Sustainability
Trading screwdrivers for strategic partnerships
Facilities management needs to have a voice in the C-suite. As business evolves, company leaders will require strategic facilities managers.
Mississauga facility achieves its zero waste goals
The Toronto distribution centre for Cintas, a business supplies provider, became Canada’s second facility to earn TRUE Zero Waste certification last fall.
Little oversight of high-GWP anesthetic gases
Anesthetics commonly used in medical, dental and veterinary surgery have global warming potential ranging from 130 to 2,540 times greater than carbon dioxide, but are largely overlooked when greenhouse gas emissions are officially tallied.
Single-use professional sports venues falter
Ottawa and Calgary are two current Canadian examples where pressure is mounting to abandon major arenas still far from the end of their structural life cycles and build anew.
Labeling change targets food waste
The terms “sell by” and “use by” are likely to be replaced on labeling with the new, voluntary term “best if used by” on many food products.
Forest fires pose indoor air quality challenge
Indoor air quality specialists concur that larger commercial buildings are among the better places to be when outdoor conditions are compromised since HVAC systems typically incorporate air filtration.
Advanced sub-metering digs deep
Facility operators and management are beginning to recognize the opportunity to combine sub-metering with software that analyzes energy data in real time.
Net zero facility to become teaching tool
The Joyce Centre for Partnership & Innovation is poised to become a teaching tool for current and future building professionals alike.
Buildings factor in organizational productivity
A recent comprehensive review and synthesis of existing research from around the world bolsters the supposition that building technologies and enhanced operational practices can have a positive impact on occupants' performance and well-being.
Beating the heat in commercial buildings
With summer just around the corner, here are some tips for facilities managers to consider when preparing their commercial buildings to beat the heat.
How to prolong the lifespan of lighting systems
Along with the direct energy savings that LEDs offer, facilities are also realizing cost savings by prolonging their lighting system through best practices.
Trends in high-pressure laminate surfacing
High-pressure laminate is a practical yet stylish surfacing material, and new breakthroughs in resin technology add functional features.
City of Mississauga slashes electricity use at rink
The City of Mississauga has slashed the electricity use of the ice-making equipment at its Iceland Arena during winter and shoulder season operations.
Evergreen targets carbon neutrality with retrofit
Evergreen is targeting carbon neutrality in the retrofit of its heritage-designated kiln building at Toronto’s Brick Works site.
KPMG looks to clients in locating Vaughan office
When KPMG selected its new location, proximity to clients factored prominently, leading the growing professional services firm to set up shop in Vaughan.
Top 14 stories to watch in 2017
Last year, the commercial real estate industry faced a number of diverse challenges and successes that are expected to develop throughout 2017. Here, REMI’s award-winning
Library facility reads like ‘fragment’ of its landscape
The new Waterdown Library and Civic Centre is designed to read like a ‘fragment’ of the Niagara Escarpment over which it cantilevers.