Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
Distributed energy resources (DER), including electric vehicle (EV) chargers, rooftop solar PV, and battery energy storage, are rapidly expanding in commercial buildings, according to a report from Guidehouse Insights. The report forecasts global spending on DER in commercial buildings to reach $17.6 billionin 2021, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.1% to […]
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 […]
Facility teams are responsible for maintaining, inspecting, and fine-tuning a variety of equipment and facility systems, including air handlers, generators, boilers, elevators, and other equipment for safe and efficient operation. Remembering the sizes of different belts, filters, and other applicable parts is part of the job, so facility teams rely on O&Ms (also known as […]
The National Safety Council, a major U.S. nonprofit safety advocate, released results of a survey conducted as part of an ongoing effort to assess the risks of cannabis in the workplace, and the group said the results are clear: Employers must do more to educate and protect their workers. The survey, conducted between April and […]
New York was one of the first states in the U.S. to suffer a major outbreak of COVID-19, so it stands to reason that any steps that may help safely reopen facilities and operations there are noteworthy for just about anywhere else across the country. The Cleaning Coalition of America, a trade group representing cleaning […]
Despite rising COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations driven by the delta variant, executive leaders are pushing toward a post-pandemic return-to-work model that puts employees in the office at least two days a week. HR and IT/security professionals have been feeling squeezed between a rock and a hard place trying to meet workforce health, safety, technology, data […]
The Ohio State University will invest an additional $2 million per year over the next decade to enhance safety and security on and around campus, President Kristina M. Johnson and Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther announced Sept. 24. The additional investment is expected to be at least $20 million, and the university’s total safety and security […]
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced 33 Safer Choice Partner of the Year award winners across 16 states and the District of Columbia for achievement in the design, manufacture, selection, and use of products with safer chemicals, as part of Pollution Prevention Week.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) September 20 announced “enhanced and expanded efforts” to address worker exposures to excessive heat and heat-related illnesses. The agency will develop a National Emphasis Program (NEP) and workplace heat standards, according to a White House announcement of interagency efforts to address heat hazards.
As buildings become more complex, facility managers will need to leverage the best techniques available to handle the various challenges of keeping their facilities functional, safe, and liveable. But first, they’ll need to identify the unique issues in each property, then determine the most efficient ways to track and tackle them.