The future wave of corporate outsourcing will also put a smile on a facility manager's face if it can reduce overall operating costs while improving processes. Most companies considering outsourcing solutions will look well beyond the usual elements of labor, equipment and price. They want better results and a positive impact on customer service, technology, processes and systems compatibility. They also want help in dealing with some perceptions that outsourcing may not be good for the worker if the contract goes to China, India, Mexico or Russia. Such fears are overblown. A U.S. Department of Labor study shows that only a small percentage of layoffs are directly attributable to jobs going overseas.
QubeGlobal.com
A Guide To Surviving The Economic Slowdown Through Facilities Management
01/06/2009
Richard Fisher, Director at Planet comments “Assets play a key role in Facilities Management and therefore we wanted to focus on this area in our second White Paper. During this period of economic uncertainty it is an area where a number of savings can be made and this White Paper provides an overview of the ways this can be achieved.”
FM Link
Retro-Commissioning Lite - Reaching the Energy Target
01/01/2009
Retro-Commissioning Lite is a limited commissioning process focused on resolving the known operational shortcomings of heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to get better system performance, improve tenant satisfaction, reduce energy consumption, and control costs. Retro-Commissioning Lite differs from the more traditional Re- Commissioning or Retro- Commissioning, in that the Lite concept considers most HVAC functions work well and generally only specific areas need focused attention. On the other hand, full scale Re-CommissioningIRetro- Commissioning have extensive requirements that look at the operation of every component of the HVAC system. This difference gives Retro-Commissioning Lite an advantage in meeting mandated energy goals quickly and cost effectively. However, the primary benefit is improved tenant satisfaction and occupant productivity witnessed by reduced complaints of poor thermal comfort and indoor air quality. After completing Retro-Commissioning Lite, many buildings obtain the added value of an ENERGY STAR rating (the rating means the building meets energy efficiency guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy). The bronze Energy Star plaque provides both owners and tenants a positive sign of a well-managed building.
Tradeline
Integrated Project Delivery Results in Greater Value for Facility Owners
01/10/2008
Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) represents a paradigm shift. IPD's environment brings owners together with architects, engineers, general contractors, subcontractors, fabricators, and suppliers to work collaboratively in making collective design decisions that shape a building. The combined experience and expertise of varied viewpoints improves the knowledge necessary to make choices. These choices occur in a shorter time frame resulting in greater value for the building owner. Errors and potential change orders are reduced for all participants, having the consequent benefit of reducing risk for everyone.
FM Link
FMLink and Facility Issues announce powerful Web-based benchmarking tool
01/12/2008
FM BENCHMARKING enables building professionals to compare their facilities' performances to those of others through three critical benchmarking areas: costs, sustainability and best practices. By examining the relationship of all three together, FM BENCHMARKING has opened up major opportunities for building professionals to enhance the operating efficiencies of their facilities while doing more to reduce their buildings' carbon footprints
FM Link
Huge cost savings are to be made by intelligent use of workspace. And this protocol could prove useful to FMs in their decision making process
01/01/2009
Space optimisation has been catapulted to the top of the real estate and facilities management agenda, as operating expenses, staff productivity and environmental performance of buildings make the headlines. The recently launched IPD Space Code – in association with Johnson Controls and EDF Energy – aims to tackle both problems in one go. By providing the right amount of granularity, space measurement data from different countries becomes easier to interpret and data comparisons are more likely to be accurate. By providing more detail, end-user organisations are allowed a better understanding of the way they use ‘people space' in their buildings.
Institute for Corporate Productivity
Talent management’s wonder strategy - the designer workplace?
01/06/2008
A 2008 article in the UK publication Human Resources recounts the findings of architectural firm Gensler, which reported a whopping 150% increase in retention experienced by one of its client companies following a move to new and improved office space. In fact, Gensler went so far as to predict the potential for a 20% increase in overall productivity for the UK as a whole if better workplace design were implemented on a nationwide basis.
