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Wednesday, March 20: The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works will hold a hearing about the Environmental Protection Agency’s recently proposed designation of PFAS chemicals as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. PFAS do not break down easily, leading to pollution in soils and groundwater, eventually accumulating in wildlife….

In the dynamic world of facilities management, where the challenge lies in maintaining peak operational conditions amidst budget constraints, the adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” becomes more than just a saying—it’s a necessity. As organizations strive for efficiency with limited resources, embracing a robust preventive maintenance program emerges as…

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized 103 U.S. manufacturing plants that earned the agency’s ENERGY STAR certification in 2023, a designation reserved for manufacturing plants in the top 25% of energy efficiency in their sector. Together, these facilities prevented more than 8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to the emissions from…

Bucktail cites challenging fiscal issues contributing to its decision to close. Bucktail Medical Center announced that it will be closing its long-term care facility, effective May 14, 2024. Like many rural hospitals nationwide, Bucktail Medical Center has been grappling with challenging fiscal issues over the past decade. Faced with overwhelming and ongoing revenue shortfalls associated…

Construction workers are encouraged to work with the facilities team to best determine how to protect patients during a project. When protecting people on a construction site, there are many “what ifs” that need to be considered. When healthcare settings are added to the mix, that list of potential situations only grows longer. Construction workers…

In today’s healthcare landscape, the optimal medical office goes beyond a surface-level focus on wellness to intentionally supporting emotional well-being and the whole patient. The current mental health crisis impacting patients has influenced the kind of care our communities are seeking out, while exasperating the burden on the medical staff supporting them. Medical spaces need…

As an architect, I’ve always been fascinated by the seamless blend of creativity and precision in our field. However, one aspect that often goes unnoticed is the ability to efficiently manage the daily routine of seemingly mundane tasks. Over the years, I’ve honed my skills in this area, transforming these tasks into opportunities for growth…

Convention center Wi-Fi networks must support tens of thousands of wireless devices and a multitude of technologies. The hundreds of venues in the United States typically accommodate several thousand attendees, whether they are there for a business conference, cheer competition, fishing expo, or other major event. Why It Matters Modern convention centers and other large-scale…

After experiencing the Lahaina, Hawaii, wildfire, Facility Influencer Maureen Roskoski shares three takeaways for emergency response On Aug. 8, 2023, I flew into Maui from the Big Island of Hawaii for a four-day adventure based in Lahaina. Unfortunately, on that day, Maui experienced the worst natural disaster in state history and the deadliest U.S. wildfire…

Snaking through every American supermarket are miles of refrigerator piping, keeping unsold food cold in the fridges of the dairy, meat and frozen food aisles. Those pipes contain some of the most potent global warming chemicals produced by any industry on earth. The hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) within them are typically between 1,400 and 4,000 times more…