DOE releases $31M+ in grants for retrofits, infrastructure upgrades

The funding aims to give states flexible capital to perform audits, studies and retrofits that help meet net-zero emission goals.

The property insurance market is softening, but premiums could remain high

Inflation and natural catastrophes will keep premiums high, at least in the near term, for all but the best risks, a specialist says.

Without significant interventions, US building emissions will continue to increase

U.S. buildings need a 73% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the next 20 years to meet net-zero emissions goals, a new report says.

Renew Energy Partners, EnergyRM will finance up to $200M in CRE energy retrofits

Building owners can receive project capital through EnergyRM’s fintech transaction platform and make repayments through post-retrofit energy savings, Renew says.

5 Okta customers snared in attack on the provider’s support system

The identity and access management provider says the attack was most likely linked to a compromised employee’s personal Google account or personal device.

Cushman & Wakefield AI strategy aims for greater insights, efficiency across CRE lifecycle

AI+ will bring together proprietary data, partnerships and technology to support client decision-making, the commercial real estate services firm says.

DOE allocates $169M to propel electric heat pump manufacturing across 13 states

The nine projects funded across 15 sites will create more than 1,700 jobs and reduce emissions, the U.S. Department of Energy said.

Stanley Steemer hack breached data of almost 67K customers

The cleaning company said attackers gained access to its systems nearly a month before the intrusion was discovered in March.

Matterport partners with Belden on industrial automation, smart building infrastructure

The agreement will help facilities manage their physical environments by improving sustainability and bolstering cost efficiencies across operations, the companies say.

Office-to-residential conversion costs can be 30% lower than new construction: Gensler

Only 25% of the office buildings it assessed for adaptive reuse were deemed suitable for conversion, however, according to the firm’s analysis. 

Plans to get an entire block off the natural gas system take shape in one California city

Albany, California, wants to lay the groundwork for widescale adoption of this emerging building decarbonization approach.

Schneider Electric adds OpenAI to energy and sustainability tool, other products

The Resource Advisor Copilot conversational tool aims to help facilities managers aggregate energy consumption data, a Schneider executive says.

DOE grants aim to expand building energy workforce training

The $40 million-plus funding will add new building training and assessment centers and industrial assessment centers, which provide technical assistance to commercial and institutional buildings and some manufacturers. 

Could apprenticeships help address the skilled worker shortage?

Janitors and other high-churn, low-wage U.S. workers could benefit from a proposed apprenticeship system to become electricians, construction managers and other skilled professionals, a new report says.

Tech firms shift from remote to hybrid work: JLL

Tech-enabled spaces and enhanced amenities are priorities for companies with return-to-office mandates, while some firms still see remote-first policies as a talent acquisition tool.

NFMT Remix highlights tech disruption in facilities management

Uses of generative AI and the Internet of Things, environmental data collection and reporting, and cybersecurity were among the topics conference speakers addressed.

Boston ends efforts to ban fossil fuels in new buildings through state program

Mayor Wu said she received "clear indications" the city wouldn't be chosen for the Massachusetts program. Boston now plans to explore zoning changes and a home-rule petition.

Boston Logan Airport opens Terminal E after $33M facelift

The renovation, which included exterior insulation, solar power and additional electrification efforts, aimed to improve energy efficiency to exceed Massachusetts energy code standards by at least 20%. 

Envoy adds emergency notifications to combat hybrid work safety concerns

The alerts pull from occupancy data to alert employees based on where they are. The company also introduced data-based attendance insights for proactive space management.

Why CBRE built an AI playground

The self-service platform aims to help employees leverage generative AI tools without added risk, the commercial real estate services and investment firm said.

BrightGo sweeps up $3M to develop janitorial service management software

The janitorial software company says the money will expedite the development of its centralized dashboard and mobile app integration to help customers manage employees and ease contract payments.

Limble, Samsara automate maintenance workflows for vehicle fleet management

The IoT integration seeks to use real-time sensor data and synchronized workflows to combat the challenges of aging equipment, supply chain disruptions and rising service technician labor costs.

Okta employee data breached in third-party healthcare attack

A breach on a third-party vendor compromised the health information of nearly 5,000 employees at the identity and access management firm, underscoring the need for data security across all systems.

Updated Nov. 22, 2023

Facilities management, project management revenues buoy service firms

Increased outsourcing offset sharp declines in leasing, while building technology and hardware providers hung their hats on electrification and automation trends.

DOL’s proposed overtime rule change faces pushback

Commenters on the rule suggested the agency reduce the minimum increase threshold, delay the rule’s enactment or abandon it altogether.