Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has announced plans to invest $80 million from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into smart building technologies that will help reduce emissions, increase efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance comfort across an estimated 560 federal buildings. The GSA said the investments, impacting 49 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, […]
The proliferation of technology is here to stay—and not just in the classroom. More and more K-12 schools around the country are embedding technology into their buildings, from smart HVAC systems that optimize energy usage to automated security protocols for student safety. This transition isn’t just about embracing the latest gadgets. It’s about fundamentally reshaping […]
On this latest episode of FMA Shorts, Phil Zito, CEO of Smart Buildings Academy and host of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, lists some top funding options for facility tech upgrades. This clip was taken from a webinar titled “Facilities 2.0: Thriving in an Era of Rising Operational Costs.” The full session is available for […]
Artificial intelligence (AI), particularly generative AI (GenAI), is quickly and quietly revolutionizing facilities management. More and more, facilities managers are harnessing AI for rapid, informed building operations decisions and leveraging GenAI to boost operational efficiency. Rooted in automation, AI’s potential to save thousands of working hours across an entire workforce has mass appeal, helping to […]
The University of Richmond’s Eco-Corridor, an 18-acre restoration, was an old road, previously ignored, a “place of possibility,” said Rob Andrejewski, the university’s director of sustainability. Opened in 2020, the project includes an extensive stream restoration, the planting of 25,000 grasses, shrubs, and trees, invasive species removal, new trails, plus picnic tables, a learning lab, […]
Did you know buildings account for a whopping 37% of all carbon emissions in the world? In order to combat climate change, countries have set a global goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, and in order to help save money and the planet, corporations and other organizations have set sustainability targets of their own. […]
“Everything, Everywhere, All at Once” is an award-winning movie that won several major industry awards last year. In today’s landscape, this movie title fittingly describes the widespread influence of artificial intelligence (AI) across numerous industries and job functions. AI is seemingly everywhere now, with one IEEE global report ranking it as the most critical global […]
Ninety-six percent of organizations are encouraging or mandating on-site work with some regularity, highlighting a significant shift back to physical workplaces, according to new research from Envoy. However, organizational leaders face challenges in measuring success and managing their workspaces. The research found that organizations often lack the data and technology to ensure physical security, optimize […]
On this latest episode of FMA Shorts, Melanie Danuser, director of education and training at the Smart Buildings Center, explores the many upsides of using high-tech solutions in facilities. This clip was taken from a webinar titled “Navigating the Future: Top Trends and Challenges for Creating Smart Buildings.” The full session is available for FREE […]
Smart technology has been on the rise in recent years. Data collected by Google shows that 61% of people now own a smart device like a virtual assistant, smartwatch, or smart TV. The trend towards increased smart-tech adoption applies to businesses, too. Google data shows that industry leaders are 1.5 times as likely to utilize […]