Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
Distributed energy resources (DER), including electric vehicle (EV) chargers, rooftop solar PV, and battery energy storage, are rapidly expanding in commercial buildings, according to a report from Guidehouse Insights. The report forecasts global spending on DER in commercial buildings to reach $17.6 billionin 2021, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.1% to […]
There is a host of reasons for a facility to invest in a new security system, from upgrading older (or dead) equipment to meeting the changing demands of a growing organization. Sure, it’s important to choose the proper high-definition cameras, system devices, and management software to meet your security needs. However, it’s often easy to […]
Employee retention, customer satisfaction, and tech adoption are among the top issues for commercial cleaning contractors going into 2024, according to a new survey. Aspire Software, a ServiceTitan company, has released a report providing insight into the challenges and opportunities facing contractors across the commercial cleaning industry. These results highlight survey responses from more than 1,000 contractors nationwide. […]
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael S. Regan announced a new pledge from electric utilities to support efforts to electrify the nation’s school bus fleet. Regan unveiled the pledge while visiting Wabaunsee USD 329 School District in Alma, Kansas, to celebrate the delivery of the state’s first all-electric school buses. He also highlighted federal […]
As the new school year draws near, college students across the country are preparing to move to campus in a dormitory or off-campus housing. Through their annual “Campus Fire Safety for Students” campaign in September, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Center for Campus Fire Safety (CCFS) are working together to help ensure these residences are as safe as […]
According to the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) latest National Retail Security Survey, retail crime represented $112.1 billion in losses in 2022. To bring attention to this crucial issue, October 26 has been designated as “Fight Retail Crime Day.” In support of the NRF’s initiative, Interface Systems shares some technology-based best practices for retailers to consider. […]
While many people think keeping facilities safe is solely dependent on security access control measures like biometrics, keycards, and other electronic locks, nothing could be further from the truth. Lesley Groff, Senior Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds at UGI Utilities Inc., recently spoke during the Facilities Management Advisor webinar “The Facility Manager’s Role in Maintaining […]
Restrooms are visible evidence of the overall standards in a building, and with the continuing heightened awareness around hygiene in buildings, restroom upgrade projects are moving up in priority. In research conducted by Zurn Water Solutions into the impact of COVID-19 on the restroom experience, respondents ranked “touching fixtures” as their top concern in public […]
In recent years, our world has become increasingly interconnected as technology plays a role in almost everything we do. This interconnectedness has given rise to smart buildings, enhancing productivity and promoting sustainability. However, it has also exposed vulnerabilities of a building’s critical infrastructure. With October being Cybersecurity Awareness Month, there’s more attention on the importance […]
The World Health Organization has called stress “the health epidemic of the 21st century.” According to the annual StressPulse Survey conducted by employee assistance program (EAP) provider ComPsych Corporation, stress and personal relationship issues are the most common reasons for employee absence, accounting for nearly half (47%) of employee absences—handily beating out medical issues. Given […]