ey Takeaways: Dynamic Closed Loop geothermal technology can make geothermal heating and cooling more practical for facilities with limited space by reducing the size of the underground energy capture field. North Shore School District 112’s project highlights how geothermal can provide consistent temperatures, improved ventilation and potential long-term maintenance advantages while supporting broader sustainability goals. Federal, state, local and utility incentives can significantly improve geothermal’s financial case, shortening the payback period and making advanced HVAC upgrades more achievable for school districts and other institutions. While Waunakee has shown what conventional geothermal can achieve over the long term, North Shore School District 112 is exploring how innovations can make geothermal practical for more buildings. With a commitment to fiscal responsibility and environmental stewardship, this district investigated geothermal energy, seeking to reduce energy usage, lower emissions and enhance comfort within the building.
Read This » Designing Office Lighting for Neurodiverse Employeesey Takeaways: Flexible lighting can help accommodate the diverse sensory needs of neurodiverse and neurotypical employees.
Read This » How AI Predictive Maintenance Succeeds: Training, Data Integration and Trustey Takeaways: Successful AI-powered predictive maintenance depends on preparing employees through training, addressing misconceptions and helping teams adapt to new workflows rather than fearing job replacement.
Read This » Cybersecurity and Identity Verification Take Center Stage in Visitor Managementey Takeaways: As visitor management and access control systems move to IP networks, cybersecurity and data privacy have become critical considerations for facility managers. Organizations should carefully vet vendors on issues such as encryption, data retention, authentication and ongoing security updates before adopting new platforms. Modern visitor management now combines security, operational efficiency and tenant experience, requiring collaboration between facilities, IT and leadership teams. Cybersecurity is no longer optional as visitor management and access control systems move onto IP networks. This makes vetting access control and visitor management platform vendors vital, stresses Geoff Kohl, senior director of marketing at the Security Industry Association (SIA).
Read This » Every Detail Matters: A Patient's Story of Healing, Hope and Healthcare Facilitiesnbsp; What makes a hospital feel safe? What transforms a building into a place of healing? For the season finale of Facilities in Focus, we're ending on a story that puts people at the center of everything facility managers do.
Read This » Building a Better Water Management Strategyey Takeaways: The WELL Building Standard promotes a proactive water management cycle that includes assessing building water, improving plumbing systems, routine monitoring and independent third-party testing to maintain water quality. Effective water treatment requires building-specific solutions based on testing results, with technologies such as filtration, activated carbon, UV disinfection and ion exchange selected to address specific contaminants without creating new risks. Regular water quality monitoring and transparent sharing of test results help build occupant confidence in tap water, supporting healthier hydration habits and reducing reliance on bottled water. Rather than reacting to water quality problems, WELL emphasizes a proactive management cycle built around four steps: Assess your building water If needed, improve or fix your building water system Routinely monitor the quality of your water, correcting issues if results are concerning Have a third party testing the water quality. As such, water needs to be assessed by testing for metals, chemicals and sediments.
Read This » How Facility Managers Decide When to Rent or Buy Equipmentey Takeaways: The decision to rent or buy equipment should be based on a thorough cost-of-ownership analysis that considers purchase price, maintenance, lifespan, utilization and overall value to the organization. Equipment used frequently or that is difficult to rent is often a better candidate for purchase, while specialized or short-term project equipment is typically more cost-effective to rent unless buying and reselling offers greater savings. Successful equipment decisions depend on understanding an organization’s operational needs and financial data, with managers benefiting from strong rental partners and a clear understanding of total lifecycle costs to support long-term planning. Facility Maintenance Decisions recently spoke to Nico Viola, CFM, SFP, director of facilities at Holden Forests & Gardens.
Read This » IAQ’s Impact on the Bottom Lineey Takeaways: For organizations, the quality of the indoor air can have real financial impacts.
Read This » Quietly, Sustainability Goes Onutting aside actual national politics, there’s no denying the climate in Washington, D.C., has changed in the last two years.
Read This » Making the Most of Metal Roofingey Takeaways: Standing seam metal is one of the most durable systems available, and it typically outlasts most conventional roofs. A metal roof’s substrate matters enormously.
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