FM Alert

The program will support the development of large-scale urban projects that demonstrate cities can grow in ways that are “climate positive.”

With the recent economic downturn, the prospect of finding employment this summer presents a challenge for students across the country, including those at Oklahoma State University. To one OSU student’s delight, the Tulsa Chapter of the International Facility Management Association has come to the rescue, offering her an internship with four local businesses whose employees are affiliated with the chapter.

This i-session helps fms prepare for current and future pandemics by focusing on challenges and priorities. Case studies from the current swine flu pandemic will be used to assist participants with establishing response plans.

The International Facility Management Association has released “Operations and Maintenance Benchmarks, Research Report #32,” a study outlining the facility trends affecting workplaces throughout North America. Among the new report’s findings are that the average space per person has risen nearly 40 square feet since 2007 — likely due to recent corporate layoffs — and that companies are adjusting their thermostats higher or lower by an average of one degree Fahrenheit, compared to data from three years ago, in an effort to minimize energy use and cut costs.

The Obama administration's economic recovery package includes commitments to work towards a sustainable, energy efficient future. With the world's servers currently consuming some 408 MWh of electricity, the effort is certainly needed.

Facility management (FM) professionals pursuing IFMA credentials may wish to attend IFMA's 2009 Fall Symposium in Orlando, FL.

The newly updated Facilities Management Handbook will be essential reading for professionals responsible for facilities, services provision, and health and safety in the workplace.

International perspectives will take center stage as facility and private-sector experts from around the world convene at the Hotel Okura in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, June 16-17 for the sixth annual European Facility Management Conference.

When MSNBC workplace and career columnist Eve Tahmincioglu began her recent story on corporate layoffs resulting in “cubicle graveyards” full of unused office space, she looked to the International Facility Management Association for research to back up her claims.

The threat that birds can pose to life was demonstrated by the safe emergency landing of the U.S. Airways passenger jet in New York City’s Hudson River. The threat was further emphasized when commercial airline crews reported more than two dozen emergency landings, aborted takeoffs and other scary incidents due to collisions with birds.

In what amounts to a “green” diplomatic effort, the U.S. Embassy in Panama is the second American Embassy built to meet the energy and environmental standards established by the USGBC.

The Building Intelligence Group has been retained to conduct a research project on the issues and needs for operators and technicians involved with High Performance buildings.

On May 19, 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will host a 90-minute live webcast to summarize the CALiPER Program's benchmark testing of common omnidirectional incandescent lamps and provide an update on ENERGY STAR® criteria for LED integral replacement lamps.

The City of Houston has deployed a customized brownfield inventory system to make its efforts to remediate and redevelop environmentally contaminated properties more efficient.

William A. Rodgers, Jr. has been selected to advise the State Department’s Bureau of Overseas Building Operations with information on the latest concepts, methods, best practices, and ideas affecting facility and property management.

BSI British Standards has published a companion guide to the the new pan-European set of standards for designing and building civil engineering works.

Held at the Renaissance Charlotte, NC, SouthPark Hotel, the 2009 Spring Symposium will offer five of the nine core competency courses necessary to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the profession.

Johnson Controls, Inc., the global leader in energy efficiency and sustainability, and the International Facility Management Association will release the results of the third annual Energy Efficiency Indicator (EEI) on May 6 at 10 a.m. (CST) via Webcast.

Members of the U.S. Congress and representatives from IFMA met to discuss energy efficiency and high performance federal buildings last week during IFMA Advocacy Day.

On Sunday (4/26/09), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security declared a public health emergency in a bid to stop the spread of a swine flu virus. As of today (4/28/09), the World Health Organization has raised its pandemic alert level based on newly gathered data.