FM Link
Updated BOMA guide on commercial real estate leases includes green info
01/09/2008
Building tenants, and what goes on in tenant space, are critical to the ongoing management and continual improvement of any building. BOMA International gathered a team of experts—members with experience in executing leases and a proven track record for sustainability—to "green" The Guide to Writing a Commercial Real Estate Lease, by Steven A. Teitelbaum, Jones Day, first published in 2005.
FM Link - FMJ Online
Does Your Landlord Create a Sustainable Space
01/08/2008
According to a CoreNet Global survey, the general perception in the real estate community is that the industry is not doing enough to advance sustainability. Yet there are studies that show clear-cut benefits to building owners. Those business people that embrace this change create more than just dollars for their company. They would project a positive public image—benefiting from the halo effect that is derived from sustainable actions. This paves the road for the rest of the industry to follow.
FM Link
Benchmarking – How Much Time Does It Take to Get Started?
01/07/2009
Many FMs have difficulty getting started in the benchmarking process. Regardless of what benchmarking program or tool you use the task often looks formidable—the quality tools available allow FMs to input lots and lots of data, and just the thought of so much data entry will deter someone from doing anything more.It doesn't have to be that way. Rather, we recommend an approach that allows you obtain the key output reports in the minimum amount of time. The first thing to remember is that with only a few benchmarking values you can see where you stand on about 95% of the operating costs—that's not a bad way to begin.
Factory Maintenance
Smartpath and Valorem partnership to help with maintenance management
01/07/2009
Valorem says its Saas Praxeo solution automates site processes and people management to simplify facilities management processes and enhance the efficiency of staff, contractors and services.Smartpath’s Loc8 product tracks asset lifecycles. Smartpath says Loc8 allows organisations to save money by not repurchasing assets that already exist, remotely manage field service staff and manage maintenance costs.
Minnpost.com
Now is the perfect time for businesses to invest in energy efficiency
01/07/2009
Energy efficiency is one area where relatively small investments can result in significant long-term savings for businesses. The state's largest business advocacy organization, the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, launched a statewide Energy Smart initiative designed to help businesses take advantage of these savings.At its foundation, Energy Smart is a clearinghouse to help provide information and connect business utility customers with existing energy efficiency programs specifically offered to commercial and industrial centers. Energy Smart is especially useful to small and medium-size businesses that often lack the ability to hire staff or consultants to tackle the job.
Realcomm.com
Intelligent Buildings vs. Building Automation
01/09/2008
With the increased interest in intelligent buildings (also known as “smart buildings” or “connected buildings), you might ask “What is the difference between an Intelligent Building and traditional Building Automation?” To answer that question, it would be helpful to understand the components and features that make up an intelligent building.
FM Link
A CMMS That's Right-Sized for Your Facility's Needs is a Powerful Tool
01/03/2009
Many organizations use their computerized maintenance management system as just a record keeping tool. If that's all they want, a spreadsheet perhaps can suffice. A successful CMMS is a tool that goes far beyond just record keeping. By not fully utilizing the CMMS, maintenance operations are missing out on opportunities to save time and money. As the utilization of CMMS increases, overall productivity and profitability also increases.
Premises and Facilites Management
Credit crunch will change work forever
01/10/2008
More than 97 percent of those surveyed agreed that the biggest challenge ahead in business is the prospect of tackling energy supply and the increasing cost of energy – making the need to reduce energy consumption in the workplace a priority.
i-FM net
Familiar names on top outsourcing list
01/05/2009
The economy has led companies to re-evaluate the business case for outsourcing, and companies are seeking more flexibility, cost savings and innovation from providers, said IAOP Chairman Michael Corbett. "These companies on the list have what it takes to succeed in the new game of outsourcing," he added.Names are:Sodexo (at number 3)ISS (7)CBRE (8)Jones Lang LaSalle (15)Williams Lea (24)Aramark (27)EMCOR (37)Johnson Controls (44)Cushman & Wakefield (72).
FM Link
Shrinking Workplaces
01/01/2009
Square footage continues to be expensive and companies are looking for ways to become more efficient in light of the weakening economy. Facility managers know that extra space can often be hard to find. They are continually challenged with finding ways to ensure employee satisfaction and comfort in their working environments.
