Facilities Management articles for the week of 12/13/2020 - 12/19/2020

What Does Portfolio Manager Data Say About the Rise of Renewables?

A recent report analyzing EPA Energy Star's Portfolio Manager database for use of on-site renewable energy generation found adoption grew ten-fold since 2009, now involving nearly 1 percent of all buildings in Portfolio Manager.

Read This » COVID-19 Has Changed Everything … Or Not

It’s nearly impossible these days to have a discussion about COVID-19 in institutional and commercial facilities without hearing about the impact the pandemic has had.

Read This » Considerations for Retrofitting for Seismic Resilience

While some old buildings have seismic deficiencies that can only be fixed with major structural work, many buildings can realize significant improvements in seismic performance with simple, inexpensive improvements, such as adding plywood to floors and roofs, strengthening wall connections to floors and roofs, and even just strengthening the connection between the building and foundations.

Read This » Strategies to Go Touch-Free with Interior Doors

Moving deeper into the facility, there are high-use spaces such as meeting rooms and classrooms that are typically outfitted with swinging doors.

Read This » Going Beyond Green: The Evolution of Sustainability in a Post COVID-19 World

While COVID-19 has brought much despair, it’s also worth noticing the many new beginnings that the first half of 2020 has brought: Perhaps most notably are the glimpses of environmental repair and the renewed focus on health and wellness, both in the workplace and in the work-at-home environment.  Fresh water, cleaner air, and smog-free city skylines have all been a part of this reduced-activity era.

Read This » Aerial Work Platforms: Maintenance Strategies That Deliver Reliability and Safety

Aerial work platforms provide vital access for maintenance and engineering technicians working in the toughest-to-reach areas of institutional and commercial facilities.

Read This » Pandemic Protocol: Keep a Close Eye on the Bottom Line

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed nearly everything.

Read This » Steps to Take to Ensure Timely, Successful Roof Repairs

Once a facility manager determines repair work needs to be done, there are certain steps to take without actually having to rip the whole thing off and start over. One important step that many building owners and managers overlook is conferring with the manufacturer of the existing roofing system, says Chadwick Collins, Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association technical director.

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