Latest NYC Legionella outbreak puts focus on building water systems

The Latest

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  California RTO mandate for state workers takes effect, putting spotlight on office readiness

  The mandate is a test case for how well the state’s facilities can accommodate a workforce that largely wants to keep working remotely, one workplace specialist says.  

  Operations

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  Opinion

  The data center boom is exposing the limits of facilities management software

  Operators must manage power systems, cooling infrastructure and building systems across multiple sites, each carrying its own maintenance history, regulatory obligations and contractual commitments, making integration key. 

  Operations

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  Walmart signs nuclear PPA with Constellation to support Illinois operations

  The power purchase agreement will give the retailer up to 176 megawatts of nuclear-generated electricity over two 15-year periods beginning in 2029 and 2030. 

  Sustainability

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  DOE plan to revisit appliance standards will hike energy costs, critic says

  Standards that have generated billions of dollars in savings wouldn’t pass muster under changes the Department of Energy is considering, Andrew deLaski of the Appliance Standards Awareness Project says.

  Sustainability

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  Mechanically ventilated spaces reduce wildfire smoke concentration: research

  An Oregon State University study found that mechanically ventilated spaces were better than window AC and mini-splits at lowering indoor particulate matter concentrations. 

  Health & Safety

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  St. Louis Public Schools could close up to a third of its schools

  The proposal to close up to 22 schools would be one of the largest closure plans in the U.S. in the past year and could save the district up to $17.9 million in staffing costs.  

  Development

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  Johnson Controls’ Metasys 16.0 update aims to reduce downtime, ease compliance

  The building automation system includes new features to help speed up cybersecurity upgrades, monitor regulatory requirements and meet energy performance standards.

  Technology

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  Schneider expands its remote-service EcoCare plan to mission-critical systems

  The move aims to address gaps in asset management practices in facilities that rely on an uninterrupted power supply.

  Operations

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  DOE wants to ‘permanently end’ appliance efficiency requirements

  A proposed rule would create an “obstacle course of restrictions” bogging down the Department of Energy’s appliance efficiency program, a consumer advocate said.

  Updated July 2, 2026

  Compliance

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  New York gas appliance ban upheld

  The state has said it won’t enforce the ban until appeals are complete. That creates a window for the Supreme Court to weigh in if it’s asked to close a split between this ruling and one in California shutting down a similar ban.

  Compliance

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  Building envelope is key to electrifying buildings, expert says

  Operators must push through challenges when retrofitting existing buildings to reap the benefits of high-efficiency heating and cooling systems.

  Sustainability

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  Competition grows for HVAC, other technicians

  The challenge is a shortage of skilled professionals entering the trades, say multifamily company executives.   

  Operations

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  DOE, ICC spar over building energy code costs, benefits

  The International Code Council says the U.S. Energy Department is ignoring the energy cost savings the 2024 building energy code will create, while DOE says the savings take too long to realize.

  Sustainability

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  AI can help solve data handoff problems, optimize building operations: ASHRAE conference

  Large language models can be used to bridge the communication gap between building systems and provide facility managers with contextual data they need to make decisions, a researcher said this week.

  Technology

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  Can zinc-based batteries scale into US storage buildout?

  Large and critical-load energy customers are among the organizations that the International Zinc Association wants to look at zinc-based batteries as an option for meeting their needs.  

  Sustainability

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  As copper POTS networks get phased out, facilities face a transition jam

  The sooner building operators identify what critical devices like fire alarms are on legacy copper lines, the sooner they can ensure they’re not caught without connectivity and risk compliance violations, experts say.

  Operations

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  Resilience the focus of incoming ASHRAE president

  Climate and infrastructure challenges mean facilities professionals must work together to improve building performance, Colliers Project's Sarah Maston said at the organization’s conference. 

  Operations

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  Military research facilities falling into disrepair, report says

  Aging infrastructure is hampering the country’s ability to maintain a technically advanced warfighting capability, says the Defense Research Enterprise Review.

  Development

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  Facilities management conferences of note in 2026

  Here’s a look at the top events for building operators and their staffs happening in the second half of the year. 

  Updated June 26, 2026

  Technology

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  Deep Dive

  Data centers are ready to negotiate flexibility for speed

  The “pain point” between data centers and utilities is the utilities’ need for control and data centers’ need to choose how to respond to a utility signal for a load reduction, says an industry expert.

  Operations

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  Allowing guns in stores is the default, Supreme Court says

  In shooting down a Hawaii law, the top court puts the onus on owners of public-facing private property to say guns are prohibited if they want to keep their property gun-free.

  Compliance

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  ASHRAE to tackle data centers, thermal systems at annual conference

  The engineering society’s annual meeting, starting this weekend in Austin, Texas, will have programs on managing energy costs and integrating energy storage projects, among others.

  Technology

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  $2.1B Buffalo Bills stadium boasts world’s largest snow-melt system

  The 60,000-seat venue has heated concourses, radiant heating above some seats and a 360-degree canopy covering 64% of the seating bowl.

  Development

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  ABM grows its sports-arena portfolio with Atlanta Braves janitorial contract

  The company touts the system it will use for communicating with and tracking the location of its cleaning staff while they’re at Truist Park.

  Operations

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  New Honeywell tool ‘purges’ CO as part of fire safety improvements

  The tool removes carbon monoxide and adds fresh air to reduce harmful levels in affected areas when an alarm is triggered, the company says.   

  Health & Safety

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