GAO urges OMB to set benchmarks for federal office space utilization

The Government Accountability Office report suggests that the Office of Management and Budget prioritize consistent measures that better align space with future needs.

By Nish Amarnath • Nov. 1, 2023

Cushman & Wakefield’s property, facilities and project management segment remains flat

While services outperformed other business segments in Q3, the company still isn’t “satisfied with the low level of growth,” CEO Michelle MacKay said.

By Joe Burns • Nov. 1, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Office Space Utilization

From return-to-office mandates to pressures to boost the efficiency of office space utilization, facilities management professionals navigate a landscape that must align with evolving workforce and tenant preferences. 

By Facilities Dive staff

Higher prices for hard services contracts expected to linger: CBRE

Competition for labor will keep electric, plumbing and HVAC service contract costs elevated compared with those for soft services, the report states.    

By Joe Burns • Oct. 31, 2023

Schneider Electric predicts strong Q4 due to robust demand

A continued focus on electrification, digitization and sustainability projects will bolster market demand for data centers and grid infrastructure, the company says.

By Joe Burns • Oct. 30, 2023

Honeywell Building Technologies continues to grow order volume, expand margins

CFO Greg Lewis said that HBT remains “a bright spot for the business,” with orders growing 20% year over year, despite soft demand for security products and a challenging operating environment.

By Joe Burns • Oct. 27, 2023

Billions in deferred maintenance projects coming to US facilities

A nationwide push to address delayed upkeep on public buildings and infrastructure will create myriad opportunities for contractors, according to a consultant.

By Mary Scott Nabers • Oct. 26, 2023

Fed warns of stability risk from $24T commercial real estate market

Prices for commercial properties slumped 3.9% from the second quarter of last year to Q2 2023, well below the 3.3% average annual growth beginning in 1997.

By Jim Tyson • Oct. 25, 2023

Debate swirls at NYC hearing on proposed delays to building emissions enforcement

Participants weighed in on whether “good-faith efforts” toward compliance should delay penalties and whether renewable energy credits provide a worrisome loophole.

By Joe Burns • Updated Oct. 30, 2023

Rhizome launches climate resilience planning technology

The startup says its platform draws on national lab research, building information and machine learning tools to place “a value of resilience” on proposed grid investments.

By Joe Burns • Oct. 24, 2023

Microsoft leans on PPAs, energy efficiency, water recycling in environmental efforts

“Ensuring our buildings are energy efficient is a key first step in reducing emissions,” the tech giant said in its 2022 Environmental Report.

By Joe Burns • Oct. 23, 2023

Heat pumps are hot, but commercial retrofits face cold realities

Government decarbonization strategies call for widespread deployment of heat pumps for building heating and cooling, but experts warn of retrofit costs, disruption and other concerns.

By Nish Amarnath • Oct. 20, 2023

HqO raises $50M in push to digitize real estate experiences

The funding includes investment from multiple real estate firms and comes as owners and operators attempt to meet tenant demands and a flight to quality in workplaces.

By Joe Burns • Oct. 19, 2023

How facilities managers can transition away from fossil fuels

Building decarbonization is a marathon, not a sprint, and requires forward planning starting now, says Dan Arant, manager of North America sales at the energy and ESG division of Brightly.

By Nish Amarnath • Oct. 19, 2023

Utility, charging company battle over EV fast chargers slows deployment amid massive needs

State and federal policies are driving utilities and EV charger providers to transform U.S. transportation. They have found common ground in some areas but cannot agree on the utility role in fast-charging deployment.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 18, 2023

Clockworks Analytics acquires digital twin assets from Animated Insights

Animated Insights Chief Technology Officer Howard Davidson will join Clockworks to help integrate the technology into its fault detection and diagnostic platform.

By Joe Burns • Oct. 18, 2023

NineDot Energy signs Starbucks as anchor customer for NYC community battery storage

The batteries are part of New York's Value of Distributed Energy Resources program, which gives participants credits for discharging energy during times of high grid demand.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 18, 2023

Washington, DC, aims to attract sustainable office-to-multifamily conversions

While the pace of adaptive reuse projects has slowed, the city is offering incentives to bring more housing to the urban core.

By Mary Salmonsen • Oct. 17, 2023

GSA issues RFI for Green Proving Ground program

A $30 million funding bump will help the agency evaluate new technologies meant to improve the sustainability and efficiency of its buildings.

By Joe Burns • Oct. 17, 2023

How Google is decarbonizing its facilities

Smart temperature and lighting controls, power purchase agreements and building electrification are all being used by the tech giant to reduce scope 2 emissions.

By Joe Burns • Oct. 16, 2023

Bedrock Energy raises $8.5M for autonomous geothermal HVAC technology

The company says it uses autonomous drilling and advanced subsurface modeling to help property owners recoup their decarbonization investments in under five years.

By Nish Amarnath • Oct. 16, 2023

EVPassport charges up with $200M Northleaf investment

The EV infrastructure-as-a-service company aims to deploy over 10,000 chargers in the next two years across areas with high EV adoption, such as California, Texas and Florida. 

By Joe Burns • Oct. 13, 2023

Facilities management conferences ahead in 2024

Improving building management processes, streamlining operations and meeting sustainability goals are key focal points at events across the U.S. 

By Joe Burns • Updated June 7, 2024

New York launches $10M prize for low-carbon heating retrofits in tall buildings

The Empire Technology Prize aims to bring the public and private sectors together to advance steam-focused heat pump retrofits that do not displace occupants or existing infrastructure.

By Joe Burns • Oct. 12, 2023

High office vacancies contrast with data center growth: CBRE market reports

Artificial intelligence has driven strong data center leasing growth in Dallas/Fort Worth, while San Francisco continues to struggle with converting unused office space. 

By Joe Burns • Oct. 11, 2023

Matterport adds AI-enabled automated room measurements to its digital twin platform

The technology reduces the time required to capture property data and helps operators optimize the functionality of spaces, the company says.

By Joe Burns • Oct. 10, 2023