Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo Green Their Cities for Olympic Bid

Chicago, along with its competitors, is touting sustainability in a race to win the bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will select a winner on Oct. 2. More     More

Facilities America to Feature Two Days of Top Notch, Affordable Education – Register Now!

Featuring over 20 educational tracks focused on technical issues and sustainability topics for facilities professionals. Learn about the latest technologies, best practices, products and services for optimum facilities operations. More

New Facilities Benchmarking Tool -- Free Webinar September 16

AFE encourages its members to attend a Webinar at 2pm EDT on September 16 to see how the face of online benchmarking is changing. The Webinar is presented by FM BENCHMARKING, and will focus on how to apply benchmarking to reduce operating expenses in several key areas: utilities, maintenance, custodial and security. Sustainability will be mentioned briefly. To sign up for both a live and a recorded version, go to MoreMore

Algae-Covered Buildings Boost Biofuel Production

Are living green buildings just around the corner? A report recently released by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers suggests that sealed containers of algae photobioreactors could be integrated into the sides of buildings to produce biofuels and sequester carbon, adding a whole new meaning to the term 'green building'. As the algae grows it sucks up CO2 from the surrounding air which can then be stored. MoreMore

Environmental Scientists Estimate That China Could Meet Its Entire Future Energy Needs by Wind Alone

A team of environmental scientists from Harvard and Tsinghua University demonstrated the enormous potential for wind-generated electricity in China. Using extensive metrological data and incorporating the Chinese government's energy bidding and financial restrictions for delivering wind power, the researchers estimate that wind alone has the potential to meet the country's electricity demands projected for 2030. More

Certified Plant Engineer (CPE) Online and Classroom Review Classes Now Scheduled!

Online CPE Review: Join instructor Jim Taylor of Machinery Management Solutions for an extended review of the CPE Review Pack. This online class is double the instruction time of the traditional week-long review to allow working professionals to dedicate the appropriate time to prepare. Classes will be held from 12-2 EST. Traditional Classroom Review: To be held Nov. 14, Nov. 21, Dec. 5 and Dec. 12, 2009 in Eastern Massachusetts. For the schedule, pricing and registration, please click here. or contact Carol Lawrence at (571) 203-7238 or CLawrence@AFE.org.More

New AFE Webinar: Introduction to Interactive Facility Navigation Systems (IFNS) – Sept. 17

With increased risks to building and life safety, facility managers and engineers are continuously challenged to find faster ways to respond with 911 authorities in a crisis situation. Interactive Facility Navigation Systems allow 911 authorities to respond faster, safer, and with better information. Enabling your facility with an IFNS reduces your liability. MoreMore

Building a More Livable Singapore

For the first time, four government agencies are working together with the National University of Singapore (NUS) to build a greener and more livable Singapore. Seven million dollars will be used to fund seven research projects such as designing buildings and common areas to maximize space usage. New landscapes such as the Marina Bay and the Jurong Lake district, as well as both mature and new housing estates like Punggol, will be examined in detail. Six of the projects will be carried out concurrently over three years. More

How the Stimulus Impacts Green Building

The U.S. government is starting to understand the need for sustainability. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was signed into law by President Obama in February to stimulate the sagging U.S. economy. By injecting $690 billion to improve infrastructure the authors hoped to create millions of jobs pulling the U.S. out of the worst recession since the Great Depression. Interspersed within this $690 billion is $60 billion for green projects of which $45 billion is going specifically towards energy related programs. Within this $45 billion most will go directly towards the green building industry with some additional monies going towards large scale renewable energy production. More