Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
Sustainable construction practices are becoming increasingly important as we work to combat climate change and build healthier spaces to live and work in. “Green construction” refers to the use of processes and materials that are environmentally responsible and resource efficient throughout the life cycle of a building project. As green building continues to grow in […]
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has issued an executive order requiring water conservation at state facilities with the goal of increasing Utah’s drought resiliency. Utah is one of the driest states in the nation; in fact, some portions of the state have experienced drought conditions nearly every year since 2000. Under Executive Order 2023-07, each state […]
Cintas Corp. is nearing completion of a multi-year, company-wide LED lighting transition project to help reduce facility-focused energy use and support the company along its “Path to Net Zero,” a major part of Cintas’ environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals. Headquartered in Cincinnati, the Fortune 500 company provides a wide range of products and services […]
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 […]
Facilities Management Advisor’s “Under Construction” series highlights some of the latest, most interesting facility project announcements every month. New Museum Under Lincoln Memorial The National Park Service (NPS) is kicking off a public-private project to add an immersive museum beneath the Lincoln Memorial and other upgrades at the historical landmark. Fittingly enough, the NPS made […]
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released the 2022 Better Plants Progress Update, a report highlighting more than 270 manufacturers and water utilities who partner with DOE to increase energy and water efficiency. Collectively, these partners have saved $10.6 billion in energy costs, 2.2 quadrillion British thermal units (Btus) of energy, and more than 130 million […]
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. […]
An elderly but long-time Californian remembers 1976 as a fun year. The economy was finally pulling out of a recession that started in 1973. The Watergate “nightmare,” as then-President Ford called it, was behind us. And Californians were having a lot of fun with—of all things—a drought that year. They made up comical jingles to […]
Restrooms are visible evidence of the overall standards in a building, and with the continuing heightened awareness around hygiene in buildings, restroom upgrade projects are moving up in priority. In research conducted by Zurn Water Solutions into the impact of COVID-19 on the restroom experience, respondents ranked “touching fixtures” as their top concern in public […]
The rainy season in California begins each year in October. When it started in October 2021, nearly half of the state was experiencing “exceptional” drought. This is the most severe category of drought. As for the rest of the state, 87% faced “extreme” drought, the second-most severe category. But flash forward three months, and it […]