How do we know if the thing built meets expectations? There are ways to measure this so you can check out the “performance gaps” – the difference between the way a building, or any kind of space, was expected to operate, and how it operates in reality.

While the evidence so far indicates that increasing outside air circulation may help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in buildings, some common sense goes a long way for facility managers looking to keep occupants safe without wasting energy on overzealous air circulation. 

We need to get back to work. Soon. But how will we feel safe from infections? Two companies are banking on ultraviolet light to kill the coronavirus but there are…

What happens to energy efficiency when people desert the CBDs because of the COVID-19 pandemic to work from home, and then send energy consumption through the roof with their domestic consumption?

 There is considerable interest in the role that HVAC may play in the transmission of COVID-19.

It was a busy summer for Adam Garnys, principal consultant at CETEC, a technical risk management consultancy with expertise in indoor air quality.

If it makes sense to you that data centres – consumers of 3 per cent of the world’s energy – should have to disclose how much energy they are using, then you’re not alone.

Melbourne’s Albert Park Preschool has become the first early childhood service to achieve carbon neutral certification from the Federal Department of the Environment and Energy.

This digital building management system is entirely virtual and led to a 47 per cent reduction in energy expenditure.

Market pulse: It’s typically hard to attract young people and women into engineering, operational and asset management roles.

Market Pulse: These days facilities management is about a lot more than keeping the lights on.

“The Spot”, constructed for the University of Melbourne’s Business and Economics faculty, was reported to be the first 5 Star Green Star university building in Australia. Constructed in Pelham Street, Carlton, it is, effectively, a test-bed for multiple sustainability approaches and technologies.

“Emotional tech” to track moods and a rise in measurement of indoor air quality are just some of the trends that will be under the microscope at Total Facilities wellness session this year

FROM THE TREASURE CHEST (2013) Comfort is a complex issue and very personal. I see that every day. Very highly paid workers surround me and you can be rest assured that, being a thermostat, I am blamed every day by a select few for not looking after their comfort needs.

Human nature and behaviour patterns are increasingly coming to the fore in managing energy efficiency for commercial buildings in particular. Now Johnson Controls has released a report showing it’s a rising trend.