Processor.com
Bridging The Gap Between IT & Facilities
01/02/2009
Lack of collaboration between SME facilities and IT groups can siphon valuable resources from the IT pool on a recurring basis. Too often, data center staffers spend time on power and cooling and other facility management tasks while systems work, application management, and networking are left wanting. And when hit with a major IT project, the absence of a good working relationship with Facilities can retard the initiative or put implementation in peril.
Premises and Facilites Management
Research shows drastic workplace changes by 2030
01/07/2008
The three very different scenarios for 2030 are:Hive – where economic growth rapidly accelerates, driven by technological advances and deregulation. Major disasters cause knowledge workers to take refuge in home-working and the corporate office no longer exists.Eco-Office – a stable, knowledge based, global economy based on collaboration and consensus, and focused on environmental balance and social progress. Eco-offices, similar to hotels, emerge, providing good services to improve quality of life and work and to attract the top talent.Gattacca – a fragmented, disjointed and insecure world in which economic stagnation emphasises cultural and racial differences. The corporate hierarchical structure is now more prominent and the workplace is similar to a production line in a manufacturing plant.Johnson Controls believes that the Eco-Office is the most likely scenario where offices are more like hotels; employees can ‘check-in’ to work and use local amenities. Offices will be located in employee villages, characterised by sustainable transport and biodiversity plans. New workplace structures, life-long learning and corporate culture will lead us from a knowledge to a wisdom revolution.
RFP Magazine
From Cradle to Grave
01/07/2008
Article about the time value of money or what every FM and CRE should know about life cycle costing.
Premises and Facilites Management
Non-core but vital – making good decisions on support services
01/07/2008
A new guide for directors offers advice on making strategic decisions about the delivery of facilities management services to organisations in every sector of the economy.
Building Talk
How efficient is your building?
01/08/2008
Batchelor Electrical is now able to offer a new power quality analysis survey. Using the very latest machines our technicians can record and produce graphical reports detailing the electricity supply including voltage, current, frequency, power and consumption By monitoring your building's usage over a set period events such as dips, swells, interruptions including harmonic distortion and rapid voltage changes can be captured electronically and analysed.Batchelor Electrical explain how changes can be implemented to reduce our energy consumption and save money long-term. This can greatly assist with making your building become more energy efficient, quickly solving root cause failure of downtime issues (i.e circuit breakers tripping) which can be extremely costly in a retail/commercial environment and in the electrical design for future building enhancements and refits.
FM Link
Optimizing your Facility Investment Strategy
01/09/2007
Good planning will extend building life cyles, decrease ownership costs. There are 5 key formulas that support decision support technology for facility assets: Identifying the Design Life Curve; Calculating a numeric Condition Index rating on auditable objective data; Forecasting asset Service Life based on current condition; Applying Life Cycle Cost analysis and benefit to cost ratio analysisi; calculating ROI and aligning Investement Strategy with business objectives.
FM Link
How to apply benchmarking as a part of a continuous improvement process
01/01/2010
Senior management wants to know if the FM group is providing services at an appropriate cost, so they have requested that the FM organization benchmark their services.The FM Organization initiates benchmarking to understand how their performance compares with others and what could be done to improve service and reduce costs. For the first group, FMs usually are interested only in a "scorecard" to show Senior Management that their performance is acceptable. It is the second group that really grabs hold of benchmarking and uses it as a continuous improvement process to show where they stand and what can be done to improve.
TRIRIGA
40 Days until EPA Mandatory GHG Reporting
01/11/2009
Beginning January 1, 2010, organizations will be required to track and report on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from those facilities that fall within the EPA Mandatory GHG Reporting guidelines. For the first three months of 2010 the EPA will allow organizations to estimate GHG emissions using "best available monitoring methods" that are less stringent than the EPA requirements. Starting April 1, 2010, organizations must create, document and implement a GHG Monitoring Plan that meets the full requirements of the EPA Mandatory GHG Reporting rule.
i-FM net
Five steps to understanding energy consumption
01/08/2008
That's the offer from a leading provider of building performance analysis tools following the launch of a free online system that promises to determine the energy use and carbon emissions for any building, in any part of the world.
