Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
On April 12, the Biden administration finalized congressionally mandated energy efficiency standards for the most common residential and commercial lightbulbs. The standards will go into effect in July 2028 for newly produced bulbs. Over 30 years, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) projects the standards will save Americans more than $27 billion on their utility bills […]
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $425 million in funding to help reduce industrial emissions and advance clean energy manufacturing in coal communities across the country. Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and managed by the Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC), the Advanced Manufacturing and Recycling Grant Program will support small […]
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 […]
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 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 […]
Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important, but possibly overlooked, information facilities management professionals should know. Most facilities professionals have heard the term “net zero buildings” before but perhaps don’t know exactly what it means or why they should convert their facilities to net zero. Commercial, educational, industrial, and nonprofit facilities should […]
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is opening enrollment for the Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC) Campaign, which will help public building owners pay for today’s building upgrades with tomorrow’s guaranteed energy savings. The ESPC Campaign is a voluntary initiative that engages and supports state and local governments, universities and colleges, school districts, hospitals, and other market stakeholders […]
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has published the “2023 Better Buildings Initiative Progress Report,” which summarizes the achievements of the DOE’s Better Buildings public- and private-sector partners since the initiative’s inception in 2011. The report shows that partnering entities, including more than 900 businesses, state and local governments, utilities, housing authorities, and other organizations, […]
Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important, but possibly overlooked, information facilities management professionals should know. Did you know that one dripping faucet could waste 3,000 gallons of water per month in your office facility, while a running toilet could waste 10 times as much? Using a rate of $0.00295 per gallon, […]
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released program guidance and opened applications for $400 million in formula funding to states and territories for adopting and implementing building energy codes that reduce utility bills, increase efficiency, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and make buildings more resilient to climate disasters. “A transition to a clean energy economy […]