Category: Green Building

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 […]

Local Building Policies ‘Set an Important Example’ to Prevent Bird Collisions

A new report reveals how local laws and policies are speeding up protections for birds from deadly building collisions, one of the leading causes of bird mortality. A staggering number of birds are killed by window collisions each year in the United States, with estimates of up to 1 billion. The Law, Ethics, and Animals Program (LEAP) […]

Top Trends in Healthy Buildings: A Guide for Facilities Managers

In the ever-evolving world of facilities management, there is a bigger emphasis on promoting the health and well-being of building occupants. Healthy buildings go beyond energy efficiency and sustainability; they prioritize factors that directly impact the health, productivity, and comfort of those inside. From optimizing air quality to meeting industry standards, facilities managers should consider […]

4 Ways to Make Your Facility More Sustainable

Changing consumer attitudes are giving the concept of “sustainability” its day in the sun. Seventy-eight percent of Americans make a “sustainable lifestyle” a priority, while 60% factor it into their purchasing decisions. One-third are even willing to pay more for it. Unsurprisingly, businesses have taken notice. A majority of CEOs agree that sustainability is essential […]

Webinar Watch: Healthy Buildings Week 2023

Healthy buildings mean healthy people. A person’s environment has a major impact on mental and physical well-being, so it’s incumbent upon facilities managers to help protect building occupants and provide a positive experience. Join Facilities Management Advisor throughout Healthy Buildings Week 2023, Aug. 14-18, for FREE educational webinars and resources exploring the many tools available […]