The Globe and Mail
Workplace walls come tumbling down
01/07/2009
“There's nothing that catches people's attention more than their paycheque and their personal space,” says Mr. Andrews, director of asset management for Markham, Ont., who oversaw the redesign of 20,000 square feet of additional office space the town decided to lease. The goals were to ease crowding at its Civic Centre, and to bring together staff from some of its other offices.Mr. Andrews had the additional office space redesigned to meet a long list of criteria, not the least of which were space efficiency and cost savings. The workstations in the new space measure 50 square feet, 33 per cent smaller than the 75-square-foot cubicles at the Civic Centre. “Our people were a little skeptical because they didn't want to lose what they had before,” he says.
Realcomm.com
Integrating BIM & Project Management
01/10/2008
Designing buildings and facilities using data rich Building Information Modeling (BIM) is taking hold in the marketplace. Over the years, the discipline of construction project management has evolved as well. It has gone beyond helping organizations manage only the "build" phase of projects to a broader use managing complete project lifecycles. This evolution led to the introduction of Infrastructure Lifecycle Management (ILM) software to optimize the plan, build, and operate phases of real estate and facility assets. By integrating BIM with construction project management and ILM solutions, project stakeholders can realize business value across an entire project lifecycle and gain new efficiencies for the organization.
Tradeline
Life-Cycle Analysis Advances Facility Planning at Cornell University
01/08/2008
A new outcome-based model for facility planning is revolutionizing the budget and programming process of large capital projects. Instead of making budget decisions based exclusively on the cost of design and construction, the new model places dollar values on future project outcomes so that the expected output value of a facility can be considered during the early decision-making process. This approach was successfully used by The S/L/A/M Collaborative while working with Seattle-based Strategic Equity Associates in the planning and construction of Cornell University's Stocking Hall.
FM Link
Plans in practice - Part 3 of a series on Whole-life and life-cycle costing
01/10/2008
In the final part of the three-part series, Mike Packham looks at whole-life and life-cycle costing in practice
PFM
Commercial property suffers in downturn around the world
01/11/2008
India has experienced a significant commercial property downturn in Q3 2008. Rising interest rates, higher inflation and a continuing lack of liquidity is impacting significantly on business confidence. 45 percent more Chartered Surveyors reported a fall in occupier demand compared to just 6 percent in the last quarter. The balance of surveyors reporting investor purchases plummeted from a flat zero balance to -73. However, commercial property in China has, to date, remained relatively firm in the face of a global economic downturn. Most of the Chinese indicators remain in positive territory, with both supply and demand holding up and expectations generally upbeat. 14 percent more Chartered Surveyors expect an increase in floor space to be let and sold throughout China in the coming months while 18 percent more surveyors are reporting a rise in capital values
World Business Council for Sustainable Development
Everyone Concerned with Buildings has to Change the Way they Think About Energy"
01/09/2008
14 companies (Actelios, ArcelorMittal, Bosch, CEMEX, DuPont, EDF, GdF, Kansai, LAFARGE, Philips, Skanska, Sonae Sierra, Tepco and UTC, co-chaired by LAFARGE and UTC) headquartered in 9 countries have studied and synthesized an exceptional data set reflecting more than 100 billion square meters of building floor space and two-thirds of world energy demand
FM Link - The Leader
Organizational Design: Leading Practice Considerations for Corporate Real Estate (including results of a survey on how well CRE and Workplace functions operate)
01/08/2008
In conjunction with CoreNet Global, Deloitte Consulting recently conducted a survey of leading organizations to better understand how CRE and Workplace (CRE/W) functions operate in today's business environment. Sixty senior CRE and Workplace executives participated in the survey, each representing the highest level or most senior CRE/W executive from each company. Based on this survey, it is evident that change continues to be a reality for CRE/W groups across the represented industries and organizations. More than 65 percent of the surveyed companies have undergone organizational change within the past five years, and many within the past 2-3 years. Interestingly enough, only 29 percent of the organizations surveyed had not restructured within the past five years.
