Tag: energy efficiency

Illuminating the Triple Bottom Line for a Sustainable Future in Facilities

If you want to make a difference in today’s social, economic, and environmental climate, a great place to start is by examining what’s going on behind the scenes in facilities. Many consider social, economic, and environmental themes the triple bottom line (TBL) of facilities management. The TBL theory suggests that instead of one bottom line, […]

Lessons in Sustainability: Three Universities Creating Green Campuses

Higher education plays a key role in how we address the challenges of climate change—not only in our scientific understanding of the cause and effect of carbon emissions, but also in how our built spaces can adapt. Because many college and university campuses feature historical (even outdated) infrastructure, many are taking opportunities to build new […]

EPA Names First ENERGY STAR-Certified Auto Dealerships

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is recognizing eight vehicle dealerships for being the first to earn its ENERGY STAR certification for superior energy performance. Vehicle dealerships that earn the ENERGY STAR use significantly less energy—and contribute fewer greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions—than their peers. “Reducing energy use in commercial buildings is an essential part of […]

AI Adoption Creates ‘Unprecedented Demand’ for Data Centers: JLL Report

As the global economy continues to rapidly adopt artificial intelligence (AI), infrastructure to support these systems must keep pace, according to a new report from JLL. Consumers and businesses are expected to generate twice as much data in the next five years as all the data created over the past 10 years. This growth presents […]

Under Construction: Top Facility Projects of January 2024

Facilities Management Advisor’s “Under Construction” series highlights some of the latest, most interesting facility project announcements every month. Hornets Arena Overhaul Hornets Sports & Entertainment (HSE) has unveiled plans for major renovations at Spectrum Center, home of the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets. Dubbed “Re!magine Spectrum Center,” the $215 million project includes a range of fan-focused and […]

FEMA Expands Disaster Relief Funding to Include Net-Zero Energy Projects

For the first time, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will fund net-zero energy projects through its Public Assistance grant program, which covers the rebuilding of schools, hospitals, fire stations, and other community infrastructure investments post-disaster. FEMA is also funding net-zero energy projects for its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and now offers incentives through its […]

New York Offers $100 Million Under Clean Green Schools Initiative

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced $100 million is now available through the Clean Green Schools Initiative. The funding will support under-resourced public schools with projects to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, improve environmental sustainability, and decarbonize school buildings. “Creating a safe and healthy learning environment is critical to providing our children the best education […]

Top 10 States for LEED Buildings in 2023

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has released its annual list of U.S. states leading the way on green buildings, and New York topped the list for the first time during a record-breaking year in 2023. The USGBC ranking is based on Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified gross square footage per capita over […]

Federal Facilities Receive $104 Million for Clean Energy Projects

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $104 million for energy conservation and clean energy projects at 31 federal facilities, with more funding on the way. The projects align with President Joe Biden’s goal for the federal government to “lead by example” on sustainability. This represents the first of three disbursements from $250 million […]

Updated ASHRAE Building Efficiency Standard Shifts Focus to Decarbonization

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has released the latest version of its energy efficiency standard for existing buildings, with an expanded focus to incorporate building decarbonization. ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 100-2024, Energy and Emissions Building Performance Standard for Existing Buildings is a code-ready building performance standard that provides processes and procedures for reducing energy consumption […]