Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
Led by tech and retail giants, American companies are installing record levels of solar to power their operations and now account for 14% of all installed solar capacity in the United States, according to the Solar Means Business 2022 report released by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). The report, which tracks and analyzes commercial solar adoption, named […]
As climate change progresses, we can expect storms to become more frequent and more intense. Already, coastal communities are experiencing the devastating effects of severe hurricanes and tropical storms, while midwestern communities are encountering massive destruction from tornadoes and hail. As storms only continue to worsen, ensuring our facilities are designed and built to withstand catastrophic […]
In August, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) received $5 million from Congress under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) for programs to boost voluntary corporate climate reporting while the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ramps up for legal battles regarding its upcoming mandatory climate change reporting rules. To report or not to report Many […]
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released a Notice of Intent (NOI) announcing $80 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to make public K-12 schools more energy efficient and lower their energy costs, including some of the nation’s highest-need schools. The funding is the first tranche of the Renew America’s Schools grant program created by […]
Major industry stakeholders have partnered to launch a new sustainability program for arenas, stadiums, convention centers, and other types of public assembly venues in the sports and entertainment industry. Founding partners of the Green Operations & Advanced Leadership (GOAL) program include Oak View Group, the Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena, Fenway Sports Group, and […]
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released the 2022 Better Plants Progress Update, a report highlighting more than 270 manufacturers and water utilities who partner with DOE to increase energy and water efficiency. Collectively, these partners have saved $10.6 billion in energy costs, 2.2 quadrillion British thermal units (Btus) of energy, and more than 130 million […]
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is partnering with energy company Southern Co. to increase efficiency in 12 federal buildings across Georgia, reducing GSA’s carbon footprint and improving overall sustainability. The upgrades will focus on lighting, HVAC, water conservation, and more. Two Southern Co. subsidiaries—utility Atlanta Gas Light and distributed energy provider PowerSecure—are coordinating the improvements. […]
On Aug. 25, California regulators approved the Advanced Clean Cars II rule requiring that, by 2035, 100% of new cars and light trucks sold in California must be zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). According to the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the “nation-leading” regulation realizes and codifies the light-duty vehicle goals set […]
On Aug. 16, President Joe Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA), a comprehensive package that includes nearly $370 billion in historic climate and energy investments. “The Inflation Reduction Act invests $369 billion to take the most aggressive action ever—ever, ever, ever—in confronting the climate crisis,” said Biden. U.S. Environmental Protection […]
Supported by a landmark commitment from Johns Hopkins University, a brand-new solar facility is now up and running, providing the university with two-thirds of its annual electricity use from clean power. With this agreement—one of the most substantial clean energy pledges by any higher education institution in the U.S.—Johns Hopkins achieved its goal to cut greenhouse gas […]