Category: Green Building

Building a Sustainable Future: The Power of FM in Environmental Responsibility

In today’s dynamic business environment, sustainability has transcended its status as a mere buzzword to become a crucial imperative. The mounting global environmental challenges call for a fundamental shift toward sustainable practices within the business sector. The consequences of overlooking sustainability are far-reaching, affecting not only ecological equilibrium but also the long-term viability and profitability […]

Allegiant Stadium Now Powered by 100% Renewable Energy

Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders, announced it has converted to 100% renewable energy in partnership with utility NV Energy. According to the announcement, the green energy supply deal means Allegiant is now the first NFL stadium powered exclusively by renewables. This milestone builds on the stadium’s previous sustainability efforts and comes on […]

Decarbonizing Buildings: The Big Rethink

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. Buildings represent more than 40% of U.S. carbon emissions, and natural-gas-fired HVAC, water heating, cooking, and other systems represent the largest fraction. With a growing profile of electric products entering the market, […]

Incorporating a Biophilic Design into Your Facilities

As more employees return to the office in a hybrid or fully in-office setting, it’s important for facilities professionals to work with building management on de-stressing the workplace by implementing biophilic design principles, which involves the use of nature in facility designs. During Facilities Management Advisor’s Healthy Buildings Week 2023, guest speaker Kelly Walowski, global […]

Former Surgeons General, Execs Issue Policy Prescription for Healthy Buildings

Organized by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), a group of renowned public health leaders issued an open letter to the nation’s policymakers titled “Buildings as a Prescription for Health.” The letter, signed by six former Surgeons General and six executives from top public health organizations, urges members of Congress, mayors, governors, and school superintendents to […]

U.S. Green Building Council Launches Draft Version of New LEED Certification

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) introduced a draft of its LEED v5 Operations and Maintenance (O+M) rating system for existing buildings. Buildings are responsible for around 40% of global energy-related carbon emissions, with 28% stemming from operational emissions, which include energy needed to heat, cool, and power them. LEED v5 is the newest version of LEED (Leadership in Energy and […]

DOE Offering $400M for States to Update Building Energy Codes

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released program guidance and opened applications for $400 million in formula funding to states and territories for adopting and implementing building energy codes that reduce utility bills, increase efficiency, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and make buildings more resilient to climate disasters. “A transition to a clean energy economy […]

EPA Names Top Green Power Partners of 2023

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the Green Power Leadership Award Winners for 2023, honoring five leading U.S. organizations in the agency’s Green Power Partnership program. This year’s awardees are Elevance Health, Hormel Foods, Palo Alto Networks, The Home Depot, and Truckee Meadows Community College. EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said, “Use of clean, […]

D.C. Convention Center Earns LEED Green Building Certification

The Walter E. Washington Convention Center, a 2.3 million square-foot facility in Washington, D.C., has been awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The convention center achieved LEED v4.1 Operations and Maintenance: Existing Buildings Gold certification for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions in […]

An Actionable Plan to Achieve Net Zero

How do we achieve net zero? This is a key question that facilities managers and other stakeholders are increasingly being required to ask themselves. The world is evolving, and a central piece in this evolution is the shift toward net-zero carbon emissions. This is a marked shift from 10 years ago, when the focus was […]