The Hidden Cost on Your Budget: Why Inaccurate Asset Data Is Costing You More than You Realize
Facilities leaders face escalating budgets because inaccurate asset data forces reactive maintenance and costly decision‑making. Deloitte research shows teams waste up to 20% of their time searching for information, while the U.S. Department of Energy links poor data to 12‑18% higher maintenance costs. Without a unified view of an asset’s lifecycle, organizations miscalculate total cost of ownership, leading to premature replacements and audit penalties. Implementing a single source of truth for asset health can shift operations from crisis‑driven to strategic, cutting expenses and boosting compliance.
All Buildings Will Have Behind-the-Meter Power Eventually: Trane CEO
Trane Technologies reported $5 billion in first‑quarter revenue, a 6% year‑over‑year increase, driven by strong growth in its Americas commercial HVAC segment. CEO David Regnery said the company expects behind‑the‑meter power to become standard in all buildings, reducing the typical 30%...
No Sign that AI Is Cooling Leasing Demand: JLL
JLL reported a 7% year‑over‑year increase in North American office leasing volume in Q1, while industrial leasing revenue surged 17% driven by data‑center demand. The firm’s CFO noted that the AI boom has actually boosted leasing activity in coastal markets...
Billions in Battery Tax Credits Hinge on FEOC Compliance
The Treasury’s new N‑26‑15 guidance turns Foreign Entity of Concern (FEOC) compliance into a project‑level calculation that determines eligibility for the Section 48E investment tax credit and the Section 45X advanced manufacturing credit. Developers must now compute a material assistance cost ratio...
AI, Connectivity Demands Make Next-Gen Wi-Fi a Priority for More Building Operators
Cisco’s 2026 State of Wireless survey of over 6,000 professionals shows AI‑driven connectivity demands are pushing building operators to replace legacy Wi‑Fi with next‑generation standards. More than three‑quarters of respondents are already deploying or planning Wi‑Fi 6E or 7, and 80%...
Johnson Controls Boosts HVAC Optimization Through Nantum AI Purchase
Johnson Controls announced the acquisition of New York‑based Nantum AI, a provider of AI algorithms for HVAC optimization. The deal enhances the OpenBlue cloud platform with real‑time airflow and occupancy‑driven controls, targeting complex facilities such as universities and hospitals. Nantum’s technology...
Hyatt Regency Chicago Completes Final Phase of $200M Facelift
Hyatt Regency Chicago has finished the final phase of its $200 million renovation, concentrating on a modernized Grand Ballroom. The three‑phase project, part of a $368 million investment since 2013, refreshed guest rooms, meeting venues, and added digital amenities. The upgrade positions...
Building Automation Continues to Overperform, Honeywell Says
Honeywell’s building‑automation segment lifted first‑quarter revenue, posting an 8% organic rise to $1.88 billion and helping overall sales climb 2% to $9.1 billion. Growth was driven by surging demand in data‑center and healthcare facilities, especially as liquid‑cooling and bring‑your‑own‑power trends raise control‑system...
JLL Launches Healthcare Facility Accreditation Program
JLL’s healthcare division unveiled the Accreditation Lifecycle Program (ALG), a multi‑year compliance solution designed to keep hospitals continuously ready for The Joint Commission’s new Accreditation 360 standards. The platform aligns with the Joint Commission’s cycle, centralizing drawings, inspections and audit trails...
Why Mobile Access Control Standards Matter for Building Operations
The Connectivity Standards Alliance unveiled Aliro in February 2026, the first open, interoperable protocol for mobile access credentials. Kastle Systems became the inaugural vendor to roll out Aliro‑certified credentials across Apple Wallet, Google Wallet and Samsung Wallet at the International Security...
7-Eleven to Remodel over 7,000 Stores in North America Through 2030
7‑Eleven announced a plan to remodel at least 7,000 North American convenience stores through 2030, adopting its large‑format, food‑focused "new standard" design. The upgraded stores are projected to generate 30% more foot traffic after one year and 44% higher sales...
