Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that 93 U.S. manufacturing plants earned the agency’s ENERGY STAR certification in 2021. ENERGY STAR-certified plants are verified to be among the most energy-efficient plants within their industries. Together, they prevented more than 5 million metric tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the industrial sector, which is […]
Last year, the United States saw 20 weather- and climate-related disasters with losses that exceeded $1 billion—each. These events included flooding, tornadoes, wildfires, and more. Tragically, they left 688 people dead and created significant economic challenges in the areas the storms hit. These disasters were in addition to the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, which continues […]
The rainy season in California begins each year in October. When it started in October 2021, nearly half of the state was experiencing “exceptional” drought. This is the most severe category of drought. As for the rest of the state, 87% faced “extreme” drought, the second-most severe category. But flash forward three months, and it […]
The Biden administration is teaming up with states, cities, labor, and industry to launch the National Building Performance Standards Coalition, a first-of-its-kind partnership between 33 state and local governments dedicated to delivering cleaner, healthier, and more affordable buildings. President Joe Biden announced the new coalition during his remarks at the recent U.S. Conference of Mayors’ […]
The green building materials market is expected to skyrocket in the next five years, catalyzed by an urgent need to build structures that can respond to more intense weather patterns and offer lower carbon footprints. However, there have been few ways to compare basic materials and understand the impact of using them. Now, Northwestern University […]
President Joseph Biden Jr. signed Executive Order (EO) 14057, Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability, on December 8, 2021. This EO directs the federal government to decarbonize by 2050 and orders it to “lead by example” and use its “scale and procurement power” to achieve five ambitious goals: 100% carbon pollution-free electricity by 2030, […]
It seems as if we have been here before. But for some reason, this time it’s different—it is worse. So much so that it looks and feels as if we are headed for a real game-changer. I am referring to the drought now in California and many parts of the western United States. This year’s […]
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded $82.6 million in funding to 44 projects that will lower Americans’ energy bills and help meet President Joe Biden’s goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 by investing in new energy-efficient building technologies, construction practices, and the U.S. buildings-sector workforce.
The cost of the effects of climate change is steadily increasing, putting a strain on the buildings and infrastructure around us. Sustainability efforts are being enacted every day to help these effects, with one added bonus: They are generating job growth and positively affecting the economy while helping to battle the effects of climate change.