Insufficient data impacts return-to-office strategies, Envoy finds

Eighty percent of business leaders and building managers surveyed said they would have approached their policies differently if they had better insight into office usage.

By Joe Burns • Aug. 10, 2023

Washington building codes lawsuit dropped by gas, building groups

The litigation was an “aftershock” of a federal appeals court decision to overturn Berkeley, California’s first-in-the-nation ban on gas in new buildings, an Earthjustice senior attorney said. 

By Ysabelle Kempe • Aug. 10, 2023

Department of Energy earmarks $46M for building technology, retrofit practice research

The agency will release funds for 29 projects across 15 states to curtail energy consumption in the sector.

By Joe Burns • Aug. 9, 2023

The life sciences sector needs facility staff to match continued growth

Good Manufacturing Principles and specialized processes are straining employers’ abilities to fill building service roles.

By Joe Burns • Aug. 9, 2023

ASHRAE seeks comments on refrigerant system safety standard modifications

These addenda address standards for commercial air conditioning and refrigeration systems and safety data on numerous zeotropic refrigerant blends.

By Joe Burns • Aug. 7, 2023

Mayor Michelle Wu issues order to ban fossil fuels in Boston buildings

The executive order prohibits fossil fuel use in new municipal buildings and renovations of existing city-owned structures as part of a larger push for carbon neutrality by 2050.

By Nish Amarnath • Aug. 7, 2023

JLL property management, high-quality building services soften leasing woes

Boosted by above-average occupancy rates in sustainable and Class-A buildings, the firm cited a positive outlook despite missing earnings expectations.  

By Joe Burns • Aug. 4, 2023

ProSentry partners with Senet to put smart building tech into action

The collaboration aims to help operators incorporate low-cost building monitoring applications into Senet’s cloud-based connectivity and IoT service platform.

By Joe Burns • Aug. 3, 2023

Federal government lags behind in facilities upgrades, maintenance

Performing much-needed repairs and upgrading public spaces is key to retaining talent amid increasing return-to-office mandates, a JLL report says.

By Joe Burns • Aug. 1, 2023

ASHRAE invites comments on energy-efficient building equipment, lighting allowance addenda

The changes include a new rating mandate for fin-and-tube coils and exhaust energy recovery heat exchangers.

By Nish Amarnath • July 31, 2023

Bipartisan legislation eyes mechanical insulation for energy efficiency

The Federal Mechanical Insulation Act of 2023 seeks to cut emissions, save on costs and bolster safety measures in two years or less. 

By Nish Amarnath • July 27, 2023

SEC votes to overhaul disclosure rules for material cyber events

After a fierce debate, the agency voted to require companies to come clean on material breaches and attacks within four business days of determination.

By David Jones • July 26, 2023

ASHRAE calls for comments on refrigeration, control design analysis and efficient water use standard addenda

Changes include clarifications to the term “human comfort," organizational improvements and baseline requirements for efficient use of water in mechanical and process systems.

By Joe Burns • July 25, 2023

Utah, Louisiana building code measures seek to build climate change resilience

The measures in both states follow a spate of forest fires.

By Nish Amarnath • July 25, 2023

Energy-efficient buildings save lives during extreme weather events: Department of Energy

Meeting or exceeding current codes can improve habitability by up to 140% during extreme heat events, a report found.

By Joe Burns • July 25, 2023

Climate tech startup Aeroseal nets $67M

The company said the funding, led by Climate Investment and Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures, will be used to seal leaky air ducts in about 260,000 buildings per year by 2026.

By Nish Amarnath • July 24, 2023

EPA warns facility operators to prepare for severe weather

The Environmental Protection Agency advises operators to review shutdown and reporting procedures as the Gulf Coast enters hurricane season.

By Joe Burns • July 19, 2023

Oregon plans to install 500,000 new heat pumps by 2030. Who’s going to do the work?

The state plans to provide developers, builders, contractors and technicians with technical training to install energy-efficient appliances.

By Kavya Balaraman • July 19, 2023

OSHA electronic recordkeeping rule to take effect in 2024

In a second attempt to enhance electronic record mandates, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration rule requires employers with 100 or more employees to submit information from Forms 300 and 301 once a year.

By Ryan Golden • Updated July 17, 2023

Department of Energy awards ASHRAE $2.85M building code training grant

The initiative is expected to save four partner states more than $18.5 million by providing officials training to boost compliance with building energy codes.

By Joe Burns • July 17, 2023

JPMorgan transforms 27-year-old Polaris facility in Ohio into a smart building

The 2-million-square-foot building’s renovations involved installing almost 40,000 rooftop and carport solar modules, and will help achieve a 40% decarbonization target by 2030.

By Nish Amarnath • July 17, 2023

DOE awards $90M for greener building energy codes

The Energy Department says modernizing energy codes is one of the most cost-effective routes to improved energy efficiency in buildings and increased resilience to climate risk.

By Ysabelle Kempe • July 17, 2023

Poppy releases air tracer system to help buildings meet new ASHRAE standard

The company’s BreatheScore Certify product measures the effectiveness of building ventilation within 20 minutes and provides data on compliance with ASHRAE Standard 241, Control of Infectious Aerosols.

By Joe Burns • July 14, 2023

EPA wants stricter rules for child care centers, elementary schools

The Environmental Protection Agency’s draft proposed rule would significantly reduce levels of lead paint in older school and childcare buildings, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there are no safe lead levels for children. 

By Kara Arundel • July 14, 2023

Northampton mulls adoption of energy efficient opt-in stretch code

The Massachusetts city is weighing the pros and cons of embracing a specialized stretch energy code to dissuade fossil fuel use in new building construction.

By Nish Amarnath • July 13, 2023