Tag: healthy buildings

Efficient and Healthy Schools Campaign Announces 2023 Honorees

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Efficient and Healthy Schools Campaign recently celebrated the achievements of 17 K-12 schools and districts that implemented exemplary projects to improve the energy and environmental performance of their facilities. Led by the DOE’s Building Technologies Office, the campaign is an interagency effort supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency […]

Tile and Grout Cleaning Best Practices: Beyond Appearances

Maintaining clean and hygienic tile and grout surfaces in commercial facilities is essential not only for aesthetic reasons, but also for the overall health and safety of occupants. However, it is crucial to recognize the difference between cleaning for appearances and cleaning for true effectiveness. In this article, we will explore the best practices for […]

New ASHRAE Standard Covers Airborne Disease Mitigation in Buildings

ASHRAE has announced its newly approved standard for airborne infection risk mitigation in indoor spaces. ASHRAE Standard 241, Control of Infectious Aerosols establishes minimum requirements to reduce the risk of disease transmission by exposure to infectious aerosols in new buildings, existing buildings, and major renovations. Infectious aerosols are tiny, exhaled particles that can carry disease-causing pathogens […]

CDC: Aim for 5 Air Changes Per Hour in Buildings

On May 12, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its “Ventilation in Buildings” guidelines to include a discussion on “How much ventilation is enough?” to help prevent airborne disease transmission. “When possible, aim for 5 or more air changes per hour (ACH) of clean air to help reduce the number of germs […]

IFMA Leader Talks World FM Day, Industry’s ‘Very Bright’ Future

Happy World FM Day! Global FM, a group of leading facilities management (FM) associations, spearheads the annual celebration every May. The event brings together the FM community and highlights the positive impact that FM professionals have on businesses and people’s lives. To commemorate World FM Day, Facilities Management Advisor spoke with Don Gilpin, President and […]

New Streamlined Process for LEED and WELL Building Certifications

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), and the International WELL Building Institute pbc (IWBI) have released a streamlined process for projects pursuing certifications for the LEED green building rating system and the WELL Building Standard. The process streamlines documentation for projects that are pursuing both certifications at the same time […]

Maximizing Indoor Air Quality: A Guide to Effective Air Conditioning

With many of us now choosing to work from home, the onus has been placed on businesses to improve working environments if they want staff to come into the workplace more often than not. Companies of all sizes need to think about the little things that they can do to have a positive impact on […]

How the Real Estate Industry Could Revamp Green Leases for Commercial Buildings

As real estate occupiers face increased pressure to lower their carbon footprint, and investors are greening their portfolios, green leases can benefit both landlords and tenants while also serving to decarbonize real estate. JLL’s new Green Leasing 2.0: Bridging the owner-occupier divide to deliver shared ESG value report outlines the considerations building occupiers and owners should include […]

‘Best of Green Schools’ Awardees, Class of 2023

The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council, in collaboration with the Green Schools National Network, has announced the recipients of the 2023 Best of Green Schools Awards. The awards celebrate the leaders—individuals, schools, campuses, and organizations—advancing the groups’ shared vision of green schools. “This year’s awardees represent the leading edge of a movement to […]

Office Workers Worldwide Increasingly Worry About IAQ, Sustainability

More than two in five (43%) surveyed office workers are very or extremely worried about their workplace’s indoor air quality (IAQ)—a seven-point increase over last year’s results, according to Honeywell’s third annual Healthy Buildings Survey. Furthermore, nearly three in four respondents (74%) express some degree of worry about their building’s IAQ. The study recently queried 2,500 […]