There's always some area that facility managers can improve, even when things are going well. Some try to do this by micro-managing or refusing to delegate lower-priority tasks, but this isn't really the best way to do it. Instead, try one of these six tips:

1. Examine your waste management procedures.

Have you performed a waste audit recently? Recycling and trash removal are unique to every facility, and even every department within an individual building. They should never be treated as one-size-fits-all or set-it-and-forget-it solutions. If it's been a while since you took a look at the trash generated by your facility and assessed it against your waste management contract, there's no time like the present. Examine what kind of trash each area of your facility generates, and how much. How much of it is recyclable? Is any of it potentially repurposable within your own operation, like waste paper and food scraps? Does your current waste management contract cover your needs, or are you paying for more than you need? Streamlining your waste and recycling management can save you money, keep your facility cleaner, and help make your operations more sustainable.

2. See what you can automate.

Automation provides multiple potential benefits. It can make it easier to collect data on asset performance, allows workers or tenants to report on maintenance needs, and makes it easier to track inventory. If you aren't using facility management software, now is a good time to do so. Some types of automation, like motion-sensing lights and smart HVAC technology, can also make your operation more sustainable and less expensive to run. They can help you trim power costs and alert you when it's time to perform regular maintenance.

3. Implement a preventative or predictive maintenance program.

If things are running smoothly in your facility right now, it means that you're not scrambling around trying to put out metaphorical fires. This gives you a chance to up your asset maintenance game. For one, times like these let you easily see patterns of usage -- you can discern peak hours from slow hours and figure out when it's best to take assets offline. This is key for setting up a good preventative maintenance program that won't cause major disruptions to your facility's operations. This is also a good time to look into predictive maintenance. If you're taking the opportunity to automate some of your operations or implement facility management software, you can use the data they gather to assess asset performance over time and establish when it's necessary to perform maintenance to prevent breakdowns and undue downtime.

4. Seek out some much-needed upgrades.

If your assets have been underperforming, needing more maintenance than usual, or showing other signs of age, now is a good time to look for newer, more efficient models. A lot of older appliances, for example, are much less energy efficient than newer models. This means that, while a new model will cost some money at the outset, it can end up paying for itself in reduced repair and power costs. Even if you don't need to upgrade your equipment, now might be a good time to look into renewable power solutions for your facility, or just find ways you can update basic systems like lighting. Swapping some old lightbulbs for LEDs will save you both time and money since they use a fraction of the electricity of incandescents and last 50 to 100 times longer.

5. See what fits, and what doesn't.

Since every facility is unique, it's highly possible that there might be some aspects of your workflow that aren't a perfect fit for your operation. Now is the time to determine your facility's top priorities and customize your workflow to help you achieve them. A hospital won't have the same goals as a concert venue, and its operations shouldn't look the same either. Just like with waste management, take this opportunity to audit different areas of your facility and make sure that what you have in place is actually meeting your needs.

6. Communicate with employees.

How up-to-date is your employees' knowledge? How well do they know how to respond to things like unexpected downtime, or natural disasters? This is a good time to take a look at items like your emergency preparedness procedures and ensure that everyone is fully trained on how to execute them. If you've recently made any upgrades to your equipment, don't assume that your employees know the ins and outs of its use and maintenance already. Well-trained employees are more confident and efficient. They'll not only perform better, they'll also need your input and assistance less often, freeing you up to handle high-priority tasks. Facility management doesn't leave a lot of time for managers to rest on their laurels. As your facility's needs evolve, its assets age and employees come and go, there are always ways to help keep things running as well as they possibly can.

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Becoming a great facility manager has a learning curve. Even the most seasoned, experienced professionals can end up falling victim to common mistakes. It's a highly complex job that requires intense attention to detail, so it's easy to get tripped up now and then. Here are the seven biggest mistakes that facility managers commonly make:

1. Forgetting that space is money.

Research shows that, on average, companies have about 30-50% more space than they actually use. Inefficient usage of space is wasted revenue -- it's either room that can be rented to tenants, or real estate that you have to pay for. Keep an eye on things like foot traffic and usage statistics, since they can tell you how your space is actually being used by its occupants. If you have a lot of wasted space, see how you can put it to work for you.

2. Not listening to employees.

Facility managers manage, but they're generally not the ones in the thick of things. Employees are the ones who have to perform basic tasks like sanitization and repairs. If a fixture or arrangement looks good but is inefficient or problematic to maintain, is it worth it? The best thing facility managers can do is listen to their workers. Facility managers have to focus on the big picture, but employees can give valuable feedback on how the individual components are operating. This can let you know how well things are working, give you a heads up about necessary maintenance, and allow you to collaborate on easier, more efficient ways to keep your facility running.

