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DOE Offers Public Schools $180M for Clean Energy Upgrades

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has opened applications for the 2024 Renew America’s Schools Prize, which will award $180 million for clean energy upgrades at public K-12 schools to lower costs and improve indoor air quality. Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this new round of funding builds on $178 million in grants awarded […]

Back to Basics: 7 Interior Places to Tackle for Spring Cleaning

Now that spring is here, most of us are looking forward to warmer weather. But first, it’s time for facility spring cleaning! Every facility has its own unique needs based on its type, whether it’s educational, governmental, commercial, industrial, or recreational. While some organizations contract out their cleaning work, other organizations leave it up to […]

Homeland Security Launches AI Roadmap and Pilot Projects

These days, it seems everyone is exploring the potential of AI—even our government. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced its first “Artificial Intelligence Roadmap” and three pilot projects that will deploy AI in specific mission areas. The announcement follows President Joe Biden’s 2023 executive order directing the federal government to help advance […]

Can Online Training Help Build and Retain Top-Notch Maintenance Teams?

It’s hard for a resource-strapped business to watch a once-eager new hire walk out the door. Yet, despite knowing the familiar pain of employee turnover all too well, most businesses consistently report ongoing challenges related to the training and retention of maintenance teams. To combat turnover of top performers, many companies strategically invest in training […]

UT Southern Plans Major Campus Security Upgrades

The University of Tennessee Southern has been awarded over $4 million by the state, part of a larger $6 million allocation to the University of Tennessee System for one-time investments aimed at enhancing safety and security across UT Southern’s main and east campuses in Pulaski, Tenn. This funding initiative comes in the wake of a […]

Unlocking the ROI of Preventive Maintenance

In the dynamic world of facilities management, where the challenge lies in maintaining peak operational conditions amidst budget constraints, the adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” becomes more than just a saying—it’s a necessity. As organizations strive for efficiency with limited resources, embracing a robust preventive maintenance program emerges as […]

EPA Names Most Energy-Efficient Manufacturing Plants of 2023

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized 103 U.S. manufacturing plants that earned the agency’s ENERGY STAR certification in 2023, a designation reserved for manufacturing plants in the top 25% of energy efficiency in their sector. Together, these facilities prevented more than 8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to the emissions from […]

Webinar Watch: FM NOW Sessions on Secure Buildings

On Wednesday, March 20, make sure to join your colleagues and expert panelists for our FM NOW: Secure Buildings virtual summit! The FREE event will include two back-to-back webinars covering active shooters and emergency panic buttons, helping you identify ways to incorporate best security practices into your facilities amid a heightened threat environment. Can’t make it to […]

The Need for Strong Wi-Fi Networks at Convention Centers

Convention center Wi-Fi networks must support tens of thousands of wireless devices and a multitude of technologies. The hundreds of venues in the United States typically accommodate several thousand attendees, whether they are there for a business conference, cheer competition, fishing expo, or other major event. Why It Matters Modern convention centers and other large-scale […]

5 Benefits of Using Building Information Modeling in Facility Construction

Building information modeling (BIM), a digital representation of the physical and functional characteristics of a facility, creates a shared knowledge resource for information, making it easier for facilities managers to make decisions, according to the Whole Building Design Guide (WBDG). The WBDG notes that while some might think of BIM as just 3D modeling and […]