Category: Green Building

How California Can Slash Carbon from Building Materials

The carbon emissions associated with materials used in the built environment, referred to as “embodied carbon,” are estimated to contribute up to 11% of all global energy-related carbon emissions. According to a new report from sustainable development consultancy Arup, developed on behalf of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), California is one of the first states in […]

Hilton Adding 20,000 Tesla EV Chargers at North American Hotels

Beginning in early 2024, up to 20,000 Tesla Universal Wall Connectors are slated to be installed at 2,000 Hilton hotels in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, making Hilton’s planned electric vehicle (EV) charging network the largest of any hospitality company. This announcement follows the recent launch of Tesla’s Universal Wall Connector, a product designed to […]

Texas Instruments’ New Semiconductor Factory Achieves LEED Gold v4 Certification

Texas Instruments (TI) announced its new semiconductor wafer fabrication plant in Richardson, Texas, called RFAB2, achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification under version 4 (v4). According to the company, this designation makes RFAB2 the first wafer fab in the United States and the fourth in the world to achieve this more […]

4 Values to Look for When Working with Green Construction Companies

Sustainable construction practices are becoming increasingly important as we work to combat climate change and build healthier spaces to live and work in. “Green construction” refers to the use of processes and materials that are environmentally responsible and resource efficient throughout the life cycle of a building project. As green building continues to grow in […]

How to Evaluate the Upfront Costs of Green Buildings Against Long-Term Returns

When we think about green buildings, we imagine clean-cut modern designs, spacious aired lobbies, solar panels installed on rooftops, large windows, and vertical gardens. But the hard truth is that what makes a building green is not just its final look. The World Green Building Council explains that buildings account for 39% of global energy-related […]

What We Learned From… Healthy Buildings Week 2023

Held the week of Aug. 14-18, Facilities Management Advisor‘s Healthy Buildings Week 2023 featured information about how keeping facilities healthy has a major positive impact on occupants, thereby increasing productivity. If you missed any of the webinars, here’s a rundown with key takeaways and links to FREE on-demand recordings. Educational Session | The Evolution of […]

Homeland Security Receives IRA Funding for Green Buildings on HQ Campus

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced $288 million in Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding to construct sustainable buildings at the DHS St. Elizabeths headquarters campus in southeast Washington, D.C. The announcement came a day after the one-year anniversary of the IRA, the largest climate investment in U.S. history. The […]

More Companies Join the Fitwel Healthy Buildings Mission

Healthy building certification organization Fitwel has announced the latest cohort of companies to join its global community of Champions, Providers, and Partners. Originally created by the CDC and U.S. General Services Administration, the Fitwel certification is used by real estate stakeholders across the globe to ensure their assets are designed and operated to positively impact […]

FMA Shorts: What Are Some Cost-Effective Healthy Building Strategies?

On this latest episode of FMA Shorts, Joanna Frank, founding president and CEO of the Center for Active Design and operator of the Fitwel certification program, offers healthy building solutions that won’t break the bank. This clip was taken from a webinar session titled “Healthy Building Strategies: Putting Sustainability and People First.” The full session […]

Back to Basics: Lighting Improvements for Healthy Buildings

Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important, but possibly overlooked, information facilities management professionals should know. A key aspect of a healthy facility is healthy lighting, not just to go green for the environment but also for the health of occupants. Facilities managers should therefore examine ways they can redesign their facilities […]