3. Practicing "eminence-based" management.

When you've been doing something for years, it's tempting to rest on your laurels. After all, with time comes experience, right? Unfortunately, too many facility managers rely on their past experience, and not on the evidence in front of them. All facilities are different -- something as minor as the direction a building faces can change things like its HVAC and landscaping needs.

For best results, base your management decisions on hard data. If that's tough to come by, invest in some good facility management software. This can keep a running tab of maintenance needs, inventory, and much more. You'll be able to make choices for your unique facility and won't have to rely on gut feelings or past experiences.

4. Doing it all yourself.

As a manager, it's tempting to think that you're better off doing things yourself to make sure that they're done right. There are three problems with this: One, you may not necessarily be better equipped to maintain or repair something compared to the person who works with it on a regular basis. Two, basic maintenance tasks can distract you from higher-priority issues. Three, this robs your employees of crucial learning experiences. You have a team of workers for a reason, and part of management is delegation. While there will definitely be times when you'll be called upon to handle things yourself, this shouldn't be a regular occurrence.

5. Getting sloppy about compliance.

It can be tedious to make sure every "i" is dotted and every "t" is crossed, but there's a reason for it. You don't want to complete a renovation project, for example, only to find out that you don't have the necessary permits. It can be even worse if you start a project without getting all of the necessary signatures, then find out that the project didn't actually have approval. Save yourself time, money, and a headache -- ensure compliance with regulations, even if they aren't convenient.

6. Letting inventory slip by.

Inventory is crucial. If you miscount and order too much of something, that's wasted money. The same is true if you miscount and run out. Set up a robust inventory tracking system that can show you, at a glance, how much of everything you have. Don't rely solely on hand counts or other systems that can fall victim to human error. As a facility manager, you should know what you have, where it is, where it came from, and where it's going.

7. Emphasizing one type of maintenance over another.

There's predictive, preventative, and reactive maintenance, and there's an appropriate time for each. If you emphasize reactive maintenance, you'll end up with a lot of unpredictable downtimes. Some equipment is better suited to predictive maintenance, while other equipment might operate better with preventative maintenance. One solution isn't necessarily superior to another in all situations, and it's important to avoid adopting a "one size fits all" approach.

As a facility manager, your job is to have your eye on the entire facility as a whole. Delegating to software and your employees can help you aggregate the information you need in order to make the best decisions. By being aware of these common facility management mistakes, you can help yourself avoid them.

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Managing a facility means managing everything that comes out of that facility. Unfortunately, waste management can create some significant challenges -- especially in terms of sustainability. Putting a solid, robust plan in place will cost some money up front, but can more than pay for itself over time. Here are six tips for getting your Long Island facility's waste management plan up and running:

1. Perform a waste audit.

The first step to setting up any kind of solution -- whether it's waste management, energy efficiency, or anything else -- is an audit. This will help you determine how much waste each area of your facility produces, and what kind of waste that is. An office area, for example, is most likely to produce a lot of paper and cardboard. A cafeteria, on the other hand, will mostly be food and plastic waste. Without a thorough waste audit, you have no way of knowing what your waste management needs really are.

2. Avoid a "one size fits all" solution.

You could set up a bunch of generic bins with black bags, but then all of your glass, aluminum, paper, and food waste will end up going to the same place. You'll either have to pay to have all of that hauled away to a landfill, or your employees will have to take the time to separate it by hand for recycling or composting. A waste audit can tell you what waste comes from where, so you can strategically place specific receptacles for regular trash, paper recycling, and so forth.

3. Re-read your sanitation contract.

After performing a waste audit, take a look at your waste pickup contract. Does it meet your needs? Are you paying for a service you aren't using, or is there another way you could help reduce your costs? If you have a large dumpster that's only half full every time the sanitation workers come by to empty it, it's worth downsizing. If your dumpster is always overflowing and attracting insects and rodents, size up. In some cases, the cost of recycling may be cheaper than the cost of emptying a big dumpster every week. In that situation, it pays to separate recycling from garbage. Your facility will operate more sustainably and save money at the same time.

4. Determine what you can use in-house.

One person's waste is another person's treasure. Just because you're ready to throw something away doesn't mean that it can't be given new life elsewhere. Stacks of old single-sided printouts can be cut in half and used as notepads, extending their use before they need to be recycled. Shipping boxes may be used for storage. If your facility can handle composting, you can turn food scraps into free fertilizer for landscaping. Look at the trash generated by your operation, and see what can be repurposed in-house before being recycled or discarded.