CBRE Revenue Jumps 19% on Pivot to Data Center Services
CBRE reported first‑quarter 2026 revenue of $10.5 billion, up 19% year over year, driven by a 71% surge in critical infrastructure services and a tripling of data‑center leasing revenue after its Pearce Services acquisition. The Building Operations & Experience segment rose...
Careful Facility Operations Can Cut Data Center Loss Risk
ATA Insurance CEO Alistair Blundy warned that data centers represent an order‑of‑magnitude higher insured exposure than traditional assets, with an average football‑field site holding $13.6 billion in GPUs. Insurers are scrambling to create bespoke, cross‑line policies because conventional siloed coverage fails...
Small, Connected Data Centers Will Power AI, a Builder Says
Pete Sacco, CEO of PTS Data Center Solutions, warned that megawatt‑scale data centers are losing relevance as AI shifts toward inference workloads that demand millisecond‑level response times. He argued that latency‑critical inference requires facilities located near end‑users, prompting a move...
Retailer Miniso Taps Nest to Improve Store Operations
Miniso has partnered with Nest to manage HVAC, lighting, plumbing and general maintenance for over 300 U.S. stores. Nest will use its cloud‑based Facilitate platform to automate work orders, track equipment history and provide analytics. The agreement aims to create...
Better Data Management Can Speed Facility Maintenance by 20%: InfraMappa
InfraMappa’s Vice President of Sales Katherine Pfeil warned that 60% of facility managers waste up to 20% of their time searching for equipment data, a problem highlighted by an IFMA survey. She argued that consolidating make, model, service history and location...
Congress Presses DOE’s Wright on Energy Star
Energy Secretary Chris Wright faced a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on April 16, 2026, where lawmakers questioned the Department of Energy’s 2027 budget. The budget omits a dedicated line item for the Energy Star program, which EPA transferred to DOE in...
Fit-Out Costs Escalate as High Energy Prices Impact Labor and Materials: JLL
JLL’s 2026 Global Fit‑Out Cost Guide shows North American fit‑out expenses climbing to an average $3,200 per square metre, the highest level worldwide. Year‑over‑year costs rose 4.2%, spurred by surging energy prices, a 26‑30% jump in copper, and persistent skilled‑worker...
Trump Administration Seeks Scaled-Back Building Efficiency Money
The Trump administration’s FY2027 budget request trims the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy from $3.1 billion to $1.1 billion, slashing the Building Technologies Office to $20 million—a 93% cut. While the request earmarks a $4 billion increase for nuclear...
Transparent Window Insulation Is Better at Stemming Energy Loss, Manufacturer Says
Global Holdings is retrofitting over 2,000 windows at New York’s 39‑story Nomad Tower with LuxWall’s transparent window insulation. The technology promises a 20% reduction in building energy use and an R‑value of 18—about 18 times the performance of existing glazing....
Fleet Managers Not Sold on EVs, but They’re Getting There: Survey
A survey of 300 fleet managers at small and mid‑sized firms in California, Colorado, Georgia and Ohio shows most have not yet added electric vehicles, though a growing share are preparing for state‑mandated EV fleet requirements. Managers cite high upfront...
The Most Commonly Missed Risk in Cleaning Contracts
Facility managers frequently sign cleaning contracts without probing how vendors classify their workforce, exposing them to joint‑employer liability. Misclassification—labeling workers as independent contractors—lets cleaning firms shave 15%‑30% off bids by evading payroll taxes, workers’ compensation and benefits. State labor agencies...
Helix Earth Attracts Funds to Separate Humidity Control From Temperature Control in Commercial HVAC
Helix Earth, a Rice University spin‑out, raised $12 million to commercialize a retrofit that separates humidity control from temperature regulation in commercial HVAC systems. The company’s MICRA unit can pre‑dehumidify supply air, cutting the cooling load on existing rooftop units by...
$266B in Building Carbon Costs Saved Thanks to BACnet, Study Shows
A University of New Hampshire study commissioned by ASHRAE finds that BACnet‑enabled building automation systems have avoided 1.4 billion tons of CO₂ since 1995, translating to roughly $266 billion in avoided climate costs. The model projects an additional 2.06 billion tons could be...
