Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
Building operations account for a whopping 35% of U.S. carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and renovating them is a key strategy for combating climate change, according to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab). However, less than 1% of buildings are retrofitted each year, partly stemming from the high cost of identifying what retrofits a building―or especially […]
The Biden administration’s U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has confirmed the first six industry partners to participate in the Cold Climate Heat Pump Technology Challenge. The challenge, which was announced in May at the White House, aims to reduce the carbon footprint of cold-climate heating solutions by improving the efficiency and affordability of new heat pumps in the field. Through […]
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released the Fall 2021 Better Buildings, Better Plants progress update. The report highlights more than 250 manufacturers and water utilities that have introduced energy efficiency and decarbonization measures, cumulatively saving $9.3 billion in energy costs and 1.9 quadrillion British thermal units (Btus)—more energy than the state of Wisconsin consumes […]
From surveys, we know that nearly 50% of U.S. consumers want to change their consumption habits to save the environment. In fact, one environmentally-focused survey found four out of five people describe themselves as likely to choose a brand that prioritizes environmental sustainability. This desire also impacts where employees want to work, as companies that […]
Eighty percent of U.S. companies have sustainability initiatives in place, according to a new study released by Honeywell. Businesses around the world are taking notice of their carbon footprint, and sustainability has fast become an important investment—and commitment—for companies across all industries. A company can achieve numerous benefits by investing in a sustainability roadmap—from lowering […]
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.
Washington State is providing assistance to eligible building owners that comply with energy performance standards in advance of mandatory deadlines. Early compliance will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save energy consumption, which also will save operating costs. The Clean Buildings law, which authorized the program, requires certain commercial buildings to comply with state energy performance standards. […]
Returning to the office is causing a growing rift between workers and managers, according to a new report from NEXT Energy Technologies Inc. The report shows most employees (74%) are willing to leave their jobs if existential issues like health and sustainability are not adequately addressed in the workplace. NEXT says it surveyed more than 450 […]
Seventy-five percent of U.S. facility managers say COVID-19 has caused them to permanently rethink how their facility operates, according to survey findings released by Honeywell. The report also says nearly 6 in 10 respondents are more likely to invest in indoor air quality optimization and other healthy building solutions, while 7 in 10 are now […]
As companies, organizations, and governments increasingly embrace going green, facility managers have been tasked with finding ways to make their operations more energy efficient. To help highlight the progress of energy-efficient buildings across the country, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released its annual “Top Cities” list. The new 2021 ranking names the cities […]