5. Set goals, and incentivize meeting them.

It's not enough to put a waste management program in place and then walk away. You have to keep tabs on things. Your facility's waste generation is in constant flux. The ultimate goal should be to reduce (or even eliminate) how much trash goes to a landfill. Measure your facility's garbage and recycling output, and set goals to reduce your garbage. Create incentives for employees or tenants to help reduce trash output in their specific departments and come up with innovative ideas to help the facility meet its goals.

6. Make it as easy as possible for people to get right.

The best waste management program in the world won't work if people won't comply. Make it easy for employees and guests to do the right thing. Clearly mark bins with ADA-compliant signage, graphics, and color-coding. Place them in spots that are intuitive and convenient to users. Most people's first priority is getting rid of their trash. If a recycling bin is too far away, or not clearly labeled, they're much more likely to use a regular garbage bin. If a garbage bin isn't in plain sight, they may resort to using a planter, or just leaving trash behind. Fun fact: Walt Disney determined where to put the trash cans in Disney World by eating a hotdog. He ate it while walking and placed a trash can where he finished. That ensured that no guest would ever be too far away from a waste bin. You don't need to scarf hotdog after hotdog to figure out where to put your bins, but it helps to think about waste management from the user's perspective. Waste management isn't glamorous, but it's crucial. Without a thorough waste audit, you have no way of knowing your facility's needs. Once you can see what kind of waste you're creating, and how much, you can double-check your disposal contract, set up strategies for recycling and composting, and begin meeting sustainability goals.

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There are countless old wives' tales that deal with handling wasp, hornet, and bee infestations, and for good reason -- humans have been living alongside these bugs pretty much forever. Buildings often provide an ideal haven for them, since people inadvertently create a perfect source of shelter and food. Unfortunately, few people actually want to share their working or living space with a nest full of stinging insects. How can facility managers deal with infestations of bees, hornets, or wasps?

1. Use an ounce of prevention.

To keep bees, wasps, and hornets from viewing your facility as a combination hotel and buffet, you need to think like a bug.

First, consider food sources.

This can be anything from landscaping plants to trash cans full of food waste. Wasps, in particular, are voracious and diverse eaters whose diets vary by life stage. When the nests are full of young larvae, wasps hunt for sources of protein to feed them. Adults chiefly consume sugary foods. (This need for protein means that some wasp species are actually beneficial for landscaping -- they provide natural pest control by preying on unwanted garden bugs!) Hornets are just large eusocial wasps, so their diets are similar. Bees look for sugary foods that mimic plant nectar. This means that your employees should empty trashcans regularly and promptly clean up spills. If you've had a bee infestation in the past, make sure to completely remove all traces of honey. The scent will attract bees back to the former nesting site.

Next, look for a means of entry.

Yellowjackets are infamous for making nests inside of hollow things, like the kind of metal tubing commonly used for safety railings. Look for any tiny holes, gaps, or cracks where hornets, bees, or wasps can sneak in, and seal them.

Finally, repel them.

Wasps are territorial, so some homes and facilities have luck using decoy nests to keep them at bay. Research also shows that painting the underside of overhangs, like porches and awnings, a shade of blue can keep wasps from nesting there. There are also stickers printed with a hexagonal pattern, like the cells of wasp's nests, which may discourage them from lingering in an area. Strongly scented deterrents, like moth balls, dryer sheets, or clove oil, can also help repel stinging insects without the use of potentially hazardous pesticides. It's best to avoid using pesticides whenever possible. Those that target hornets can also negatively impact native Long Island bee populations, which are already struggling due to agricultural pesticides and habitat loss.

2. Know how to spot a problem.

A single bee or wasp isn't really cause for concern. They cover a lot of distance in their search for food or territory, so you'll spot one occasionally scoping things out. The queens of some wasp species also sometimes overwinter inside buildings. These generally aren't an issue and likely won't even be noticed. Even then, their primary objective is to leave in spring and start a new nest, and they typically aren't aggressive. If you start seeing large numbers of wasps or hornets, or their distinctive paper or mud nests, it indicates a problem.

Long Island is home to yellowjackets, European paper wasps, mud daubers, cicada killers, European hornets, and bald-faced hornets, so familiarize yourself with their appearances and nests so you can identify them on sight. Honeybees and bumble bees may build their hives inside of trees or walls. You might notice buzzing or a droning sound, a honey smell, or bees coming and going through a crack or gap. Other bee species may nest in holes in the ground, or under piles of refuse.

3. Call in a pro.

Do not attempt to handle an infestation of wasps, hornets, or bees yourself. They require specialized equipment and knowledge. Simply keep people away from the infested area and contact a professional. They'll come out and deal with the problem for you, and give you tips to keep it from returning. Removing bees from a hive often isn't enough to stop an infestation. A single honeybee nest can contain upwards of a hundred pounds of honey, tens of thousands of bees, and a complex network of honeycomb. Bees fan their wings to regulate the temperature of their homes. Even if all of the bees are killed or removed, this lack of thermoregulation means that the wax and honey will start to melt and run. The smell from this will attract more bees, starting the problem all over again. It's important to remove not only the bees, but the honey, combs, and larvae.

