Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
The National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) has released its 2023 Social Equity in the Built Environment Workforce Survey. This latest survey, which was completed in partnership with Avenue M Group, takes the pulse on where things stand in the industry with regard to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). It covers more ground, including a […]
Facilities managers should understand the importance of meeting current building codes, both when constructing and when maintaining safe and sustainable facilities. This infographic offers key reasons why building codes matter, courtesy of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). To read more about building codes and how they are updated, be sure to check out “Back […]
These days, the majority of Americans are so averse to coming into contact with germs in public restrooms that they go out of their way to avoid surfaces and touchpoints in these shared spaces. According to the Healthy Handwashing Survey from Bradley Corp., 62% of Americans use a paper towel as a barrier to avoid […]
The sprawling campus of the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is dotted with buildings dedicated to the many sciences needed to power the country’s push toward clean energy. Researchers inside one building explore the dynamics of harnessing the sun for energy. Those in another are determining the best ways to convert […]
Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important, but possibly overlooked, information facilities management professionals should know. As the International Code Council (ICC) celebrates Building Safety Month in May, facilities professionals should understand the importance of constructing and maintaining safe and sustainable structures that follow constantly updated applicable building codes. These changes […]
On May 12, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed SB23-166, a new law establishing a Wildfire Resiliency Code Board to enhance building codes, bolster fire-resistant construction, and protect against wildfire risks in the state’s wildland-urban interface (WUI) areas. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and International Code Council strongly supported SB23-166 and have praised its passage, […]
A new survey reveals that while many U.S. businesses are embracing smart building technology to increase energy efficiency and lower costs, they may fall short of their goals due to an inability to master the data. Toggled, a building management solutions company and wholly owned subsidiary of Altair, recently surveyed more than 500 U.S. facility decision-makers throughout […]
I remember how the pay parking garage experience used to be. I’d have to press a button to get a ticket from a machine at the entrance and wait for the mechanical arm to go up. Then, I would drive up and down rows and floors looking for a spot. Some garages required me to […]
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a new report finding that nearly half of workplace accommodations made for people with disabilities can be implemented at no cost to employers, and of those that do incur a one-time cost, the median expenditure has decreased when compared to previous reports to only $300. According to the […]
We’ve seen emissions rebound after dropping during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Transport has the highest reliance on fossil fuels, accounting for 37% of CO2 emissions from end-use sectors in 2021, while building operations accounted for 27% of total energy sector emissions (8% direct emissions and 19% indirect emissions from electricity production and heat use). […]