FM Link
The Concept of Life Cycle Costing (Part 1 of 3)
01/09/2008
Before getting into the details of how to go about life-cycle/whole-life costing, we need to define the meaning of these terms, and in the process try to distinguish between the two. As with much FM terminology there are a number of not necessarily compatible definitions, and the two terms are often used interchangeably to mean the same thing: "wholelife costing" embraces a slightly wider range of costs than "lifecycle costing". The former therefore subsumes the latter.
BOMA
Facing Criticism, ASHRAE Restarts Development of Green Building Standard
01/12/2008
In a move to address widespread criticism of their two-year old effort to develop a green building standard for commercial buildings, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and their partners, the U.S. Green Building Council and the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, have disbanded the original Standard 189.1 project committee. ASHRAE is currently reconstituting the committee with members representing a more diversified set of interests to restart the development of the standard. This move also follows the comments by BOMA and dozens of other groups on drafts of the Standard 189.1 that called for ASHRAE to reconstitute the project committee to include those representing the most materially and directly impacted groups.
FM Link
All things considered - Part 1 of a series on Whole-life and life-cycle costing by Mike Packham, partner at FM consultancy Bernard Williams Associates
01/10/2008
Whole-life and life-cycle costing is not new, but currently seems to be a hot topic, with major items published recently on the topic, including Bsria's Guide to whole-life costing analysis and the BCIS/BSI publication Standardised method of life-cycle costing for construction procurement.
PFM
SMARTER SUSTAINABILITY MANAGEMENT
01/11/2008
The new Smart Sustainability Management module from Integrated fm provides a web-based, online view of sustainability and other CSR issues, including environment, community, supply chain and stakeholders. It is very easy to use and requires no training.
Caterer and Hotelkeeper
Outsourcing Drives Global Contract Catering Market
01/11/2008
Geographically, in terms of sales, Europe and the US account for more than 60% of the market, as the rate of outsourcing is higher in comparison to the Asia Pacific region. In Europe, the western region has a more mature and developed market for foodservices outsourcing in comparison to the eastern region. The UK and France are the two largest markets for contract catering, accounting for around 45% of the total market revenue.Compass and Sodexo are regarded as the global leaders in the contract catering industry and together they account for around 10% of the total market share. Recent years have also seen the expansion of other regional centric companies such as Aramark and Elior.
i-FM net
New space code could save occupiers a fortune, IPD says
01/11/2008
IPD, the property information business, has unveiled a new global standard for measuring the space performance of corporate property. Its Space Code – produced in association with Johnson Controls and EDF Energy – is designed to help property occupiers examine their existing space commitments in any type of building, anywhere in the world.
FM Link
FM Technology Users Forum
01/12/2008
the FM Technology Users Forum met at IFMA's World Workplace show in Dallas to discuss recent developments in using automated systems for facilities management.
i-FM net
Outsourcing market feels recession effect
01/07/2009
The latest data from research and advisory firm TPI shows that activity across the outsourcing market generally is being constrained by difficult economic conditions, despite the potential to deliver cost savings and efficiency gains.in addition to the decline in BPO activity globally, FM, HR and financial services markets were also looking weak in many regions. The bright spot is IT, where the number of deals done has held up – though the average value is on the decline. In addition, Asia Pacific markets are performing more successfully than EMEA markets.
CPN Online
The Office Market: Beyond London & NYC?
01/10/2008
New York City and London--two of the world’s core financial hubs--are struggling to cope with the economic slowdown that has sparked a massive amount of downsizing and forced many firms to either merge or go out of business. As a result, office vacancy levels and rents have weakened, spurring industry insiders to ponder which global markets are still poised for growth.
BOMA
ICC Develops Green Building Inspector Certification
01/12/2008
The International Code Council (ICC) is currently developing an Inspector of Green Building Technologies certification exam that will allow code officials to demonstrate their understanding of the application of green building technology and various state and local green building programs. According to the ICC, this new certification will also provide assurance that green and sustainable buildings are safe and up to code.
