Tag: sustainability

Western Continues Shift from Fossil Fuels with Landscaping Equipment, Electric Vehicles

Caring for campus grounds has become a quieter experience and more comfortable for landscape services employees at Western University in Ontario, Canada, as the university works to eliminate gas-powered units on campus. Facilities Management has recently added two electric John Deere Gator utility vehicles (UTVs) to its landscape services fleet, replacing a carbon-intensive equipment truck […]

Unlocking Facility Capabilities with Emerging Technologies

In pursuing net-zero emissions by 2050, facilities managers must ensure that day-to-day operations are being run efficiently while simultaneously finding new solutions to support long-term goals. With buildings in the United States consuming about 40% of the country’s energy, facilities managers must look beyond their standard operational practices to forge a more sustainable future. Emerging […]

How California Can Slash Carbon from Building Materials

The carbon emissions associated with materials used in the built environment, referred to as “embodied carbon,” are estimated to contribute up to 11% of all global energy-related carbon emissions. According to a new report from sustainable development consultancy Arup, developed on behalf of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), California is one of the first states in […]

Hilton Adding 20,000 Tesla EV Chargers at North American Hotels

Beginning in early 2024, up to 20,000 Tesla Universal Wall Connectors are slated to be installed at 2,000 Hilton hotels in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, making Hilton’s planned electric vehicle (EV) charging network the largest of any hospitality company. This announcement follows the recent launch of Tesla’s Universal Wall Connector, a product designed to […]

Texas Instruments’ New Semiconductor Factory Achieves LEED Gold v4 Certification

Texas Instruments (TI) announced its new semiconductor wafer fabrication plant in Richardson, Texas, called RFAB2, achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification under version 4 (v4). According to the company, this designation makes RFAB2 the first wafer fab in the United States and the fourth in the world to achieve this more […]

College Boiler Plant Project Builds on Campus-Wide Energy Upgrades

The New York Power Authority (NYPA) has partnered with the City University of New York (CUNY) to implement a boiler plant upgrade at Bronx Community College that will improve the reliability of the campus’ heating system. The improvements directly support BuildSmart2025, a statewide energy efficiency program administered by NYPA, aimed at reducing energy usage in […]

Under Construction: Top Facility Projects of August 2023

Facilities Management Advisor’s “Under Construction” series highlights some of the latest, most interesting facility project announcements every month. LEED Platinum Warehouse Developers of the massive Bronx Logistics Center project in New York City have received a precertification letter from the U.S. Green Building Council designating the project with a LEED v4 Platinum rating, the highest […]

4 Values to Look for When Working with Green Construction Companies

Sustainable construction practices are becoming increasingly important as we work to combat climate change and build healthier spaces to live and work in. “Green construction” refers to the use of processes and materials that are environmentally responsible and resource efficient throughout the life cycle of a building project. As green building continues to grow in […]

Under Construction: University of New Brunswick’s Health and Social Innovation Facility

For our latest “Under Construction” profile, we take a look at a project up north in Canada! The University of New Brunswick (UNB) has partnered with architecture and design firm Solomon Cordwell Buenz (SCB) to build a new Health and Social Innovation Centre at the university’s Saint John campus. To learn more about the project, […]

How to Evaluate the Upfront Costs of Green Buildings Against Long-Term Returns

When we think about green buildings, we imagine clean-cut modern designs, spacious aired lobbies, solar panels installed on rooftops, large windows, and vertical gardens. But the hard truth is that what makes a building green is not just its final look. The World Green Building Council explains that buildings account for 39% of global energy-related […]