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By Kevin Sauer, Global Workplace Strategy & Experience Leader at Join Digital — As any office manager today will tell you, workplaces in the post-pandemic environment have become more than just physical spaces. They have evolved into a widespread network of sites, mirroring miniature cosmos, linked by technological strands and fluid, ever-changing standards and practices. Workplaces have also emerged as a top factor that shapes and supports the productivity and well-being of employees.
As a director of workplace myself, I see this new reality unfold daily, even three years after the mass conversion to hybrid work models in response to Covid-19. This transformation has been rapid, with numerous quality-of-life implications for workers and those who manage them. The hybrid work revolution has coincided with another seismic shift in the labor market: the arrival of Generation Z on the scene. These digital natives, born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s, bring with them a fresh perspective and an inherent affinity for technology.
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The Electric Vehicle (EV) revolution is coming and preparing for it is a massive undertaking. From assessment and consult to design, build, install and service, the right EV solutions provider takes everything into account. And ABM delivers on everything EV.
Financing and procuring for charging stations. Dynamic pricing models based on demand. Ongoing service and maintenance. All with an eye on long-term sustainability. Throughout it all, ABM is your single point of contact operating right by your side, answering every question and ensuring that you make the best choices today — while remaining flexible and ready for the future of EV.
Download ABM's expert EV ebook to learn more about the company's unique approach to creating custom EV solutions that improve driver satisfaction and get you closer to your sustainability goals. With over a decade of experience — and nearly 30,000 charging ports installed — ABM is the leading commercial installer of EV chargers in the U.S.
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OSCRE International, a corporate member-based nonprofit focused on real estate data standards and effective data governance practice for the entire real estate asset life-cycle, has opened its draft Energy Data Standard for industry review until September 25. OSCRE is collaborating with leading organizations to build the new standard, which will be available with free and open access.
The workgroup has focused on developing a collaborative approach to data standards that address real estate’s impact on the environment. The need for consistency, transparency, accuracy and exchange of data across platforms has accelerated as increasing regulatory oversight and responsible corporate stewardship become increasingly important. The workgroup members include investment managers, corporate owners and occupiers and the software developers, service providers and consultants who work with them.
The Energy Data Standard is posted for public comment at OSCRE, along with supporting implementation resources. There are also several pilot implementation projects underway, and an upcoming webinar.
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Facilities maintenance managers increasingly depend on battery-powered equipment partly due to their extensive reliance on compact tools and devices, vehicles for personal transportation and utility, and golf cars. Further, the use of batteries is spreading to other types of equipment, thanks largely to environmental mandates and cost-saving initiatives. Facilities professionals need to keep up with new battery technology and energy-storage solutions.
Trojan Battery Company’s Mike Herr discusses how Trojan established its reputation, grew into a leading supplier of deep-cycle batteries, and continues to launch new energy storage solutions in his discussion with Eileen McMorrow, Editor-in-Chief of The McMorrow Reports.
Q: How does that corporate focus manifest itself in the new Trojan AES Battery?
Herr: We understood the limits of standard AGM batteries and some customers’ concerns about the pricing of lithium-ion technology. Although standard AGM batteries are maintenance-free, they still have their shortcomings.Trojan’s AES battery addresses those issues and offers an in-between option. We enhanced our AES battery with a combination of technologies including a proprietary carbon additive. The battery delivers all the benefits of standard AGM technology, but it also overcomes real-world scenarios that cause problems in AGM batteries. For example, our AES Battery can safely handle discharges of about 80%, withstand PSoC operation, and be charged during the workday when opportunities arise.
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Digital services provider Fujitsu recently released the Fujitsu Future Insights Global Sustainability Transformation Survey Report 2023, highlighting the results of a survey of 1,800 executives and key decision makers in nine countries, with the aim of understanding the current status and global trends around sustainability transformation. Fujitsu defines “sustainability transformation” as transforming business to bring about positive change in our environment, society and economies. Examples include the reduction of energy usage and carbon dioxide emissions through continuous monitoring and the reduction of waste by implementing end-to-end traceability.
In collaboration with Oxford Economics, this seventh survey explores the current status of sustainability transformation, including how digital transformation contributes to the achievement of an organization's sustainability goals. Based on the results, Fujitsu identified four key success factors for sustainability transformation, the status of digital-led sustainability transformation by industry, and the outlook for technology implementation between 2025 and 2030.
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Building Owners and Managers Institute (BOMI), a premiere organization for property and facility management (FM) workforce development, is excited to launch three new course updates. Each coursebook now concludes with actionable steps, helping you implement what you’ve learned. These courses are part of the property and facilities management designations offered by BOMI.
“Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and BOMI’s Learning and Development team have been working together to bring the commercial real estate industry best-in-class education,” said Tim O’Donald, RPA, chairman of the Board at BOMI and president of Harbor East Management Group, LLC.
“We are proud of the work that goes into updating our courses,” says Andrea Yepsen, vice president of Learning and Development at BOMI. “In addition to the digital and print coursebook updates, we’ve introduced new microlessons, practice quizzes, knowledge checks, interactive infographics, and instructor resources for each course."
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In the article “The State of Food and Beverage Facility Management and How the Industry Can Fix it,” facilities services provider OpenWorks shares that the U.S. food and beverage industry experienced 23.1 percent more recalls in Q1 2023 than the previous quarter. Undeclared allergens, particularly nuts, and sesame — which were added as a major food allergen in January 2023 — were the leading causes of U.S. food recalls for the ninth consecutive quarter, with 56 recalls in Q1 2023.
Foreign material, bacterial contamination, viral contamination, misbranding, and packaging defects were the other leading reasons for recalls. The number of FDA food recalls increased by 700.6% in the number of units impacted in 2022. With 416.9 million units recalled, this represents a 10-year high, making recalls the #1 profitability killer.
One of the biggest reasons behind the recalls is how companies view facility management. Many see it as a cost center rather than a profit protection center. How can you shift your view to protect yourself? Food and beverage manufacturers are looking for ways to cut facility costs at the expense of future profits.
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Want to see 400-plus products for FM needs from 150 exhibitors and sponsors along with 50 expert-led sessions in five educational tracks? If so, Orlando is your destination when NFMT Remix returns, October 25-26, 2023.
Driving Facilities Management Forward is NFMT Remix theme. Over the years, more than 100,000 facilities pros have attended NFMT between its shows in Baltimore, Las Vegas and Orlando. They come for the conference sessions for Pro and Elite attendees. These 60‐minute sessions provide a comprehensive exploration of facilities management concepts and applications, covering crucial aspects such as technology, maintenance, operations and space management. The Huddles, also for Pro and Elite attendees, offer a for a casual and engaging 60‐minute chat on a front-burner FM trend.
Conference session tracks include: Energy Efficiency & Sustainability; FM Technologies; Health, Safety & Wellness; Leadership, Culture & Career, and Standards & Codes.
Read about sessions we will attend . . .
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Armstrong World Industries has introduced CastWorks Metaphors ceiling panels, a portfolio of standard, pre-cast 24″ x 24″ Glass Fiber Reinforced Gypsum (GRG) tegular ceiling panels offered in five modern designs and four standard colors. The geometric and dimensional panels provide quick access to the plenum and install on standard heavy-duty Armstrong Suprafine XL 9/16″ grid. The panels are part of CastWorks Architectural Forms, a new Armstrong family of products that encompasses all the company’s GRG, GFRC, FRP and Interior Molded Stone items.
Five standard CastWorks Metaphors ceiling panels design variations — Botanical, Pinnacle, Crests, Tectonic, and Tidal — are available. The modular panel designs provide the opportunity to create many custom looks based on layout. Each panel is one solid piece to further impart a high-end look. When installed with acoustic infill panels, Botanical panels achieve excellent sound absorption, with NRC up to 0.85. Plus all variations meet stringent sustainability standards. Select panels have pre-cut downlight openings or flat areas for field-cutting to seamlessly add lighting fixtures or other MEP integrations. The pre-cut integration panels reduce jobsite modifications.
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Education-packed sessions and training by key industry thought-leaders influence facility professionals to expand their knowledge and advance their skills by attending World Workplace®, the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) annual conference. The conference sessions selected below are among the most compelling to attract facility leaders to Denver, September 27-29, 2023.
World Workplace 2023 tracks will include Emerging Topic: Circular Economy; Emerging Topic: Prop Tech; Sustainability; FM Solutions; Leadership and Strategy; Finance and Business; Project Management; Real Estate; Operations and Maintenance; Risk Management; and Academics.
Sessions of interest include:
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This week's Featured Book from FMLink's Books section is from the Plumbing / HVAC category. This collection of peer-reviewed books has been curated by the editorial team at FMLink to provide facilities, engineering and A&D professionals with access to publications relating to the Plumbing / HVAC topic.
Building Controls was developed in conjunction with the United Association of Journeyworkers and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry for use in building automation system training.
The textbook covers topics such as:
• Control concepts/theory
• Network communication in building automation
• Control devices/equipment in building automation
• Building automation and operation
• And system integration in the HVAC industry
This and other Plumbing / HVAC titles are now available for purchase on FMLink.
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