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K-12 Schools Across America Switch to Solar Power

Schools throughout the U.S. are rapidly switching to solar power to meet their energy needs while gaining significant cost-savings, boosting climate resilience, and supporting workforce development, according to a new report from clean energy nonprofit Generation180. Over the past decade, the amount of solar capacity installed at K-12 schools has more than quadrupled nationwide. According to “Brighter […]

Under Construction: Top Facility Projects of August 2024

Facilities Management Advisor’s “Under Construction” series highlights some of the latest, most interesting facility project announcements every month. ‘Unprecedented’ Disney Expansion Loved by kids (and many joyous adults) across the world, Disney theme parks are about to get even bigger and better! Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro recently unveiled massive plans to build new attractions […]

California Indoor Heat Standard Goes Into Effect

California’s new Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment standard has become effective, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) announced July 24. The indoor heat standard applies to most indoor workplaces, such as manufacturing facilities, restaurants, and warehouses. In indoor workplaces where the temperature reaches 82 degrees Fahrenheit, employers must take steps to […]

The New Era of Office Security: Leveraging Technology for Safety and Efficiency

Today’s workplaces are always changing. With decentralized offices, increasing visitor numbers, and constant security worries, facilities managers have their hands full. Manual processes and old-school security systems just can’t keep up, leading to vulnerabilities and bottlenecks. Traditional tools create blind spots in data and security, limit space optimization, and hinder effective resource planning. Thankfully, technological […]

TSA Names 2024’s Cutest Bomb-Sniffing Dog

Give a big round of a-paws for Barni, an explosives detection canine at the San Francisco International Airport (SFO)! He has been named the winner of the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) 2024 Cutest Canine Contest. The agency uses the annual contest to highlight the important role of security canines. Last week, the TSA held its […]

EPA Funds $34M to Improve Indoor Air Quality at Schools

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has selected five groups to receive $34 million in grants for projects helping address indoor air pollution in K-12 schools in low-income, disadvantaged, and Tribal communities across the country. This announcement comes after the agency revealed $26 million in funding to protect children from lead in drinking water at schools […]

Back to Basics: How to Keep Parking Garages Secure

Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important but possibly overlooked information facilities management professionals should know.  Facilities management and security professionals whose facilities include parking garages should take steps to increase the security of these structures, which have their own unique challenges. Many busy facilities have parking garages because more vehicles can be […]

Faces of Facilities: Melissa Grimes from ESFM

Melissa Grimes serves as a regional vice president at ESFM, the corporate facilities management division of Compass Group USA. In her role, she supports life science pharmaceuticals accounts with over 25 campuses across North America totaling more than 100 buildings. According to Grimes, her most important responsibility is contributing to the success of her team […]

Circle K Cashier Shooting Prompts OSHA Workplace Violence Fine

Convenience store chain Circle K faces a $16,131 Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fine after a store cashier in Orlando, Florida, suffered a serious gunshot injury, the agency announced August 14. OSHA inspectors learned that two unidentified men entered the Circle K location on Silver Star Road shortly after 1 a.m. on January 19, 2024; pointed firearms; […]

There’s Real Value in Water Efficiency

On July 29, 2024, Cal Water, the third largest water utility company in the country serving half-a-million customers in California, announced that it has helped its customers reduce their water bills by 20.5% in the last 15 years. This is compared to what they might have been charged without water conservation and water efficiency efforts […]