The Latest

  • HVAC, HEPA, IAQ
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    slobo via Getty Images
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    How to protect building occupants from allergens and asthma triggers

    While air quality, humidity levels and cleanliness are key, irritants can come from indoor surfaces and even cleaning products, experts say.

  • geothermal hvac system, Trane Technologies, North Shore school district
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    Courtesy of Trane Technologies
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    Chicago-area school district deploys geothermal system that’s a US first

    The dynamic closed-loop system uses groundwater to reject and absorb heat to provide year-round space conditioning for a 130-year-old elementary school, Trane Technologies says.

  • A drone flies over a brick building with 1600 over the door and U.S. flag on flagpole in front.
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    Courtesy of Michigan Central
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    Detroit uses drones and AI to target building efficiency improvements

    The city has partnered with startups and a tech incubator to test drone and AI technology that guides energy retrofits, saving time and money compared with traditional assessments.

  • Mahesh Ramanujam, US Green Building Council, economic downturn
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    ithinksky via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    The often-overlooked shelter from the storm: green buildings

    In the 2008-09 economic downturn, green buildings were a bright spot. They could be again as remote work, tariffs and inflation hang over the economy.

  • Sec. 179D commercial building energy efficiency deduction, Foreclosurepedia
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    Alex Potemkin via Getty Images
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    Loss of 179D deduction could derail office conversions

    Although the deduction is about making commercial buildings energy efficient, it’s been key to owners’ willingness to invest in obsolete and financially distressed properties, supporters say.

  • Stoplights and street between two tall buildings with more tall buildings in the background.
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    peeterv via Getty Images
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    Cities can decarbonize buildings while cutting costs, new road map says

    The guide from Climate Mayors and Veolia aims to help cities tackle one of their biggest greenhouse gas emissions challenges, even as federal support for energy efficiency and decarbonization shrinks.

  • workers at a recycling facility
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    Courtesy of Amazon
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    Q&A

    Amazon reaches 85% waste diversion rate

    Organics diversion programs and ongoing data collection investments are some drivers of that 2024 achievement, according to Justine Mahler, the company's waste and biodiversity director.

  • Austin, Texas State Capitol
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    Tamir Kalifa/Stringer via Getty Images
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    Texas law eases commercial building conversions to mixed-use, apartments

    Senate Bill 840 requires local governments to approve any project that meets its qualifications.

  • Philadelphia schools, asbestos, DOJ, criminal charges
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    Kyle Little via Getty Images
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    Asbestos lapses in Philadelphia school district will get deferred criminal prosecution, monitoring

    The case marks the first time federal prosecutors have used criminal charges against a public entity for failing to meet requirements for assessing and managing damaged asbestos, the Department of Justice says.

  • Energy Star NextGen Certified Building Logo
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    (2025). "ENERGY STAR NextGen Certification for Commercial Buildings" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Energy Star.
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    Column

    The Energy Star program has grown into an industry standard-setter

    The program’s Portfolio Manager software is used to track the energy use of almost 25% of commercial buildings. Its end could put owners, cities and states in a bind — at least for the short term.

  • A ventilation unit moves air in an office building.
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    Onurdongel via Getty Images
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    ASHRAE focusing on indoor environmental quality, sustainability

    President Bill McQuade’s theme for 2025-26 is healthy buildings. That goal doesn’t have to come at the expense of energy efficiency, a standards committee member says.

  • Business people at a conference event.
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    sanjeri via Getty Images
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    Facilities management conferences to note in 2025

    Here’s a look at the top events for building operators and their staffs happening in the second half of the year.

    Updated June 27, 2025
  • Section 179D Energy Efficient Commercial Building Deduction
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    afterday via Getty Images
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    Groups decry Senate’s elimination of building efficiency deduction

    The Section 179D Energy Efficient Commercial Building Deduction has grown into a major incentive for owners to retrofit their properties, supporters say.  