If there's an apiarist (beekeeper) in your area, and you have a bee infestation, they may be willing to come to remove it. Apiarists have the proper equipment for handling bees and their honeycombs and are able to safely relocate the bees so the hive can thrive elsewhere. This is the best strategy for protecting people and sensitive bee populations at the same time. Bees, hornets, and wasps are fascinating creatures to observe from a distance. When they set up shop inside a facility, it causes problems for insects and people alike. The best course of action is to try to prevent an infestation whenever possible. If one happens anyway, never attempt to deal with it yourself. Professionals have the tools and knowledge to take care of the issue safely and effectively.

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People make a big deal over spring and autumn maintenance -- after all, you definitely don't want to be caught unprepared once extreme temperatures and severe weather hits. There's a lot to be done during summer, too. Here are seven tasks you should take care of to make sure your facility keeps running smoothly all summer long:

1. Check on those air filters.

The best time for HVAC maintenance is before you need it, but that doesn't mean that you're off the hook all summer. Keep an eye on air filters -- they can easily become clogged with dust and pollen during the hotter months. This restricts airflow, making your HVAC system work harder to keep things moving. It also lowers air quality.

2. Maintain your pavement.

Water is the enemy of pavement. Tiny cracks and gaps are inevitable, which let water seep in. When water freezes, it expands, creating larger cracks and potholes. Spring and winter are notoriously hard on pavement, and summer is the best time to start repairs. Scope out the locations of damaged pavement around your facility, and make a plan of attack. Don't forget to account for things like parking needs and traffic flow.

3. Check for strange odors.

It's not uncommon for things to smell damp and faintly musty in wet weather. In the Northeastern US, summer is generally drier than spring. If you're still smelling that mildewy smell around your facility, it may mean mold damage. Now's the time to check little-used areas for strange smells, and start remediation procedures. Correct poor ventilation, check for leaking pipes, install dehumidifiers as needed, and clean up any moldy or mildewy spots. Keep an eye on affected areas to make sure mold doesn't return.

4. Clean the building's exterior.

Having a clean, neat-looking building exterior impacts the experience of your tenants and guests, but spring brings a lot of mud, pollen, and water stains. Cleaning the outside of a building is more than just cosmetic, however -- it also lets you spot water damage, potential leaks, and areas in need of repair. Schedule time to clean windows, power wash pavement, and exterior walls, and clean debris from the roof and gutters. Now is also a good time to repaint any areas in need of refreshing. These tasks can take a significant amount of time. If you're going to undertake a major product like window care, repainting, or roof repairs, plan accordingly. These aren't tasks that you want to cut corners on -- some extra attention now can save you a major headache later.

5. Examine your lighting.

The angle and intensity of the sun changes significantly throughout the year. During summer, you might find that your indoor lighting is more intense than you need. If your lighting is automated, now is a good time to adjust your timers to account for changes in daylight hours. You may also want to see which areas of your facility can get by with natural lighting alone. This can save electricity and, if your facility uses incandescent lights, it may also help keep your building cooler.

6. Watch for pests.

Some pests, like rats, are more likely to start moving in when the weather gets cool and food becomes scarce. Others, like ants, are more active in summer. Keep foods and other attractive materials sealed up tightly, and make sure spills get cleaned up before pests find them. It's also a good idea to periodically check for holes, cracks, grease stains, and areas that appear chewed or shredded. Seal up any spaces that might allow pests to sneak in.

7. Tend to landscaping.

Summer heat can be rough on landscaping. If your facility has multi-season landscaping, summer is the time to start cleaning up spent spring plants. If you have a lawn, stay on top of fertilizing and irrigation. Prune shrubbery and pull weeds. If your property isn't flat, erosion might be a concern. Keep an eye on the side of slopes, and get ready to act if you start seeing eroded surfaces. Put down erosion control fabric, or landscape with plants like creeping juniper, buckthorn, or honeysuckle. Every season comes with its own maintenance tasks. Take advantage of summer's warm, drier weather to repair leaks, spruce up building exteriors, and repair pavement. Don't forget to schedule a time to check on your air filters, lighting systems, and landscaping, too. With a good plan and your priorities in order, you can have an attractive facility with minimal downtime all year long.