FM Link - CRE Leader
The Future of the Workplace: What's Next Is Here
01/10/2008
The workplace picture is a fluid one. Advocates of workplace change believe organisations are not able to keep up with the pace of change; the notion that 'a job is for life' is disappearing; and workplaces are increasingly complex areas. While critics argue that these claims are sensationalized, producing unnecessary scaremongering. Regardless of what view one takes, a number of factors are contributing to a changing global pattern, which includes globalisation, democratisation, and technical and creative innovation. And each in some way is impacting upon the workplace.
BOMA
Optimize Your Building's Performance with BOMA's Green Lease Guide
01/10/2008
In the pursuit of optimal building performance, you can go only as far as your tenants' commitment. As energy and environmental costs continue to rise, working closely with your tenants to reach increasingly aggressive goals is a business imperative. That's why BOMA has "greened" the Guide to Writing a Commercial Real Estate Lease by showing you how to modify lease terms to maintain energy efficient and sustainable building operations. It includes enforceable tenant responsibilities, pass-through provisions and green certification notations for ENERGY STAR®, LEED and GBI rating points. Plus, hundreds of easy-to-read footnotes provide answers and suggestions to the toughest lease clauses.
FM Link
IFMA survey shows increasing FM focus on sustainability master plans
01/10/2008
Facility managers are increasingly following a master plan when implementing sustainable practices and are tying their efforts to measurable goals and business strategy, according to the results of a new International Facility Management Association (IFMA) survey.The study, "Green Practices 2008," shows that while recycling and energy conservation initiatives are being practiced by the vast majority of facility practitioners, financial challenges still present the biggest impediment to going green.
FM Link
Five energizers to revitalize "project fatigue"
01/10/2008
When you know the energy on your team is lacking, don't run to the cafeteria and hide. Instead, experiment with these five energizers and see what works in your business culture. And, don't be afraid to ask for ideas from your own team. You'll be amazed at how a small idea can make a big difference.
FM Link
How to adapt procedures to retain workers from Generations X and Y
01/10/2008
Generations X and Y will continue to challenge us as owners and managers; they will test the waters, and will sometimes go overboard. However, their style is here to stay and trying to fit them into the what-worked-before model will only cause headaches.
i-FM net
Facilities Management Outsourcing: How to Build a Winning Global Relationship
01/07/2009
In 2005 CA had 138 locations worldwide housing 14,500 employees. Managing its five million square feet became a challenge since each property manager ran his facility his way. The company created a centralized global facilities organization in 2005 to standardize operations. The approach did not work and decided to outsource. CA invited seven facilities management outsourcing companies to bid on its RFP. But only three were viable.No. 1 on CA's list for supplier selection: a provider with a global delivery model. Technology and competitive pricing were next on the list. "Jones Lang LaSalle wasn't the largest firm, but it was the most competitive when you considered all aspects of what CA was looking for in a service provider," says Gatling.
FM Link
The Complete Picture - Part 2 of a series on Whole-life and life-cycle costing
01/10/2008
The first article in this series examined the theory behind whole-life/life-cycle costing and concluded that the wholelife/ life-cycle cost of an asset is best represented by the sum of its capital, life-cycle replacement and operational/occupational cost components.In considering this proposition it is important to recognise that these various cost components are incurred at different times throughout the asset's lifespan.
i-FM net
FM market to grow – but more slowly
01/10/2008
The UK facilities management market will reach a value of £28bn this year, the culmination of annual growth rates of 6-8% since 2004. According to the latest market report from MTW Research, the facilities management sector will be feeling the effects in late 2008 of postponed new construction, refurbishment and maintenance projects.
Incorporating International Building Code Changes Can Cut Construction Costs
01/10/2008
Changes in the International Building Code (IBC) that became effective in 2006 can save building planners significant construction dollars that normally would be spent building higher rated construction types to accommodate hazardous chemicals, specifically flammable liquids. The code revisions allow building planners to reduce fireproofing and floor design costs while maintaining safety and building flexibility, and increasing efficiency.
