Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
Nearly 60% of employees received some form of return-to-office (RTO) mandate in 2023, with the percentage of fully remote employees dropping to 33% last year (from 44% in 2022). Yet, more than half (54%) of employees surveyed in the Appspace 2024 Workplace Experience Trends & Insights Report agree that going to the office “feels like a waste […]
On April 12, the Biden administration finalized congressionally mandated energy efficiency standards for the most common residential and commercial lightbulbs. The standards will go into effect in July 2028 for newly produced bulbs. Over 30 years, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) projects the standards will save Americans more than $27 billion on their utility bills […]
Smart technology has been on the rise in recent years. Data collected by Google shows that 61% of people now own a smart device like a virtual assistant, smartwatch, or smart TV. The trend towards increased smart-tech adoption applies to businesses, too. Google data shows that industry leaders are 1.5 times as likely to utilize […]
In a move aimed at better protecting the health of custodial staff, federal employees, and the environment, the Biden administration is directing government contractors to purchase cleaning products for federal buildings that are free of toxic “forever chemicals.” This change is the result of a collaboration between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the […]
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. In recent years, the conversation surrounding climate change has intensified, prompting many businesses to take greater responsibility for their environmental impact. Recognizing the urgency to address climate-related risks and opportunities, regulatory bodies such as […]
The facilities management team at Western Illinois University (WIU) has recently taken on several campus projects geared toward enhancing the overall landscape of the university grounds. As part of this initiative, the team completed open burns, or prescribed burns, recognized as an effective method for planned land management. Prescribed burns come highly recommended by the […]
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. You can always tell the priorities of global tech firms by who they are trying to hire. Google’s next hire? A new role for a team leader dedicated to developing a plan and budget […]
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has opened the first public comment period for its draft Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design version 5 (LEED v5), the latest iteration of the globally recognized green building certification. Although the update initially focused on operations and maintenance of existing buildings, it has since been expanded to include […]
Amidst a nationwide effort to increase whole-facility energy efficiency, mechanical systems rank high among the most critical areas of focus. Space heating and domestic hot water production account for approximately 42% of energy use in the United States. For many existing facilities served by a hydronic system, the straightest path toward a smaller carbon footprint […]
The federal government is picking up speed on its path toward an all-electric fleet. The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has announced $25 million for electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), or EV charging ports, at federal buildings across the country. An initial planned spend of just over $20 million through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) […]