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Portable air conditioners are usually regarded as a residential need or something to be used only in emergencies. In truth, there are plenty of situations where facility managers might want to use a portable cooling solution. These air conditioning units are just like regular ones, in that they release cool air and exhaust heat. Most of them employ an evaporator and a condenser and have a duct to release heat into an unused area, drop ceiling, or outdoors through a window. Some models are air-cooled, while others are water-cooled. Water-cooled units require a source of water and a place to drain it away after use. While setting up and figuring out how to vent heat from a portable AC may sound challenging, there are several situations where these cooling solutions can be extremely useful:

For Emergencies

Just to get this one out of the way -- emergencies often mean no HVAC. This could be because a facility management program has chosen to divert electricity to more crucial functions, because of a blackout, or simply because of a breakdown that necessitates emergency repairs. Either way, having a portable air conditioning unit can be a literal lifesaver for facilities like hospitals or schools, and vitally important for data centers. Anywhere where climate control is a priority should have a portable AC unit to cover emergencies.

For Specialty Equipment

Some equipment, like servers, computer labs, or diagnostic imaging machines, can generate a lot of heat. Unfortunately, this kind of technology will also malfunction if things get too hot. HVAC alone often isn't enough to keep everything at the optimal temperature, but portable AC can be a very helpful way to offer some supplemental cooling that's targeted to the rooms that need it. This will keep equipment safe and running well, and make sure you aren't wasting energy on cooling other rooms more than necessary.

For Special Inventory

Say your facility is involved in manufacturing, and your inventory needs to be kept below a certain temperature. Goods like soaps, candles, and some raw materials, for example, don't require refrigeration -- but their quality does suffer if they get too hot. Portable AC can help keep stock rooms cool, protecting inventory. They also cost far less than refrigeration or cooling the entirety of the facility.

For Regular Maintenance

If you're engaging in predictive or preventative maintenance, you're already ahead of the game by only taking down your HVAC system when demand is likely to be low. Low demand doesn't mean zero, however -- you're still likely to have at least a few areas that need to be kept cool. Rolling in a portable air conditioner can cover these until the primary HVAC unit is back online.

For Special Events

If your facility is holding an event or meeting in an outdoor tent, or any area not typically covered by the HVAC system, then a portable AC unit can keep the attendees safe and comfortable. Roll it in for the duration of the event, then maintain it and pack it away again afterward.

For Worker Safety

Some industries require workers to be around hot machinery, or in confined spaces that are difficult to ventilate well. These conditions likely don't extend to the rest of the facility, so it doesn't make sense to use the regular HVAC in order to cool these areas sufficiently. Instead, a portable air conditioner can provide supplemental cooling to keep workers safe while they do their jobs. This is also a great solution for machinery or rooms that aren't used consistently. A portable HVAC unit can cool them as needed while having no impact on the safety or comfort of the rest of the occupants of the building.

For Temporary Areas

During the height of the pandemic, a lot of industrial facilities re-worked themselves to produce masks, other protective equipment, and ventilator parts. This often meant moving machinery and personnel around, or even using temporary structures or re-purposing rooms. While these measures weren't intended to be permanent, they were going to last long enough for cooling to be an issue. Portable air conditioning is the perfect solution for situations like these, where you need some form of climate control but it doesn't make sense to build in ductwork and set up an HVAC unit. Portable air conditioners are just what they say they are -- they're portable, and they cool. As long as you have power and a way to vent excess heat from the unit, you can use them. Even if your facility doesn't need one on a daily basis, it's a good idea to have at least one in your inventory. They can protect your workers and valuable equipment during emergencies, and help you out during any other contingencies that arise.

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Have you been tossing around the idea of investing in a building management system (BMS)? If you'd like to reduce energy waste, cut costs, and help things run more smoothly and efficiently, it may seem like the perfect solution. Strangely, the overwhelming majority of facilities haven't yet gotten on board with this technology. What can a BMS do for you, and is it the right option for your facility?

What is a building management system?

The term "building management system" is often used synonymously with "building automation system," and for good reason. At its heart, this is a computer program that handles systems like HVAC, security, and lighting. This can be as simple as setting a schedule for turning lights and climate control on at the beginning of the day, or as complex as monitoring the systems' performance, anticipating occupant needs, and adjusting accordingly.

Why should a facility invest in a BMS?

Though these automated management systems can be expensive to deploy, they can also be a wise investment if:

1. You're concerned about fire safety.

Some building management systems can take care of fire suppression by using a Very Early Smoke Detection Apparatus. Once it detects a potential fire, it sounds alarms and alerts employees. This can keep small fires from turning into bigger conflagrations and ensure that all occupants are able to get out safely. For facilities that hold very flammable or potentially explosive material, like the oxygen tanks in hospitals or solvents in factories, this technology could be invaluable.