BOMA
BOMA
BOMA Writes Prescription for Maximizing Value in a Down Economy
01/10/2008
Find your prescription for maximizing value in today's down economy at Rx: The Resource Exchange, a web-based menu of resources to help commercial real estate professionals cope with the economic downturn. Recognizing that it is more critical than ever for property professionals to stay on top of their game, BOMA has created a one-stop shop for everything you need to stay competitive. The new site lists numerous publications, interactive tools and educational programming on everything from building operations and tenant relations to sustainability and budgeting. There are also extensive professional development resources to help you differentiate yourself in a tight market, including information on networking, sharpening skills and career building.
BSRIA's new Whole Life Costing guide BG5/2008 has been specifically written for clients, contractors, consultants and product manufacturers to understand the long-term economic implications of their proposals and decisions.
BSRIA
BSRIA
Temperature Rises as Products Compete in the Heat Market
01/11/2009
BSRIA have recently completed a worldwide study analysing the world heating market. The report covers the latest trends in thirty countries by product sector. The full report is a powerful tool, which provides the latest market value, and volume and makes forecasts for the market and product types based on the market trends and identifies the key drivers for the changes in the market. In addition new changes in Legislation are also covered and the impact these have had on products.Research conducted by BSRIA has shown that commercial premix gas condensing boilers (wall hung and floor standing) are very popular in Europe representing a market share of 53.6%; simultaneously Europe has seen the introduction of new legislations that affect the boiler market. Moreover despite the renewable market providing strong competition for boilers there are still a high number of boilers still being sold. Interestingly following the recent turn in the economy there is now more positive news as our research indicates that in some countries the governments are investing more money into the manufacturing sector therefore next year we anticipate an increase in commercial and residential building projects. Commercial Boilers:Europe has the largest market share of commercial boilers representing a total of 54% and the market has been growing however it has been hit by the recession as it has seen a fall of 7.7% overall. It does however look set to recover by 2012.Asia Pacific represents a segment of 36.6%, it has seen a small gradual fall in market size. America and Africa appear to have the smallest market share at only 5.27% and 3.7%. The market in these two areas has been rather uncertain, as it has not seen any particular growth or decline.China by far has the largest volume of sales in comparison to any other country in the commercial boiler market. However sales are decreasing and are forecasted to fall further in the next three years. Japan, Iran, Germany and the UK all have fairly high number of sales however all these four countries had experienced a drop in sales after 2008 but this is forecasted to pick up after 2010 and to achieve the 2008 level of sales in 2012.
BSRIA
BSRIA
Intelligent infrastructure management systems - market developments
01/10/2009
Controlling and optimising cable connections can be improved by the adoption of IIMS, but who are the major players and where is the market headed? Lone Hansen sheds some light.Controls networks in buildings can enjoy greater functionality through the application of Intelligent Infrastructure Management Systems (IIMS). These systems utilise intelligent hardware components and scanners to provide visibility and control of the cabling connections and active equipment, as well as moves, additions and changes in real time.IIMS solutions are implemented by deploying intelligent hardware components and scanners throughout the network supplied by the cabling suppliers and software sold either by the cabling suppliers themselves such as HellermannTyton and CommScope (Systimax) or by iTRACS and RiT.IIMS has become well-known by specifiers, primarily due to the work Comunica has undertaken over the last five years in educating end-users and consultants. The promotional activity undertaken by Comunica increased the interest and demand and other contractors started to focus more on this market segment. Today, the large contractors in the UK all offer IIM solutions as part of their services and most tenders in the financial sector projects include IIMS as an option.
CBRE
Property Report Asia
Nokia appoints CBRE as real estate advisor
01/03/2009
Nokia has appointed CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) as its exclusive global strategic real estate advisor, in one of the most significant global corporate real estate outsourcing contracts awarded in recent years.CBRE will provide services that will include transaction management, brokerage and lease administration. The agreement will cover Nokia´s 20 million square foot global portfolio, encompassing over 380 properties in 60 countries across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Americas.
Cisco
Automated Buildings
Cisco grows Connected Real Estate investment with EnergyWISE and Richards-Zeta Acquisition.
