Smart building controls are key to addressing aging infrastructure, workforce: Trane

As the U.S. building stock ages and experienced technicians exit the workforce, facility managers must embrace building modernization, according to a report.

By Joe Burns • May 27, 2025

‘Everywhere is a workplace’: JLL leaders say office operators need to adapt

Commercial real estate operators should create dynamic environments to draw workers back to the office, the company says.

By Joe Burns • May 22, 2025

Explore the Trendline➔

Data Centers

Exponential growth in the data center market is driving the need for more energy-intensive chips, leading operators to seek more power, improved cooling solutions and optimized designs that can boost efficiency and performance. 

By Facilities Dive staff

Energy service performance contracts aren’t just for public facilities

Private facilities can use them, too, if the property doesn’t have tenants or if the owner is responsible for energy use, says an advocate for energy service companies.

By Robert Freedman • May 22, 2025

California bill would expand school districts’ cost recovery options for facility rentals

AB 503 would restore an expanded definition of “direct costs” eligible for recovery through facility rental fees, which could help shore up district finances as public education budgets tighten.

By Brian Martucci • May 16, 2025

World FM Day puts renewed focus on talent

Finding skilled labor is a struggle for many facilities managers, but training workers on the newest tools can help to boost morale and meet operational goals, experts say.

By Joe Burns • May 14, 2025

CBRE: Think of your smart building data as jet fuel

Artificial intelligence can be a game changer by making building operations a value-added part of an organization, but facilities managers must be unyielding in the quality of their data, says Tim Schipper, CBRE’s EVP of global operations. 

By Robert Freedman • May 12, 2025

Composting program turns cafeteria scraps to brown gold

Ohio University processes more than five tons of food waste every day into soil amendments it uses on campus. But it’s had to rethink parts of the program, the school’s sustainability director says.

By Joe Burns • May 6, 2025

Proposed Trump budget cuts could have spillover effects on facilities

The administration seeks to eliminate community development block grants and programs for reducing diesel emissions and improving indoor air quality, potentially reducing money available for commercial properties.

By Robert Freedman • May 6, 2025

Commercial real estate teams look for alternative space management, experience platforms: CBRE

Although 90% of those surveyed use software systems for space data and occupancy management, less than half say they use AI, the firm says.

By Joe Burns • May 5, 2025

Office demand hits bumps, but Q1 finishes up year over year: VTS, CBRE

The national market faced harsh conditions in the first two months of 2025, erasing year-over-year gains in 2024. A cooling labor market and return-to-office trends make future conditions unclear, the firms say.

By Joe Burns • May 2, 2025

ACHR News: Honeywell adds 42% surcharge on R-454B refrigerant

The company says it needs to source material outside the U.S. to meet demand, contributing to higher costs, according to a Honeywell letter to its customers reported by HVAC news source ACHR News.

By Robert Freedman • April 25, 2025

JLL reorganizes divisions to help owners extract value from property operations

The new workplace unit comes as other big management companies have similarly consolidated technology, workplace, sustainability and building operations in a single unit.

By Joe Burns • April 24, 2025

MassBio, Veolia extend waste contract to include decarbonization, energy efficiency services

The new services will help consortium members in Boston and Cambridge, Mass., meet carbon reduction requirements, Veolia North America says.

By Joe Burns • April 21, 2025

NFMT recap: Why people remain key to facilities management success

Despite the importance of technology innovation in the building operations space, technicians and others remain indispensable to keeping facilities operating smoothly.  

By Robert Freedman • April 17, 2025

Schneider Electric debuts data center consulting service

EcoConsult for Data Centers offers a roadmap to boost operational efficiency, maximize uptime and extend equipment and facility service life, Schneider says.

By Brian Martucci • April 17, 2025

FM:Systems’ workplace management platform OK’d for federal use amid tumultuous time for government

FedRAMP authorization will enable agencies to quickly adopt the company's workplace management and room and desk booking software as the government works to optimize space utilization. 

By Joe Burns • April 16, 2025

Office demand remains resilient in Q1, despite economic uncertainty

Sublease availability and new construction deliveries continue to decline, creating the conditions for “cautious optimism” in the sector, Cushman & Wakefield says. 

By Joe Burns • April 15, 2025

A2L transition, tariffs not yet slowing HVAC sales

Buyers appear to be okay with higher costs for A2L refrigerant, and so far the tariff impact is minimal, according to a first quarter equity report on select HVAC companies.

By Robert Freedman • April 14, 2025

Organizations prioritize sustainability, but they’re slowed by manual data processes

A slowdown in federal sustainability mandates is pushing building operators to focus on reduction initiatives, Atrius says.

By Joe Burns • April 14, 2025

Micro sensors offer facilities managers room-level occupancy data

The technology can provide insights into how and when people are using conference rooms, flex spaces and other shared work areas, Occuspace says.

By Joe Burns • Updated April 8, 2025

Leveraging microlearning to stop expensive equipment downtime

In extreme cases, downtime can cost an organization $25,000 an hour. Training that prevents that can quickly pay for itself, an advocate says.

By Robert Freedman • April 7, 2025

Companies shift away from assigned desks, large private offices: CBRE

Employers also increasingly see the importance of quiet spaces for employees to meet and do work requiring sustained focus, according to the firm’s report.  

By Joe Burns • April 3, 2025

Trump tariffs to hit HVAC, plumbing hard, analysts say

Products and materials important to facilities operations are expected to increase in cost if they haven’t already, according to analyses.

By Robert Freedman • April 3, 2025

Johnson Controls, FM:Systems aim for faster asset alarm response

A new integration automates ticketing systems and consolidates key work order information across systems, helping operators improve maintenance resource utilization, the companies say.

By Joe Burns • April 1, 2025

Administrative tasks burden facility managers

Despite wanting to focus on the strategic part of their job, property managers are distracted by low-level tasks and bogged down by traditional metrics, VTS says. 

By Joe Burns • March 31, 2025