2. You're suffering from "data overload."

A good BMS linked with analytic software can give you a useful collection of data with actionable suggestions for making things more efficient. It helps prevent information overload and choice fatigue and can make it much easier to appropriately and effectively prioritize maintenance tasks. You may also be able to customize the reports you receive, so you focus on the highest priority needs first. These can help uncover trends in power usage and asset maintenance, and provide valuable information to stakeholders and lessees.

3. You want to maximize your facility's uptime.

Facilities live and die by their uptime. If yours isn't operational, it isn't earning money and covering its expenses. If a crucial system goes down, it can take the entire facility down with it. A BMS provides data that can help you perform predictive maintenance, scheduling needed downtime for when it's least disruptive to building operations. It can also shift power needs to backup generators in an emergency, minimizing disruptions.

4. You want to get the most out of your assets.

When machinery experiences a breakdown, this shortens its lifespan. Preventative or predictive maintenance, which involves deliberately taking assets offline in order to correct problems before they start, helps keep them running better and longer. This is another way that a BMS can help save you money: In addition to saving electricity and improving uptime, it also helps critical assets last longer before they need to be replaced.

5. You're having a hard time managing your Internet of Things ecosystem.

A lot of devices with internet connectivity can generate their own reports and provide limited automation and analytics. With a BMS, it becomes easier to get these devices to communicate and cooperate with each other. This means that you can potentially use a BMS to allow your electrical system to trigger power-saving settings in other critical assets in the event of an emergency, or even let your fire detection system automatically unlock exterior doors and switch elevators and escalators to evacuation mode. A BMS can streamline the often difficult process of getting independent systems to work together.

6. You have a broad portfolio and need to be able to manage things remotely.

Since building management systems can collect data and compile it into easy-to-understand reports, managers can keep an eye on things from anywhere. If there's a critical system failure, they'll receive an alert to return to the site to fix it. Otherwise, most adjustments can be made remotely through the interface or handled entirely by automation.

7. You want to save money.

In addition to helping your facility reduce the cost of maintenance, downtime, and asset replacement, building management systems are often lauded for their ability to trim utility bills. By turning on HVAC and lighting systems only when they're needed, for example, a BMS can cut down on wasted power. Since it can also provide analytics that help managers anticipate trends in building operations, it makes it easier to avoid being surprised by unexpected costs. If you want to cut costs and improve your facility's efficiency, a building management system can help you find safe, effective, helpful ways to do it. A building management system can be an expensive investment, but it may also be a smart one. If your facility currently has uptime, analytics, interoperability, or even safety issues that would benefit from automation, then a BMS may be worth considering. After the initial expense to deploy it, you may find that it more than pays for itself.

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Water is the enemy of any building. The entire purpose of a building is to protect the contents and occupants from rain, heat, and cold. When heavy spring rains hit, they can create a long list of problems -- including flooding, infestations, mold, and more. Here are seven tips to help you keep your property safe and dry, no matter how much rain comes down this spring.

1. Schedule a roof inspection.

No matter what kind of roof your facility has, it can be damaged by high winds, extreme temperatures, heavy Long Island snows, and debris. An inspection can help you pinpoint areas where roofing materials have broken, shrunk, loosened, or otherwise degraded. Even if you haven't developed a leak yet, small, damaged spots can allow water to infiltrate over time. This will result in more damage later on, which will be increasingly complicated and expensive to fix. All of this is especially important if your building has a flat roof. Flat roofs are more subject to leaks. Pay particular attention to any areas where pipes or wiring pass through, as these are naturally more vulnerable.

2. Check gutters and downspouts.

Gutters and downspouts are what catch runoff and direct it away from your building. Everyone knows that they can't do this if they're clogged, but clogs aren't the only thing that can make a gutter not do its job. Gutters that are at the wrong angle won't work effectively, and downspouts that are too short or positioned incorrectly can end up sending rainwater right into your foundation. Keep an eye out not only for clogs, but for loose and badly-positioned gutters and downspouts. If your building has weep holes, include these in your inspection. Many facilities perform landscaping duties in early spring, including refreshing mulch. It's very easy for mulch to get tossed in front of weep holes, blocking them and keeping them from letting the building drain and breathe as it needs to. Know where they are and make sure they stay clear.

3. Trim any overhanging trees.

As part of your spring landscaping, make sure to trim any overhanging trees or other foliage that's in danger of blowing onto your roof or gutter system. Branches can damage roofs, and leaves and twigs can block gutters. Heavy runoff from large trees can also direct water where you don't want it to go. Keep them neatly trimmed, for their own health and the health of your building.

4. Clear your drains.

After roofs, gutters, and downspouts, storm drains are your next defense against rainwater. Your roof lets rain run into the gutter, which moves it to the downspout, which carries it away from your building's foundation. Ideally, the rainwater would then drain away into a nearby storm drain. If that drain is blocked by leaves, debris, or trash, that water is going to sit there and potentially cause a flood. Make sure that these drains are kept clear and able to do their jobs effectively.

