Energy service performance contracts aren’t just for public facilities

Private facilities can use them, too, if the property doesn’t have tenants or if the owner is responsible for energy use, says an advocate for energy service companies.

Denka cites emissions compliance costs for closing production facilities

The cost of keeping the LaPlace site emissions-compliant led to an “extraordinary loss” of 16.1 billion yen for the Japan-based manufacturer.

Among those in skilled trades, high hopes for a renewed focus on apprenticeships

A push by the Trump administration to put more money into hands-on training is seen as a good start to addressing a longstanding, bipartisan concern: the persistent labor shortage in skilled trades. 

Energy savings start with benchmarking, team-led audits, expert says

By educating staff on how small changes and regular maintenance to systems can impact energy, facility teams can improve efficiency without costly upgrades, according to a sustainability director at ESFM.

Updated May 22, 2025

Republican budget squeezes out of House committee, but deeper IRA cuts could come

Deficit hawks voted to advance the legislation for now but said they negotiated for more cuts to clean energy incentives.

Multi-site property management tools come to market

Ecotrak launched a computerized maintenance management system for small businesses at $25 per month per location, while Mallcomm rebranded as Kinexio in the U.S. and launched an AI-driven platform.

Company touts new generation of UVC light to kill pathogens in occupied rooms

By using light on a shorter wavelength, the ultraviolet C bulbs can eliminate pathogens without penetrating skin and eyes, says Lit Thinking CEO John Rajchert.  

Big verdicts in premises liability cases put spotlight on facilities managers

Verdicts in the tens of millions of dollars are increasingly common in cases involving organizations’ physical spaces, and the trend is likely to persist, a risk manager says.

NYC leads return-to-office as hybrid work increases: Trial Balance

Placer.ai’s April 2025 Office Index shows continued recovery in office foot traffic, with New York City leading the rebound.

Penn State University proposes closing 7 commonwealth campuses

To continue operating, the campuses would require $200 million investment in facilities — "resources that could be redirected to enhance and strengthen the campuses that remain," a report says. 

Archibus FedRAMP designation underscores new occupancy tracking focus of federal agencies

The fast-tracked authorization of this and another workplace management tool suggests the federal government is serious about matching its real estate to its needs.  

Updated May 20, 2025

How states are thinking about organic waste policy

Facilities could be subject to bills in dozens of state legislatures that are trying to reduce the environmental impact of food waste.  

‘Rogue’ communication devices found on Chinese-made power inverters

The issue could be important to facilities managers if they oversee on-site solar arrays or battery storage systems, with Chinese-made inverters on them, to provide energy resilience or to send supplemental power to the grid to reduce costs. 

California bill would expand school districts’ cost recovery options for facility rentals

AB 503 would restore an expanded definition of “direct costs” eligible for recovery through facility rental fees, which could help shore up district finances as public education budgets tighten.

Lawmakers spar over IRA credits in budget hearings

Members of the House are debating the Inflation Reduction Act’s costs and benefits after Republicans proposed major cuts.

For the big players in facilities management, a good quarter

Despite tariff uncertainty and recent reorganizations, the four largest U.S. commercial real estate brokerages — CBRE, JLL, Cushman & Wakefield and Colliers — reported strong growth in the first quarter. 

HqO launches platform to link building operations, tenant experience and financial outcomes

The platform aims to unify disconnected data and processes and provide a system of record for tenant experience that can help inform asset value and decision-making.

IFMA adds its name to Energy Star fight

Facility managers rely on the program for making informed decisions about commercial appliances and building systems, the group says.

World FM Day puts renewed focus on talent

Finding skilled labor is a struggle for many facilities managers, but training workers on the newest tools can help to boost morale and meet operational goals, experts say.

House GOP proposes early phaseout of IRA clean energy tax credits

The House Ways and Means Committee’s draft budget scales back the technology-neutral clean energy investment and production tax credits while leaving carbon capture credits largely intact.

LEED v5 – now released – increases focus on indoor environment, worker safety

The new version streamlines decarbonization targets and accounts for indoor air quality, continuous monitoring and maintenance staff safety, USGBC’s director of existing buildings says.

Federal agencies told to start tracking building occupancy

An Office of Management and Budget memo accelerates and expands a process that the Biden administration began to require at least 60% occupancy of federal buildings.

CBRE: Think of your smart building data as jet fuel

Artificial intelligence can be a game changer by making building operations a value-added part of an organization, but facilities managers must be unyielding in the quality of their data, says Tim Schipper, CBRE’s EVP of global operations. 

Building obsolescence risks can help guide renovation planning: JLL

Deep retrofits of central business district office assets can generate well over $3,500 per square meter while saving upwards of 60% on energy costs, the company says.

Trump rolls back Biden-era efficiency rules

The standards covered tankless natural gas water heaters and commercial refrigeration equipment. A fourth resolution nixed certification requirements for a range of products.