Renovation Backlog for College Facilities Hits New Highs
Universities are confronting a record‑high facilities backlog, with deferred capital renewal climbing to $156 per gross square foot in 2025—an 8 percent rise and nearly double the 2007 level. Spending now covers just 73.5 percent of the amount needed to maintain existing...
Energy Service Contracts Grow as Operators Look to Spread Costs
Energy‑as‑a‑Service (EaaS) and energy‑service companies are experiencing rapid growth as building operators pursue decentralized, resilient power solutions. The U.S. market, valued at $42.7 billion in 2025, is projected to reach $101.2 billion by 2035. Major players such as ABB, Siemens, and Ameresco...
Hyperscalers Will Own Two-Thirds of Data Center Capacity by 2031
Enterprise AI demand is reshaping the data‑center landscape, with hyperscalers like Google, Microsoft and AWS projected to control 67% of global capacity by 2031. In contrast, on‑premise enterprise data centers will shrink from 56% in 2018 to just 19% of...
NFPA’s Comprehensive Battery Safety Code Nears Finish Line
The National Fire Protection Association is set to release NFPA 800, its first comprehensive battery safety code covering the entire lifecycle of stationary energy‑storage systems and consumer‑grade batteries. The provisional standard, expected later this month after a fast‑tracked vote, will define...
Most Owners Willing to Insure Less of Their Property to Cut Costs: Nationwide
Nationwide’s 2026 survey of commercial‑real‑estate owners reveals a growing willingness to trim coverage in order to curb soaring insurance premiums. More than half of respondents said they would consider insuring less of their property, up 13 points from the previous...
Air Quality More Important than High-End Amenities: Worker Survey
A GPS Air survey of 750 U.S. workers reveals that more than 60% would choose fresher, more comfortable indoor air over high‑end office amenities, and 67% say clear communication about air‑quality measures would make them more willing to work on‑site. Employees...
The Price of Progress: How Manufacturers Are Weighing AI’s Energy Demands
Manufacturers are accelerating AI and robotics deployments, with 81% of executives planning higher AI spend over the next three years. While early‑stage robots like Agility Robotics' Digit cost roughly $1 per shift in electricity, experts warn that energy demand can...
AI Impact on Office Markets Won’t Be as Bad as Many Think, Newmark Says
Newmark’s latest report tempers fears that artificial intelligence will devastate office markets, arguing that the impact will be uneven. High‑quality, collaboration‑focused spaces are expected to stay resilient, while lower‑grade, commodity offices may see modest vacancy increases. The firm projects office‑using...
What FMs Need to Know About Data Center Immersion Cooling Fluid Selection
Rising rack densities are pushing traditional air‑cooling to its limits, prompting data‑center operators to adopt immersion cooling, where servers sit in a dielectric liquid. As these systems transition from niche crypto farms to AI and HPC workloads, the choice of...
Your Door Is Costing You More than You Think
Commercial buildings devote roughly 32% of energy to space heating, and a large share of that load stems from air infiltration through poorly sealed doors. Oak Ridge National Laboratory research shows door gaps cause more energy loss than any other...
Strategic Decarbonization Can Aid Green Goals While Improving Maintenance
Tenants are increasingly demanding sustainable building features and are willing to pay higher rents for them, prompting owners and facilities managers to align decarbonization with broader asset strategies. A new CBRE‑RMI‑ULI report argues that treating decarbonization as a separate initiative...
Radisson Hotel Group Raises Net-Zero Ambition for 100 Hotels, Sets 2030 Goal
Radisson Hotel Group announced a 2030 ambition for all 100 of its hotels to achieve net‑zero status, expanding the Verified Net Zero Hotels pilot that currently operates in Manchester and Oslo. The initiative targets full elimination of Scope 1 and 2...
Contracts Keep Many Facilities Safe From Near-Term Energy Shocks
The Iran‑Houthi conflict is pushing global oil and diesel prices higher, but most U.S. commercial facilities are insulated in the short term by multi‑year energy contracts and regulated rate‑setting processes. In deregulated states such as California, Illinois, New York and Texas,...
