Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
Wilkes County Schools (WCS) has become the first school district in Georgia with an all-green school bus fleet, serving its 25 daily bus routes exclusively with zero- and ultra-low-emission buses. Blue Bird Corp. recently delivered five electric and 12 propane-powered school buses to the district. WCS said its new fleet will significantly improve air quality for students and […]
Alternative fuel vehicles are designed with larger quantities of combustible materials (e.g., fuels, plastics, synthetic materials, etc.) that present new and unique hazards, particularly in parking garages and vehicle carriers. To help provide informed guidance for the fire safety design of parking garages or other facilities where a large number of vehicles are densely placed, […]
To help save money and be more eco-friendly, many schools have installed solar energy and made other sustainability upgrades, including green transportation. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is offering more funding to help school districts across the country make the switch to alternative fuel bus fleets. The agency has launched a $965 million round of rebates […]
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced selections for the 2024 Renew America’s Schools Prize and Grant, a three-phase, $190 million investment to help K-12 public schools make energy upgrades that will decrease energy use and costs, improve indoor air quality, and foster healthier learning environments for students and teachers. Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, […]
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $18.5 million awarded to four states and 20 local governments through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program. Applications remain open for future rounds of funding. Governments receiving awards will use program funds to conduct energy assessments and efficiency upgrades at community centers and schools, install solar […]
As the electric grid gets more taxed, more facilities are implementing on-site solar technologies not just to help reduce the load but also to increase their sustainability. Meanwhile, some facilities need adequate battery storage during power outages and enough capacity to handle electric vehicle (EV) chargers. These issues and more were discussed during a panel […]
Facilities Management Advisor’s “Under Construction” series highlights some of the latest, most interesting facility project announcements every month. Sports Arena Makeover Scotiabank Arena, home to the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and NBA’s Toronto Raptors, recently started the second phase of its $350 million Scotiabank Arena Reimagination project. Owned and operated by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment […]
Facilities Management Advisor’s “Under Construction” series highlights some of the latest, most interesting facility project announcements every month. Biden-Backed Data Center Companies like Amazon and Google recently announced major data center projects. Perhaps most notably, though, President Joe Biden touted a $3.3 billion data center investment in Racine County, Wis., from Microsoft. The project will […]
PepsiCo Beverages North America (PBNA) announced the expansion of its electric-powered fleet across California. In the next several months, 50 Class 8 Tesla Semi trucks will operate out of its manufacturing and distribution facility in Fresno, Calif., and 75 Ford E-Transit electric vans will step-change the electrification of its equipment services fleet across the state. The electric […]
With the increased popularity of electric vehicles (EVs), modern mobility is propelling us toward a greener future. EVs have emerged as one of the most promising solutions to combating climate change and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, yet the continued growth of the EV market greatly depends on the development and installation of a […]