All Facilities & Grounds Articles
  • 28 days later: Brexit’s impact on the cooling industry

    Andrew Gaved Manufacturing

    Well, it's been a turbulent few weeks in the world of UK politics. I choose to title this "28 Days Later," because many who are having to deal with the decision to leave the European Union appear to be wandering around with the same sort of dazed state as the zombies in the film of that name.

  • Can Rio de Janeiro handle the Olympics?

    Kate Hessong Sports & Fitness

    With the Summer Olympic Games one month away, it's difficult to ignore all the bad press they've been getting lately. Rio de Janeiro is in a state of disaster — both physically and financially. From their governor declaring a "state of calamity" over their financial problems, to the raw sewage and ​super bacteria floating through their waterways, experts are beginning to question whether this year's games will be a complete failure.

  • UK votes to leave the EU: Now what?

    Andrew Gaved Manufacturing

    There is an old saying that a week is a long time in politics, which the events of this past seven days have proved sage indeed. I must confess that when I wrote my previous article about the "what ifs" of a Brexit vote in the UK, I didn't really expect it would extend beyond a bit of harmless speculation.

  • Will HVACR regulations be affected by Brexit?

    Andrew Gaved Facilities & Grounds

    On June 23, the U.K. will vote whether or not they want to remain a part of the European Union, and the upcoming vote is bringing to light many political issues and regulations. Whilst many politicians are choosing to focus on the macro-issues of defense, immigration, finance and trade, those of us involved in cooling and heating are considering issues closer to our businesses – namely what would happen to the EU regulatory environment if the U.K. did vote to leave the EU?

  • Is the honeymoon over with smart homes?

    Michael J. Berens Construction & Building Materials

    Hailed as the technology of the future, smart devices connected through an Internet of Things and controlled via apps on a smartphone or tablet were going to revolutionize the way we live. Or so we have been led to believe. At present, the future looks less rosy. In recent months, consumers have become somewhat disenchanted with smart devices and are shying away from the smart home scenario. The industry has a ways to go to win consumers' confidence.

  • The house of the future: What dreams are made of

    Adolfo Benedito Engineering

    When I was just a child and I stuffed myself with films from the '60s and '70s, I recall something that used to attract my attention. I had an obsession with the sceneries, backgrounds, furniture, spaces — so kitsch and pop art — mixed with booming influences, such as Andy Warhol's art.

  • Implementing a sustainable manufacturing plan at your facility

    Alan Kelsky Manufacturing

    ​The goal of sustainable manufacturing is producing products in ways that have a minimal negative influence on the environment. In order to accomplish this, manufacturers use processes that reduce and prevent greenhouse gases, conserve natural resources and energy and do not harm workers or consumers.

  • What will it take for transition to lower-GWP refrigerants?

    Andrew Gaved Facilities & Grounds

    I have written before about how the combination of the forthcoming bans on higher-GWP refrigerants in the European F-Gas regulations and mandated reductions in the HFCs being sold into the EU are in danger of catching the end-users on the hop. Simply put, if customers don't soon convert to lower-GWP options, they will be faced with two troubling possibilities.

  • Why you should turn your rental property into a corporate rental

    Renata Circeo-Loudon Travel, Hospitality & Event Management

    There comes a time when you want to sell your investment property. I was interested in investing in the Destin, Florida, area and thought this was a good time to sell and do a 1031 Tax Ex​change, which is a like property exchange in that you avoid paying capital gains taxes on the increased value of the property.

  • Making an integrated heating and cooling strategy work

    Andrew Gaved Facilities & Grounds

    We have talked here before of how the European Union's heating and cooling strategy — currently out for consultation — could be a driver for bringing the respective industries closer together for the common good of energy reduction. Now, the European Partnership for Energy and the Environment (EPEE), which represents the heating, cooling and refrigeration industry in Europe, has published a series of recommendations for how it believes the strategy can be made even more effective.