Iran Conflict Highlights Cyberthreat Exposure of U.S. Facilities
State‑backed actors tied to the Iran conflict are exploiting insecure smart‑building and operational‑technology systems, as highlighted in WiredScore’s 2026 resiliency report. The report notes that retrofitted legacy assets and internet‑connected IoT devices dramatically expand the cyber‑physical attack surface for commercial...
HVAC Giant Trane Is a SaaS Business in Disguise, Report Says
Trane Technologies is being re‑characterized by analysts as a SaaS‑style business because more than 40% of its revenue now comes from recurring service contracts that generate over 30% margins. The company’s in‑house sales force and proprietary diagnostic platform lock customers...
AAIR Touts AI-Powered HVAC System Cutting Costs for Hoteliers
AAIR has launched its AI‑driven Intelligent HVAC system for hotels, promising up to 30% energy savings compared with conventional units. The compact 14.3‑inch design replaces bulky VTAC and PTAC units, freeing interior space and reducing noise. Integrated with building‑management software,...
Consumer Sues Manufacturers for Conspiring to Inflate HVAC Prices
A federal lawsuit filed in Michigan accuses the seven largest U.S. HVAC manufacturers of colluding to keep commercial and residential equipment prices artificially high since the pandemic. The complaint says the firms used public statements, industry meetings, and an AHRI‑run...
Adapting Existing Buildings as Demands for Data Centers Continue to Soar
Data‑center operators are increasingly retrofitting existing buildings to meet AI‑driven compute demand, as new construction lags behind power and permitting constraints. Analysts forecast power capacity could triple or quadruple in the next five to seven years, pushing firms to maximize...
Researchers Turn Sawdust Into Fire-Resistant Building Panels
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed interior‑wall panels made from compressed sawdust combined with struvite, a mineral harvested from water‑treatment plant clogs. An enzyme extracted from watermelon seeds enlarges struvite crystals, binding the sawdust particles into a strong, fire‑resistant board....
Honeywell Expands Security Portfolio in Bid to Catch AI Wave
Honeywell announced a strategic alliance with security specialist Rhombus to embed AI‑powered video analytics into its access‑control platforms. The integrated solution will be sold through Honeywell’s channel partners, allowing existing building systems to gain cloud‑based AI detection without full replacements....
Preventive Maintenance Called a Difference-Maker in Industrial, Logistics Markets
Preventive maintenance is emerging as a competitive differentiator in the industrial real‑estate sector, according to Greek Real Estate Partners managing 23 million square feet. As post‑pandemic Class A warehouses enter their first major upkeep cycle, owners are shifting from reactive “fix fast”...
As Communities and Policymakers Push Back, Can Batteries Make Data Centers Better Neighbors?
Virginia’s legislature passed a bill that, starting in July, will block air‑quality permits for data centers unless their onsite generators meet federal Tier 4 emissions standards, reflecting growing community backlash over noise, pollution and water use. The measure, which originally required...
As NYC Energy Code Enforcement Begins, Operators Face Decision on Pathway
New York City’s 2025 Energy Conservation Code enforcement begins March 30, making compliance mandatory for new construction and major renovations before a certificate of occupancy is issued. The code introduces stricter air‑tightness limits, mandatory duct‑leak testing, backup electric heating, and demand‑response...
Threat Groups Target Cyber-Physical Systems to Disrupt Critical Infrastructure Providers
Claroty's latest report reveals a surge in attacks on cyber‑physical systems that control critical infrastructure. State‑sponsored, hacktivist and other threat groups are exploiting internet‑exposed devices, default credentials and insecure protocols to compromise SCADA and HMI platforms, often without needing software...
Scaled-Down Repairs Can Make Sense as Asphalt Prices Rise
U.S. paving firms warn that asphalt costs are climbing as crude oil prices surge amid the Iran conflict. In the Northeast, the average price per ton has risen 4‑5% over the past year, while some regions like Kansas see modest...
Safety-Kleen to Pay $175K Federal Fine for Maintenance, Storage Violations
Safety‑Kleen Systems, a Clean Harbors subsidiary, agreed to pay a $175,000 federal fine after the EPA cited its Linden, New Jersey plant for maintenance, storage and equipment violations. Inspectors found leaking pipes, unsealed containment structures and improper labeling that heightened the...