry?

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.  For decades, facilities management leaders have attempted to bridge the gap between preventative and reactive maintenance—now, the rapid onset of new technologies gives providers vastly improved methods of detecting when systems may be at […]

The $150 Billion Energy Waste Problem Buildings Are Ignoring

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 residential and commercial building sector is the leading energy consumer in the U.S. economy, accounting for approximately 40% of the nation’s entire energy consumption and 35% of U.S. carbon emissions. What’s worse? The […]

Earth Day Tips for Making Facilities More Sustainable

Earth Day is a good reminder that facilities managers play an important role in managing environmental impact. Daily operational decisions can shape how sustainable a building is. Managers can use this holiday to develop a clear and practical plan to improve energy efficiency and support long-term environmental goals. Conduct a Facility-Wide Energy Audit An energy […]

Space Management Isn’t a Floor Plan Problem. It’s Bigger.

Facilities teams have invested heavily in booking platforms, occupancy sensors, and space-planning tools. Yet many organizations still face a common problem: empty desks reserved but never used, crowded collaboration areas midweek, and employees who bypass the system altogether. According to JLL’s Global State of Facilities Management Report, 38% of facilities leaders rank space utilization and […]