Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
Wasted energy literally means money out the door of your business—and ultimately lower profitability. In addition, there is a strong correlation between the comfort of your space and an efficient HVAC system, which is another reason to focus on this often overlooked topic.
In the facilities management and commercial real estate sectors, the disconnect between building owners and tenants can slow the switch to energy efficiency. According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star® program, a significant portion of a building’s energy use is under the direct or indirect control of the occupants.
Facility managers have a critical role to play in energy management at their properties. They are expected to not simply save money on utilities, but maintain critical systems and find ways to extend the life of those systems. Oh, and you need to make all of that happen with your already limited budget and staff.
What if an inexpensive, simple fix could improve productivity, control ergonomic hazards, enhance security, and reduce accidental injuries in your workplace? You would look into that immediately, right? Here’s some good news: Proper workplace illumination can accomplish all of those things, and chances are, much of what you need is probably already present in your […]
The Blue Valley School District (BVSD) in Overland Park, Kansas, in 2006 became the first US school district to receive the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Tool for Schools National Model of Sustained Excellence Award for its efforts to improve IAQ and energy efficiency. But the BVSD actually began its program in […]
Since humans first appeared on the planet, our lives have been heavily dictated by the natural rhythms of the day/night cycle. The ability to control fire allowed our ancestors to extend certain daytime and work activities into the evening, but it wasn’t until the invention of modern electrical lighting that people were able to shift […]
Three words have always been considered the keys to real estate success: location, location, location. While location is still important, two new words, energy efficiency, have become essential as well, not only to property owners but to tenants too. Energy efficient buildings not only save money, they also support corporate sustainability programs and can help […]
The electrical grid in the United States – including generation, transmission, and distribution – is based on alternating current (AC). However, an increasing number of devices required by modern life (e.g. computers, mobile devices, and LED lights) run on direct current (DC), requiring that the power be converted before it can be used. As it currently […]
Energy efficiency is one of the top concerns of facilities management professionals, and a recent proposal from the Department of Energy (DOE) may influence how lighting products are defined under certain regulations. The DOE is proposing to withdraw a rule issued in the final days of the Obama administration that expanded the definition of general […]
OSHA’s illumination standards for construction (29 CFR 1926.56) and shipyard employment (29 CFR 1915.82) set minimum lighting requirements in terms of foot-candles, a term that has been somewhat indistinct for employers and one that OSHA itself has acknowledged does not provide clear direction on how much light is needed for specific tasks.