Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
Following “overwhelming demand,” the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has selected 67 applicants to receive about $965 million in grants through the Clean School Bus Program. That’s more than double the $400 million in grants initially planned when the EPA called for applications in April 2023. The funding is made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, […]
The U.S. Department of Education announced eight new grant awards totaling more than $37 million over five years under the Supporting America’s School Infrastructure (SASI) program and one new grant for $10 million over five years under the National Center on School Infrastructure (NCSI) program. According to the department, this $47 million investment bolsters the capacity of states to […]
What constitutes a zero-emissions building? The Biden administration is working to create a national, standardized, and verifiable definition for all stakeholders. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has developed Part 1 of a draft national definition for zero-emissions buildings and is now seeking feedback from industry, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, and other stakeholders through […]
The Seattle Convention Center (SCC) announced that its Summit building has earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) as part of the council’s New Construction (v3) rating system. Opened in January 2023, Summit nearly doubled the center’s capacity by adding 573,770 square feet of event […]
Air quality in the office may affect our level of creativity at work, according to scientists at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore). Working with global air filter manufacturer Camfil on a shared research project, the NTU scientists found in a study that high levels of volatile organic compounds—gases released from products such as detergents, pesticides, perfumes, aerosol […]
Columbia University announced that it has achieved Fitwel certification for 600 W. 125th Street, its new 34-story building to house graduate students and faculty members on the southwest corner of 125th Street and Broadway in New York City. The building earned three stars—Fitwel’s highest standard—in Fitwel Version 2.1 Multifamily rating for its design, construction, and sustainability principles as well as its commitment to resident health and well-being. The […]
Groundbreaking legislation, called Local Law 97, which was enacted in 2019, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in New York City by reducing the carbon impact of the city’s largest buildings is expected to encourage building owners to work more closely with facilities professionals for compliance. According to Urban Green Council, the law is […]
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the nation’s largest public power supplier, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to power at least two major federal facilities with 100% clean energy. The deal advances the Biden administration’s goal of powering all federal facilities with carbon-pollution-free electricity (CFE) by 2030. Under […]
Companies across various sectors, from retail locations to commercial businesses, are recognizing the shifting consumer attitudes toward electric vehicles (EVs). This growing awareness and changing sentiment are driving substantial investments in EV charging solutions, and there’s no sign this will let up, as EV sales are expected to leap 35% in 2023. As a result, […]
During a November 16 webinar, more information was released regarding the highly anticipated draft of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) version 5 Operations and Maintenance (O&M) rating system. The draft was released in September 2023 at the 2023 Greenfield Conference and Expo. While the launch of LEED […]