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 real estate. A single phishing click caused a 90‑day outage at a North American property, illustrating how quickly building‑management systems can be crippled. The fallout includes costly repairs, tenant relocation, lost rental income, and heightened insurance exposure.
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...
NFMT East 2026: Where Germs Are Hiding in Facilities
At NFMT East 2026, experts warned that germs hide in overlooked facility zones such as drains, soft furnishings, and automated dispensers, posing health risks and operational disruptions. They emphasized a "recipe" approach—integrating people, process, and technology—to achieve effective pathogen control....
How Variable Speed HVAC Motors Can Accelerate Facility Decarbonization
Industrial facilities are turning to variable‑speed‑drive (VSD) motors to slash the energy intensity of HVAC systems, which account for 28% of global building‑related emissions. ABB’s LV Titanium motor‑drive unit combines an IE5 premium‑efficiency permanent‑magnet motor with an integrated drive, delivering...
Schneider Electric Introduces Variable Speed HVAC Drives to Support Energy Savings
Schneider Electric launched two variable‑speed HVAC drives, the ATH200 and ATH600, promising more than 30% energy savings and robust operation in temperatures from –10 °F to 60 °F. The drives are built for OEMs serving commercial and mission‑critical buildings, featuring native Modbus...
NFMT East 2026: Lowering Peak Energy Demand Can Provide Outsized Benefit
At NFMT East 2026, Sanalife Energy highlighted the growing burden of demand charges on commercial and industrial facilities, with rates climbing to nearly $70 per kilowatt in some regions. Richard Fox explained that trimming peak demand directly translates into substantial...
3 C-Stores Taking Car Washes to the Next Level
Convenience‑store operators are re‑imagining car washes as profit centers, adding subscription plans and digital loyalty ties to drive recurring revenue. Circle K’s parent runs standalone brands Clean Freak and Rainstorm, while Loop Neighborhood Market runs an app‑only subscription model that links...
NFMT East 2026: How Building Operations Help Organizations’ Strategic Goals
The NFMT East 2026 conference highlighted how facilities managers are leveraging AI and other smart‑building technologies to meet strategic objectives. At the opening keynote, Hornets Sports & Entertainment detailed its $240 million Spectrum Center renovation, which combined new seating, LED upgrades,...
Safer Skies Act Creates More Tools for Defending Against Drones
The Safer Skies Act, signed into law as part of the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, gives state, local, tribal and federal law‑enforcement agencies the authority to use radio‑frequency detection to identify, track and, if needed, commandeer rogue drones. Previously,...
Power and Capital Constraints May Drive Shift to Modular Cooling, Smaller Data Centers
Limited grid capacity and an 18% rise in industrial electricity rates are lengthening power‑connection timelines to five years in key data‑center markets, forcing developers to seek onsite microgrids, generators and batteries. JLL warns that power availability now drives site selection...
Which Healthcare Facility Retrofits Save the Most Energy and Emissions?
Hospitals are turning to retrofits rather than new construction to meet tighter sustainability rules, budget constraints, and patient demand, according to a Schneider Electric and JLL white paper. The study examined nine energy‑and‑carbon conservation measures (ECCMs) across seven facilities in...
AI Offers More Intelligent Building Security Alerts, Johnson Controls Expert Says
Johnson Controls' vice president of innovation Greg Parker says AI can make building security alerts faster, more accurate, and actionable, detecting camera misalignments, crowd formation, and anomalies in milliseconds. The Connected Security platform now delivers probabilistic alarm insights and automated...
Strong Demand for Building Sustainability Standards: BREEAM
BRE Global reports a 90 % increase in BREEAM certifications across North America between 2023 and 2025, highlighting rapid adoption in the U.S. market. California leads with over 60 certified projects, followed by Texas, Minnesota, Tennessee and Indiana. Industrial properties show...
How Commercial Property Management Firms Are Using AI — and Hope to Use It Tomorrow
Commercial real‑estate giants are moving from speculative AI chatter to concrete strategies. Cushman & Wakefield introduced an AI Impact Barometer to gauge sector‑wide effects and is using AI for space‑planning, leasing automation, and data‑lake creation. CBRE is leveraging its extensive property...
Why Bigger Batteries Can Make Sense for Facilities
Industrial facilities are re‑evaluating battery energy storage systems (BESS) as installation costs remain largely fixed regardless of capacity, making larger batteries economically attractive. Scott Childers of Stryten Energy notes that a 1 MWh unit spreads upfront expenses over more discharge hours,...