5. Inspect your parking lot.

Cold New York winters often alternate with sunny days, which means that snow and ice get ample opportunity to freeze, melt, and refreeze. This wreaks havoc on parking lots as snowmelt works its way down into tiny cracks and chips in the pavement, then freezes and expands as ice causing some real damage. Tiny cracks widen and lengthen, and chunks of pavement can even work loose and create potholes. While it might not seem like it at first, this is a major problem when heavy spring rains hit. If a parking lot or other paved surface is damaged, it can divert rain away from storm drains and let it collect elsewhere. Potholes and cracks don't just make parking lots uncomfortable and unsafe; they can increase the risk of water damage to other parts of your property.

6. Keep an eye out for any holes or other areas of ingress.

As water rises, rats, insects, and other vermin start seeking dry areas. That means that heavy rains can increase the risk of an infestation of vermin. Don't wait for them to show up in order to take care of the problem -- be proactive by looking for and sealing up any gaps or holes that could let them in.

7. Be ready for an emergency.

If heavy rains hit, you need to be prepared. Have a list of qualified repair crews who can take care of any damage to roofs, windows, or other parts of your building. Have wet-dry vacs, fans, and other supplies for handling floods. Sandbags are another helpful tool for directing water away from your buildings. Water infiltration and damage worsen over time, so having these things ready to go will help minimize the cost and disruption to your facility. Rain is a pain to deal with. Once it's found its way into your building, the problem tends to just get worse instead of better. Stay on top of maintenance tasks for your roof, gutters, landscaping, storm drains, and any other areas that help keep your buildings safe and dry.

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It's not spring yet, but warming temperatures signal that it's on the horizon. As every facility manager knows, changing seasons mean changes in your maintenance routine. Before you get into the swing of spring, here are eight tips to make sure your facility is as clean, comfortable, attractive, and safe as possible:

1. Clean and examine windows.

With the rise in biophilic design, architects, designers, and facility managers alike know how important natural lighting is. Over time, dust and grime dull windows, making them dingy and reducing the amount of light that gets in. Now's a good time to give all of your exterior glass a seasonal cleaning, and check over their frames and seals for any signs of drafts or leaks. Leaky windows can let spring rain infiltrate, which may lead to mold growth, water damage, and negative impacts on occupant health.

2. Go over pest management.

Warmer weather makes dormant vermin come out to play. Many facilities make sure to close any gaps and remove food and water sources for bugs and rodents before winter hits, but it's a good idea to check things over again in spring. As animals start waking up to the warmer weather, they may begin seeking out food, water, and shelter, initiating a new wave of infestations. Stay on top of it now, so you aren't left dealing with a bigger, more dangerous problem later.

3. Go over COVID protocols.

Everyone knows that winter temperatures trigger increases in respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, but spring doesn't mean it's time to slack off. As the weather warms up, review your measures for ensuring occupant health and safety. Check your ventilation system to make sure that your facility is pulling in as much outdoor air as is feasible and you're using an efficient HVAC filter. Update any worn-out signage or markers. Keep on top of guidelines for effective sanitization protocols. Check any UV-C sanitizers you might have to ensure they're still in good working order.

4. Check your protective equipment.

Warmer temperatures mean that employees are likely to have more outdoor duties, like landscaping and cleaning, and maintaining the building's exterior, and will need proper safety gear for these tasks. You'll also want to check up on fire extinguishers, fire alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and any other devices that are relevant to your facility's safety. Replace any that no longer work, and make sure all of them operate properly.

5. Inspect your roof.

Heavy snows and winter wind can really beat up a roof. Unfortunately, it doesn't take much damage for a tiny leak to start, which can turn into a bigger problem later on. Schedule a roof inspection to look for any missing or damaged roofing material, and identify areas that need preventative maintenance. A little bit of attention now can save a big bill for water damage and mold remediation later on.

6. Compare notes with last year.

You should be keeping a log of your maintenance tasks, which will make it easier to compare costs and needs from one year to the next. If you have been, take a look at what needs attention around this time last year. Make sure these areas are still holding up well, or if they're showing some wear that could signal a deeper problem. If you're taking advantage of predictive maintenance measures, now's also a good time to make sure you're staying on top of them.

7. Check your gutters, downspouts, and weep holes.

Spring means rain, and the whole purpose of a roof and gutters is to keep water out. Weep holes let a building's envelope breathe, and provide a way for water to escape from masonry. Autumn and winter can clog gutters and downspouts with leaves and sticks, while spring landscaping, wind, and water can cover weep holes with mulch. Make sure that your facility is able to handle spring rains by keeping gutters, downspouts, and weep holes clear and open.

