Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
Passaic County Technical Institute (PCTI) in Wayne, N.J., is more than just a tech school. Of course the trades are offered, but it’s also a high school, open to students from grades seven through 12 with courses covering everything from criminal justice and finance to automotive technology and culinary arts. It even has an athletics and […]
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is partnering with energy company Southern Co. to increase efficiency in 12 federal buildings across Georgia, reducing GSA’s carbon footprint and improving overall sustainability. The upgrades will focus on lighting, HVAC, water conservation, and more. Two Southern Co. subsidiaries—utility Atlanta Gas Light and distributed energy provider PowerSecure—are coordinating the improvements. […]
On Aug. 16, President Joe Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA), a comprehensive package that includes nearly $370 billion in historic climate and energy investments. “The Inflation Reduction Act invests $369 billion to take the most aggressive action ever—ever, ever, ever—in confronting the climate crisis,” said Biden. U.S. Environmental Protection […]
As a new academic year begins, the Biden administration has issued a back-to-school fact sheet highlighting guidance and resources available to help protect students and staff from COVID-19 spread and keep schools safely open all year long. The fact sheet calls for vaccination, testing, and improved indoor air quality. It also notes actions the administration […]
A nongovernmental task force recently recommended that building owners begin taking four steps to address SARS-CoV-2 infection risks in schools and workplaces: verifying building systems are performing as designed, increasing outdoor air ventilation, upgrading air filtration, and deploying portable air cleaners where needed. The Lancet COVID-19 Commission’s Task Force on Safe Work, Safe School, and […]
It’s summertime, and many facilities professionals are hard at work on new building projects and major building renovations. There are several types of commercial heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to consider when a new system must be installed. The National Institute of Building Sciences advises businesses to consider energy efficiency, occupant comfort, and […]
Mold can happen to any building at any time if the conditions are right. Mold is three things: persistent, resourceful, and low maintenance. It requires very little to live and can sneak right into any type of facility if given the opportunity. Once it starts growing, it can quickly become a large-scale problem and begin […]
Buildings are more complex machines than most people realize. Understanding how to read a Building Management System (BMS) to troubleshoot maintenance issues is in itself complicated and often difficult. Most tenants don’t know how to effectively read their energy or water utility data, nor do many have interest in these items unless they are the […]
The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) and ISSA–The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association announced the launch of the Healthy Workplaces Coalition, a new coalition of more than 40 national organizations, industry leaders, and trade associations collaborating to support and advance federal policy aimed at helping businesses and organizations better afford and implement health and safety improvements […]
The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council has released a new report detailing how K-12 school districts around the country have continued to manage indoor air quality (IAQ) within their schools during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report, which was co-authored with researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and developed […]