  • Hennepin County, energy, decarbonization
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    sfe-co2 via Getty Images
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    Minnesota county faces challenge in decarbonizing well-maintained district energy system

    Hennepin County “has done too good of a job” maintaining its 15-building steam and chilled water loops, leaving little room for incremental improvements, the project’s engineering consultant said at an industry conference.

  • Construction worker walking on the campus of Yale University
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    Alexander Farnsworth via Getty Images
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    Yale pauses 10 projects as funding worries grow

    Several universities are reassessing their capital plans due to rising costs and uncertain federal support.

  • Polyloom, Grassroots Environmental, SLAPP Lawsuit
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    sutichak via Getty Images
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    Manufacturer accused of trying to stop talk on possible turf health impacts

    Grassroots Environmental Education and some scientists filed a lawsuit against Polyloom Corp. of America for allegedly using a defamation lawsuit against them to stop their participation in a webinar.

  • A technician looks at a work order form in front of a industrial HVAC units.
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    Vladdeep via Getty Images
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    Carrier, IBM launch AI-driven maintenance upgrades

    Interactive dashboards, alerts and to-do lists added to the company’s platforms aim to improve efficiency and execution during lifecycle and maintenance operations. 

  • U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) speaks to reporters after walking off the Senate floor at the US Capitol Hill on June 29 in Washington, D.C. Senate Republicans worked overnight, forced by Democrats to read a new version of the "One, Big, Beautiful Bill," as they approach President Donald Trump's July 4 deadline.
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    Tasos Katopodis via Getty Images
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    Senate reverses course, proposing harsh tax on renewables

    Former Trump senior adviser Elon Musk on Saturday said the Senate’s latest draft of the bill “gives handouts to industries of the past while severely damaging industries of the future.”

  • Students and a teacher are working with equipment in a classroom. They are wearing work shirts and safety goggles.
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    Phynart Studio via Getty Images
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    Career and technical education’s proposed move to Labor Department denounced by advocates, lawmakers

    The Trump administration says the CTE change will improve efficiencies and spur innovation. Critics say it's "fragmented" and "illegal."

  • A technician programs an automation system
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    RainStar via Getty Images
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    Most building management systems exposed to cyber vulnerabilities, experts warn

    A study of over 467,000 building management systems across 500 organizations found that 2% of all devices essential to business operations had the highest level of risk exposure. 

  • New York offering up to $750K for facility decarbonization projects

    The Large-Scale Thermal program is accepting applications through July 31 for heating, cooling and hot water systems in single buildings of at least 100,000 square feet or campuses of 250,000 square feet and up.

  • An empty office in a downtown in the process of a conversion.
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    JuliaMag via Getty Images
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    Office conversions accelerate, but many older buildings face demolition: reports

    High vacancy rates have driven building owners to repurpose space, which should help the U.S. office market’s recovery. But high costs and incompatible structural designs remain challenges, CBRE says.

  • Longworth Congressional Building
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    Win McNamee via Getty Images
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    Utilities, energy developers back Senate’s more lenient tax credit timeline

    A powerful coalition of trade associations and energy groups thanked senators for rolling back some of the House version’s deepest cuts, but the two chambers will need to agree on a final bill.

  • The entrance to the National Science Foundation's building.
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    JHVEPhoto via Getty Images
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    Judge strikes down National Science Foundation’s 15% funding cap for research overhead

    The new ruling blocks an effort to cap research overhead reimbursements, which universities use to support development and maintenance of laboratories and facilities.

  • An aerial view of the Shotwick Solar Energy Park on February 25, 2025 in Deeside, Wales.
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    Christopher Furlong via Getty Images
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    Senate Finance Committee reduces House IRA cuts, but few changes for wind and solar

    Wind and solar projects must begin construction by the end of 2025 to qualify for the Inflation Reduction Act’s full 45Y and 48E tax credits in the Finance Committee's proposed budget bill.