Category: Sustainability/Business Continuity

Advantages and Challenges of Green Roofs

Green roofs, also known as rooftop gardens, are planted over a waterproofing membrane and cover a facility’s roof with vegetation. Facilities managers should consider green roofs for stormwater management and energy savings, as well as to provide rooftop gardens, educational spaces, and urban food production. Facilities managers should also consider incorporating green roofs into new […]

DOE Offers $90 Million to Boost Adoption of Building Energy Codes

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $90 million in funding to support building energy code adoption, training, and technical assistance at the state and local level. The DOE estimates that, from 2010 through 2040, energy codes will have saved homes and businesses $182 billion on utility bills and prevented as much carbon dioxide from reaching […]

EPA Announces $3 Billion to Help U.S. Ports Cut Emissions

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched the $3 billion Clean Ports Program to fund zero-emission equipment, infrastructure, and climate planning at U.S. ports. According to the EPA, the program is designed to help ports across the country transition to fully zero-emissions operations—serving as a catalyst for transformational change across the freight sector. The funding opportunities were […]

Was the Hertz Decision the Death Knell for the EV Revolution?

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. Recently, car rental powerhouse Hertz decided to dump about 20,000 electric vehicles (EVs) from its fleet of rental vehicles. This decision came only two short years after the company made a deal with Tesla […]

Burgeoning Data Center Market Seeks More Power and Land

Society is rapidly accelerating the volume of data we create, which is foundationally important to the way we work, live, and play. If data centers are the bricks holding modern society together, then the power that operates them is the mortar. According to JLL’s new H2 2023 North American Data Center Report, data center demand remained […]

ESG Excellence: Navigating Facilities Management Towards a Sustainable Future

A recent Capgemini Research Institute report found more than half of business leaders globally plan to increase investments in sustainability this year, up from only a third who reported plans to do so in 2023. The study, “Embracing a Brighter Future: Investment Priorities for 2024,” surveyed 2,000 business leaders from companies with more than $1 […]

Choosing the Right Paint for Your Facility

Facilities professionals should choose the right type of paint for their commercial, industrial, educational, and governmental buildings, taking into consideration its appearance and durability. No matter what option you choose, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends reading all instructions, selecting products that don’t emit harmful vapors, and providing adequate ventilation through open windows and […]

FMA Shorts: Should Facilities Managers Fear or Embrace the Rise of Technology?

On this latest episode of FMA Shorts, Camilla Yamada, director of special projects at UMC, discusses smart building technology with a focus on healthcare facilities. This clip was taken from a webinar titled “How Building Tech Is Improving the FM Industry.” The full session is available for FREE on-demand here.

FAA Awards Nearly $1 Billion for Airport Improvement Projects

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is awarding $970 million to 114 airports across the country, spanning 44 states and three territories. The funding covers terminal expansions, sustainability, security, accessibility improvements, and more. “Today’s funding not only helps modernize airports to meet the needs of travelers today and for years to come, but also creates good-paying […]

Green from Above: Harnessing Drone Inspections to Boost Building ESG Performance

In the realm of sustainable development, the importance of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria has gained significant traction. Major property owners, in particular, have come under increasing scrutiny on their environmental impact, social responsibility, and governance practices. Fortunately, drone inspections present a promising avenue for enhancing building ESG performance. This article explores how drone […]