01/01/2009
With phase one of EnergyWise, Cisco can now monitor, manage and control all power-over-ethernet (POE) and IP devices connected to the network, including Cisco and third-party devices. Imagine a rule-engine that powers down monitors, IP phones, access points and laptops when they're not in use, or after office hours. Considerable energy savings can be achieved by taking the holistic approach of optimizing and reducing the energy consumption of all networked devices --- as a platform and enterprise solution.
Cisco
LightReading.com
Cisco's IOS Goes Green
01/01/2009
A free upgrade to the vendor's IOS operating system being announced today will let some of Cisco's enterprise routers handle power management. In the most ambitious cases, the router will team up with facilities-maintenance software to turn down lights on the weekends or move office laptops into battery mode. For now, things are simpler than that. Cisco is putting the new software, called EnergyWise, onto fixed-function Catalyst switches, where it will control the power to power-over-Ethernet (PoE) devices.
Corenet
CoreNet
Labour Shortages, Complex Location Decisions and Carbon Footprints are New Realities for Corporate Real Estate Executives
01/05/2008
According to the CoreNet Global report, which is based on a compilation of the views of industry leaders and research findings from over the past year, organizations are increasingly relying on corporate real estate as a resource for their entire company, and that the days of the corporate real estate 'order-taker' are largely over.
IBM
ZDNet
IBM expands into green initiatives
01/07/2009
IBM has three focus areas: facilities management in buildings; manufacturing systems; and IT data centers. A lot of its smart sensor technology and power management technologies used in IT data centers is being used for similar purposes in buildings and industrial systems
JCI
COMPANY WEBSITE
10-step economic survival guide
01/05/2009
For Real Estate, Workplace and Facilities professionals, the challenge is to take cost out quickly, whilst ensuring critical business functions continue to run smoothly and avoiding any poor decisions that may have high cost implications when the upturn eventually comes. Make sure you sweat your assets - look at them from every angle – are your outsourcing and infrastructure strategies impacting every dollar spent?
Jones Lang Lasalle Inc.
Boston Real Estate News
Jones Lang LaSalle Ends 2008 With 32 LEED APs in Massachusetts, 325 Worldwide
01/01/2009
The majority of accredited professionals are located in the US; however, Jones Lang LaSalle also has LEED APs and accredited professionals in Australia, India, Singapore, China, Germany, the UK, Mexico and Hong Kong. The firm is involved with over 116 LEED registered or certified projects worldwide, including 73 projects totaling 35 million square feet in the Americas region. In addition, Jones Lang LaSalle serves as leasing manager, property manager and facility manager of many LEED certified buildings.
PeopleCube
EMQ
PeopleCube predicts four cost-saving business trends for 2009
01/02/2009
PeopleCube, provider of intelligent workplace and resource management technology, recently issued several predictions of 2009 business trends. The company identified the increased use of alternative workspace, more sophisticated analytics and reporting, the convergence of corporate real estate and facilities management functions and the continued strength of the software-as-a-service (SaaS) delivery model as cost-saving trends that will be manifested throughout the corporate world, and beyond, in the coming year.
Proctor & Gamble
Reuters
P&G Recognizes Top Performing Global Suppliers
01/11/2009
Jones Lang LaSalle providing facilities management services to P&G's office and laboratory locations worldwide.
Sodexo
Reuters
Sodexo resists downturn, H1 margins stable
01/04/2009
Sodexo (EXHO.PA) said it was resisting the downturn well as it kept its margins and net income stable in its fiscal first half and maintained its full-year forecast. made a net income of 219 million euros ($283 million) on revenues of 7.633 billion euros in the six months to Feb. 28. Operating margin remained flat at 5.5 percent. Sodexo said it expected full-year comparable sales growth of between 2-5 percent and operating profit of between 730 milion euros and 760 million euros. ($1=.7738 Euro)
Sodexo
ThisisMoney.co.uk
While Sodexo guided for flat profit margins, Compass is expected by analysts to grow margins this year after seeing a 50 basis point margin rise in the first quarter.
01/04/2009
The world's largest catering company Compass has seen some positive read-through from recent results from French rival Sodexo, which last week posted better-than-expected interim figures.
