Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
Schools throughout the U.S. are rapidly switching to solar power to meet their energy needs while gaining significant cost-savings, boosting climate resilience, and supporting workforce development, according to a new report from clean energy nonprofit Generation180. Over the past decade, the amount of solar capacity installed at K-12 schools has more than quadrupled nationwide. According to “Brighter […]
Humidity poses significant challenges to communities situated along coastal regions where the influence of moisture-laden air from lakes and oceans is pronounced. Humidity levels are exacerbated in those regions once the warmer temperatures arrive in late spring and summer. For schools, these high humidity levels can pose significant challenges. The School of Public Health at […]
Facilities Management Advisor’s “Under Construction” series highlights some of the latest, most interesting facility project announcements every month. A Greener JFK Airport In light of Earth Month, April had a bunch of clean energy project announcements. John F. Kennedy International Airport—which topped our inaugural installment of this series with a multibillion-dollar facelift in 2022—takes the […]
Nearly one-third of public schools (31%) have one or more non-permanent (portable) buildings in use on campus, according to new data released by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the statistical center within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES). Additionally, major repair, renovation, or modernization work was being performed in […]
School custodians play a vital role in creating a successful learning environment—inside and outside the classroom. However, their extensive schedules and strenuous duties often go unnoticed. To honor exceptional school custodians, Cintas Corp. has launched its 11th annual Custodian of the Year contest and is seeking nominations through Feb. 9. “Custodians are the force behind a […]
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. For children, Christmas is a time for a break from school and a time for opening presents. For K-12 school leaders, Christmas break is an opportunity to service HVAC units that will soon be […]
The first day of school is coming up soon for many students, teachers, and staff. To help custodial teams prepare for the new year, Cintas Corp. has shared a list of five recommendations to promote healthy practices this year. “Helping keep all school occupants healthy, especially students, is a top priority for all school custodial teams,” said […]
In a constantly changing world, the security and safety challenges schools face—as well as the ways in which schools can address those challenges—are also ever-changing. The Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS) has released the sixth edition of its Safety and Security Guidelines for K-12 Schools—a free resource that offers comprehensive information for school administrators, […]
The design of indoor and outdoor spaces has the power to shape not just how we use an area, but also how we feel about it. Design can help inform whether someone wants to meet friends or move through an area quickly. It can even discourage crime. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a […]