The Covid Relief Bill that was approved by Congress in December includes about $35.2 billion in energy initiatives. The Energy Act of 2020 authorizes RD&D activities and programs to advance new technologies. Photovoltaics, new transportation technologies and energy-efficiency technologies received a significant portion of the...
The pandemic control measures have led to a dynamic economic environment that is impacting the energy market. Since shutdowns have occurred in other countries as well as the U.S., reopening and recovery is unpredictable. Renewable projects that were postponed due to the pandemic are expected...
If you are looking for a project that is simple to implement but will provide significant return on investment, converting your facility to LED lighting hits the mark. The initial investment plus the higher cost of LED bulbs may cause hesitation for some building managers,...
Expensive energy improvements are now easier to fund using options such as Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) programs. Both services provide building owners access to funding for energy-related capital improvements without going through the process of requesting corporate capital dollars. Facilities managers know getting funding...
Renewable Energy Buildings are being designed to be electric-powered to help with reducing fossil fuel usage. The irony is that a large part of the electric production today is coming from the use of fossil fuels, but this must be viewed as part of the transition...
Life Safety Systems are required by building codes and considered one of the most important systems in the building from the occupant’s perspective. Therefore, facility managers have a responsibility to keep them functional and effective. Life Safety Systems are building systems whose function is to provide...
On October 1, 2020, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) published the results of their Better Buildings, Better Plants program. Partners in the program worked with DOE experts to set energy efficiency goals and implement solutions. The DOE supports partners by providing technical expertise, connecting...
Commercial building stakeholders have been investing heavily in energy efficiency and cost effectiveness in their building systems. Their strategies focused on selecting HVAC equipment that delivered exactly what was needed, not more, to keep energy usage at a minimum while keeping equipment cost low. Like...
A major part of the workforce experimented with working remotely in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The necessity of conducting business from a fixed location on a daily basis has been challenging. Many employees are beginning to expect employers to offer options to work from...
Commercial building managers rely on their Energy and Facility Management Software (EFMS) to keep ahead of facility needs. Without the support of the data gathered by automated building systems, building managers would be at a disadvantage when making strategic decisions. As buildings become more automated,...