Opinion
The latest opinion pieces by industry thought leaders
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Solving the communication gap behind refrigeration problems
Many system breakdowns begin long before there’s equipment failure. The key to heading these off is early escalation of process safety management anomalies.
Kushal Aurangabadkar • Dec. 17, 2025 -
Courtesy of Hughes Safety Showers
Keeping worker protection aligned with data center expansion
Lead-acid and lithium battery chemicals, refrigerants and some cleaning supplies are among data center hazards that require immediate treatment if on-site personnel come in contact with them.
James Hamilton • Dec. 9, 2025 -
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Sensor data is key to generating ROI from AI investments
Insight into how people use a space can enable building operators to optimize what they have rather than spend money to add more, says Honghao Deng, CEO of AI platform company Butlr.
Honghao Deng • Dec. 3, 2025 -
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What a tech-centric workplace approach looks like
The boundaries between digital and physical workplace environments will blur further as AI and IoT technologies mature, creating a new wave of data-driven operations.
Bob Cicero • Nov. 14, 2025 -
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Treating project design support as an operational activity
Changing space needs is a feature of today’s business environment. Here’s how retaining a design team can give facility managers a nimbleness that saves them money and lets them leverage fast-moving opportunities.
Ryan Elder • Oct. 28, 2025 -
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How FMs can improve data center performance-per-watt
Generating money-saving PPW gains begins with an understanding of the right liquid cooling approach for your operations.
Angela Taylor • Oct. 10, 2025 -
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The hidden costs of water leaks
Higher insurance premiums and difficulty getting coverage are two costs from water leaks that facilities managers might not be thinking about, but they can impact your organization’s bottom line.
Nadav Schnall • Oct. 7, 2025 -
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How FMs can more accurately report ESG-friendly furniture decommissions
EPA’s waste reduction model understates emissions reductions from furniture reuse. To show a more meaningful value, facility managers should request lifecycle assessments from suppliers.
Dale Ewing • Sept. 18, 2025 -
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Energy prices are soaring. Better buildings can help.
Cutting off clean energy sources while demand for AI skyrockets will spike energy prices. Energy efficiency is a solution for reducing grid loads while reducing the need for expensive infrastructure investment.
Alex Dews • Sept. 12, 2025 -
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NYC’s Safe Hotels Act, with its staffing mandates, signals a shift for operators
Whether the law delivers meaningful improvements in safety and labor standards remains to be seen, but its early effects on staffing and costs have created challenges for hotels.
Yariv Ben-Ari • Aug. 8, 2025 -
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How California’s CEQA reforms will speed up commercial projects
The state’s effort to overhaul its tough environmental law is aimed at easing its housing shortage, but manufacturing, health clinics, childcare centers and other facility types stand to benefit.
William Sloan • July 23, 2025 -
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The often-overlooked shelter from the storm: green buildings
In the 2008-09 economic downturn, green buildings were a bright spot. They could be again as remote work, tariffs and inflation hang over the economy.
Mahesh Ramanujam • July 8, 2025 -
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ICE preparedness is crucial for hoteliers in 2025
As U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement crackdowns spread nationwide, hotels should prioritize tools and training to create a safe environment for workers and guests alike.
Nikki Marín Baena • June 17, 2025 -
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New ASCE codes aim to provide vital flood protection
The American Society of Civil Engineers’ updated standards mark a major shift in approach for design and construction in flood hazard areas, according to a floodplain manager.
Tom Little • June 13, 2025 -
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What should performance benchmarking look like post-Energy Star?
The proposed elimination of one of the federal government’s most successful sustainability programs raises questions about how to measure building efficiency.
Matt Ellis • June 6, 2025 -
Courtesy of IES
To save money, building owners should treat energy standards as a floor, not a ceiling
Projects to make their facilities more efficient are an opportunity for owners to use sustainability goals to drive long-term business value.
Christy Martell • May 9, 2025 -
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Your parking spaces are losing money. AI can fix that
By increasing engagement and goodwill, owners can create a value-added relationship with the people who visit their facilities.
Chris Donus • April 18, 2025 -
Retrieved from US Army Corps of Engineers.
Why microgrids are the key to grid resilience
Amid evolving domestic and geopolitical landscapes, microgrids offer a reliable, cost-effective energy solution — advancing the nation toward energy independence and security for years to come.
Nicole Bulgarino • April 15, 2025 -
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Tapping smart cleaning technology to improve building operations
With thermal sensors, facilities managers can adjust cleaning priorities based on occupancy patterns while protecting occupant privacy.
Honghao Deng • April 11, 2025 -
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How to prepare for an ICE raid at your hotel (with lessons for other facility types)
Owners and managers should know their rights, obligations and best practices as immigration enforcement ramps up across the U.S., per Mandelbaum Barrett PC attorneys.
Damian Conforti, Brent Pohlman and Frank Custode • April 7, 2025 -
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How bad asset tags undermine facilities management
Asset tagging can help building operators track equipment, streamline maintenance and prevent downtime, but there’s a recurring problem: teams realizing too late their labels have failed.
Stuart Jailler • March 14, 2025 -
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Building automation systems: A game-changer if you know how to keep score
By tracking data beyond the problem you’re trying to solve, you can surface unseen value.
Vineet Sinha • March 12, 2025 -
Courtesy of Nostromo
How hotels can cut energy costs — without cutting quality
Implementing on-site thermal energy storage could help hotels lower their electricity bills significantly, per the director of commercial operations at Nostromo Energy.
Doug Poffinbarger • Feb. 27, 2025 -
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Understanding cyber risk in smart building tech
The security of Internet of Things technology has come a long way, but outdated firmware, weak passwords and third-party access remain a threat.
Chris Barns • Feb. 26, 2025 -
Courtesy of Nostromo Energy
Energy storage systems can lower costs for building operators, even as average electricity prices rise
The return on investment for installing thermal energy storage systems is moving closer to between three and five years, with buildings joining programs like demand response, Nostromo Energy’s CEO says.
Yoram Ashery • July 24, 2024