Brooklyn Project Shows Feasibility of Using Geothermal in Dense Urban Areas
Developer LCOR completed the 1515 Surf Avenue mixed‑use project in Coney Island, installing New York City’s largest district‑scale geothermal system. The 400,000‑sq‑ft development, with 460 residential units, relied on $4.52 million in public incentives and a 30 % federal tax credit to offset...
Battery Energy Storage Systems No Longer Just for Backup: NeoVolta
NeoVolta says battery energy storage systems are moving beyond backup power to become a profit‑center for commercial and industrial facilities. The company leverages the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which preserves tax incentives through 2032, allowing owners to slash upfront costs by 30‑50%...
Only 26% of Maintenance Is Preventive: UpKeep Survey
UpKeep’s State of Maintenance 2026 survey of 214 managers reveals that only 26 % of maintenance activities are preventive, despite 90 % of facilities leaders endorsing the approach. The primary obstacles are insufficient staffing and scheduling conflicts, which UpKeep describes as structural...
Automation, Reshoring Trends Expected to Boost Industrial Real Estate Activity
Industrial real‑estate activity is rebounding after pandemic‑induced vacancies as reshoring, automation and third‑party logistics (3PL) demand drive a flight to higher‑quality space. Vacancy absorption has accelerated, and CBRE projects renewals to exceed 35% of total leasing volume, well above the...
Maintenance Performance Requires Discipline in Data Management: Limble
Limble’s latest survey of over 200 asset‑intensive firms shows that high‑quality maintenance data drives a 33% boost in confidence for key performance indicators and lifts cross‑functional trust to 51% of respondents. Discipline in capturing and managing CMMS data leads to...
Recreation Center Is First Public NYC Building to Meet LEED V4 Platinum
Brooklyn’s Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center became the first public building in New York City to earn LEED v4 Platinum certification, marking a milestone for municipal sustainability. The $141 million, 74,000‑square‑foot all‑electric facility uses less than half the energy of comparable structures, cuts fresh‑water...
Mobile Credentials Provide Safer, More Seamless Security: HID
Mobile credentials are rapidly gaining traction in higher‑education campuses and commercial‑real‑estate portfolios, driven by seamless integration with smart‑building and HR systems. HID’s 2025 State of Security and Identity report shows that 69% of security leaders have deployed or plan to...
How Getting Building Data Early in an M&A Deal Can Add Value
Facilities managers are often left out of M&A due diligence, yet early access to building data can dramatically increase deal value. By collaborating with finance teams, they can inventory leases, square footage, occupancy, and technology stacks before the transaction closes....
Johnson Controls to Acquire Thermal Management Firm Alloy Enterprises
Johnson Controls announced a definitive agreement to acquire Boston‑based Alloy Enterprises, a specialist in direct liquid‑cooling platforms for high‑performance data centers and mission‑critical industrial sites. Alloy’s technology claims up to 35 % improvement in thermal‑management efficiency and a 75 % reduction in...
House Bill Gives Facilities Tax Breaks for Improving IAQ
A bipartisan House bill, dubbed the Airborne Act, would grant commercial building owners tax credits for indoor‑air‑quality (IAQ) assessments and HVAC or filtration upgrades. Credits start at $1 per square foot for assessments, $5 per square foot for filter upgrades...
How Digital Signage Providers Can Help Facilities Teams Add Value
Facilities managers upgrading to digital signage can extract greater value by partnering with providers like LG Electronics USA, which emphasizes cost efficiency, asset management, and return on investment. Bingham notes that modern signage must integrate seamlessly with other technologies to...
Colliers Going All-In on AI, CEO Hennick Says
Colliers announced a multiyear, record‑high AI investment, raising its IT capital expenditures to a level never seen in the company’s history. The spend is expected to deliver productivity gains and higher margins within two to three years across its commercial...
City’s Adoption of EUI Signals Less Reliance on Third-Party Building Certifications
Alexandria, Virginia, approved a new ordinance that lets developers meet green‑building requirements using an energy‑use intensity (EUI) metric instead of relying solely on third‑party certifications. The rule applies to commercial projects of 10,000 sq ft or larger, offering a choice between traditional...
CBRE Sees 13% Growth in Facilities Management Revenue
CBRE reported a 13% year‑over‑year increase in facilities‑management revenue for Q4 2025, driven by strong data‑center services and expanding local operations in the Americas. The building operations and experience segment grew 15%, bolstered by recent acquisitions of Industrious and Pearce...