8. Check for potholes.

During winter, snow falls, melts, and re-freezes often, and snowplows can cause damage to paved surfaces. This means that water can infiltrate tiny gaps and cracks in the pavement, where it expands as soon as the temperature drops again. Expanding ice can widen cracks, or even loosen large chunks of asphalt and create potholes. Take a walk or drive around to inspect the paved areas around your facility for signs of damage. Since you won't have to worry about freezing temperatures for a while again, now is a good time to repair any damage caused last winter. Spring weather means snowmelt, rain, and warmer temperatures. While these probably feel wonderful after winter cold, they create a new set of challenges for facilities. By following these tips, you can help make sure that your facility is able to handle whatever spring blows your way.

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As industries across the board pledge to become carbon-neutral and distance themselves from fossil fuels, construction is working hard to keep up. This is part of a holistic approach to sustainability, which looks at a company's needs as a whole. With construction responsible for nearly 40% of energy-related carbon emissions around the world, it makes sense that facilities would look to sustainable building trends in order to help minimize this impact. Here are the biggest ones to watch for 2022:

1. Design that optimizes occupant health.

If there's anything that the pandemic taught us, it's the importance of adequate ventilation. Sustainability and ventilation have long been at odds -- while good air quality is important, reducing energy waste often means sealing buildings up tightly to avoid letting too much heated or cooled air out. Now, builders and facility managers alike are shifting toward creating healthier indoor spaces through air filtering and a careful balance of climate-controlled air and outdoor air. Healthy design doesn't end there, either. Expect it to grow to encompass sound-canceling interiors, a greater emphasis on natural light, and the incorporation of more wood, stone, and live plants.

2. A greater push for renewable power.

Advances in solar panel and wind turbine technology are making renewable power more accessible. Some innovative turbine designs are small enough for individual buildings to have their own, alongside solar panels. Improvements in battery technology are also making renewable power a stronger competitor for conventional energy. Experts anticipate that solar power alone to account for about half of the new electric generating capacity in 2022. This isn't just a good idea from a sustainability standpoint, either -- it's also smart when it comes to disaster preparedness. Facility managers know what can happen when a building becomes disconnected from the grid. Having an independent source of renewable power could be the difference between a minor disruption, and a disaster.

3. Bamboo and composite materials.

While builders and interior designers are working on new natural and sustainable designs, some materials are getting their time in the spotlight. Neither composites nor bamboo are new ideas, but they may be the wave of the future. Bamboo grows fast and is invasive in many areas of the U.S. It also makes attractive, durable flooring with properties akin to hardwood. It's naturally resistant to rot and costs less per square foot than most wood. Composite materials, like roofing shingles, insulation, or fencing, are made of bits of wood, recycled materials, and even stone. Some are made of waste products from other industries. Many of them allow for the traditional, biophilic look of natural materials while requiring fewer resources and offering better durability. Facility managers looking to cut down on the waste and expense of replacing worn-out conventional materials may wish to look at composite alternatives.

4. Smart glass windows and doors.

Glass is tricky. Nobody wants to spend hours a day in a building without windows, and natural light helps cut down on the use of electric lighting, but glass windows are also a major problem when it comes to avoiding leaks, drafts, and hot spots. That's where smart glass comes in. Smart glass is somewhat like the transition lenses used for glasses, in that it responds by altering its color or opacity based on environmental conditions. In summer, the glass increases its opacity to keep sunlight from heating up interiors. In winter, it can decrease its opacity in order to allow sunlight to warm up indoor air, and make the most of the few hours of daylight available.

5. Reduced embodied carbon.

Embodied carbon is the greenhouse gasses emitted from extracting, processing, and transporting raw materials. Some building materials, particularly those that need to be shipped long distances, resulting in more carbon emissions than others. You can think of embodied carbon as a building's carbon footprint the second it's completed before it becomes operational. Piggybacking on the push for more natural materials in construction and design, builders are working to use more wood, stone, and locally sourced raw materials in construction. This has a side benefit, too: In addition to reducing a building's carbon footprint, it can help avoid supply chain issues.

Long, complex supply chains were the first to break down during the pandemic, leaving industries scrambling to find alternate suppliers. Building robust local supply chains can help circumvent issues during natural disasters. This year is going to see some interesting shifts. Architects and designers are still embracing biophilic principles, but some materials are getting their opportunity to shine. Expect to see a continuing march toward 100% renewable power, and builders working to develop designs with the lowest possible embodied carbon. There will also be a heavy emphasis placed on local suppliers, as builders both try to reduce their projects' carbon footprints and avoid relying on long, international supply chains.

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