Tag: IEQ

Emergency Preparedness for Climate Disasters: Overcoming Hurdles in Schools

Editor’s note: FM Perspectives are industry op-eds. The views expressed are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of Facilities Management Advisor. Spring has arrived in much of the United States: flowers are budding, and frosty mornings are giving way to longer, sunnier days. With these changes comes another, less-welcome seasonal threat: wildfires, which produce excessive […]

EPA Offers $32 Million to Help Schools Boost Indoor Air Quality

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of up to $32 million to address indoor air pollution at K-12 schools in “overburdened communities.” The announcement comes just days after the EPA awarded nearly $1 billion for zero- and low-emission school buses. This new funding opportunity is made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act and […]

Mitigating Poor Air Quality in Schools Now Can Prevent a Shutdown Later

Editor’s note: FM Perspectives are industry op-eds. The views expressed are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of Facilities Management Advisor. As students return to school from a record-breaking hot summer, many are entering facilities with poor indoor air quality (IAQ), the effects of which can be dangerous. Though temperatures are beginning to […]

Top Trends in Healthy Buildings: A Guide for Facilities Managers

In the ever-evolving world of facilities management, there is a bigger emphasis on promoting the health and well-being of building occupants. Healthy buildings go beyond energy efficiency and sustainability; they prioritize factors that directly impact the health, productivity, and comfort of those inside. From optimizing air quality to meeting industry standards, facilities managers should consider […]

The CDC Ventilation Update Couldn’t Have Come Sooner: Real-Time Monitoring Is Needed Now

Editor’s note: The views expressed in op-eds are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of Facilities Management Advisor. The recent Canadian wildfires greatly impacted air quality hundreds of miles away in major American cities, demonstrating how disasters in one country can affect the health of others. This issue also came to light in […]

Allegiant Stadium and Las Vegas Raiders Celebrate LEED Gold Certification

Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders, announced it has been awarded LEED Gold Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the world’s most widely used green building rating system and is an international symbol of excellence. Allegiant Stadium is now one of seven NFL […]

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 […]

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 […]

Georgia County Makes Major Upgrades to Government Center

Hall County, located in northeast Georgia, has completed comprehensive energy and infrastructure renovations on its Hall County Government Center with partner Trane Technologies. The upgrades are expected to help slash the facility’s annual energy usage by 35%. Working consultatively with the Hall County construction and facilities teams, Trane identified and implemented energy efficiency and indoor […]

back to school

Back-to-School Resources to Combat COVID, Keep Classrooms Open

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 […]