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Liberty University Fined Record $14M over Campus Safety Law Violations

The U.S. Department of Education is imposing a $14 million fine under a settlement agreement with Liberty University for violations of the Clery Act, including issues regarding the school’s published crime statistics and treatment of sexual assault survivors. This is the largest fine ever imposed for violating the federal law, officially named the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security […]

Make Your Facility GFCI-Compliant for Safety’s Sake

Facilities professionals involved with the new construction and renovation of commercial, industrial, educational, and governmental properties should be familiar with ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) and their importance. Understanding and using GFCIs can help protect against electrocution and reduce the chances of fires, overheating, and destruction of wire insulation.   What Are GFCIs? According to the […]

4 Ways to Transform Facilities into Pet-Friendly Workplaces

Facilities professionals whose human resources (HR) departments have pet-friendly policies should retrofit their buildings to make them more accommodating for felines, canines, and their owners. Owners Miss Their Pets The trend toward more pet-friendly workplaces comes after more than 23 million American households acquired a cat or dog between March 2020 and May 2021, during […]

Green Building Groups Launch Global Alliance on Sustainable Finance

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), and U.K.-based Building Research Establishment (BRE) announced an alliance to help unlock the sustainable finance needed for the built environment to play its role in meeting global climate goals. According to the green building certification groups, the international alliance will work to ensure investors, property owners, […]

Advantages and Challenges of Green Roofs

Green roofs, also known as rooftop gardens, are planted over a waterproofing membrane and cover a facility’s roof with vegetation. Facilities managers should consider green roofs for stormwater management and energy savings, as well as to provide rooftop gardens, educational spaces, and urban food production. Facilities managers should also consider incorporating green roofs into new […]

DOE Offers $90 Million to Boost Adoption of Building Energy Codes

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $90 million in funding to support building energy code adoption, training, and technical assistance at the state and local level. The DOE estimates that, from 2010 through 2040, energy codes will have saved homes and businesses $182 billion on utility bills and prevented as much carbon dioxide from reaching […]

Physical Security’s Secret Weapon: How AI Is Protecting Facilities

It’s nearly impossible to talk about technology these days without mentioning artificial intelligence (AI). Most people are familiar with generative AI tools including ChatGPT, Google Bard, and Microsoft Copilot. These companies incorporate the power of AI into the software we use every day. But did you know AI is also hard at work behind the […]

EPA Announces $3 Billion to Help U.S. Ports Cut Emissions

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched the $3 billion Clean Ports Program to fund zero-emission equipment, infrastructure, and climate planning at U.S. ports. According to the EPA, the program is designed to help ports across the country transition to fully zero-emissions operations—serving as a catalyst for transformational change across the freight sector. The funding opportunities were […]

Was the Hertz Decision the Death Knell for the EV Revolution?

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. Recently, car rental powerhouse Hertz decided to dump about 20,000 electric vehicles (EVs) from its fleet of rental vehicles. This decision came only two short years after the company made a deal with Tesla […]

Under Construction: Top Facility Projects of February 2024

Facilities Management Advisor’s “Under Construction” series highlights some of the latest, most interesting facility project announcements every month. More Room for Largest HBCU During Black History Month, there were several notable facility projects that honor and benefit the Black community. The list includes the reconstruction of a 1738 fort; plans for a new Jackie Robinson […]