Category: Building Controls

Expert Q&A: What Will It Take to Make Net-Zero Buildings a Reality?

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. […]

Does AI Represent a New Era for Facilities Management?

“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 […]

Report: Top Workplace Challenges Include Tech Adaptation and Physical Security

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 […]

FMA Shorts: What Are the Top Benefits of Smart Building Technology?

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 […]

The Future of Smart Buildings: Trends and Tech for Facilities Managers

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

FMA Shorts: Should Facilities Managers Fear or Embrace the Rise of Technology?

On this latest episode of FMA Shorts, Camilla Yamada, director of special projects at UMC, discusses smart building technology with a focus on healthcare facilities. This clip was taken from a webinar titled “How Building Tech Is Improving the FM Industry.” The full session is available for FREE on-demand here.

Lessons in Sustainability: Three Universities Creating Green Campuses

Higher education plays a key role in how we address the challenges of climate change—not only in our scientific understanding of the cause and effect of carbon emissions, but also in how our built spaces can adapt. Because many college and university campuses feature historical (even outdated) infrastructure, many are taking opportunities to build new […]

Unlocking Efficiency: Navigating the Future with Facility Automation

The shift towards hybrid work has revolutionized workplace dynamics, prompting operational leaders to adapt swiftly. With this evolution, employees have presented diverse demands, compelling leaders to leverage workplace technology for precise metrics. This technological utilization is not solely for convenience; it has become integral for managing facilities and strategizing space allocation effectively. Interpreting these metrics […]