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This strategy for campus renewal and modernization was top of mind for the University of New Hampshire (UNH) as it embarked on one of its most significant infrastructure improvements in recent history––relocating a substantial portion of its utility distribution network connected to the Combined Heat & Power Plant (CHP).
11/02/2023
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Today’s higher education institutions are faced with a myriad of operational complexities in the pursuit of academic excellence. Staffing, student well-being, maintenance, sustainability, and operations management challenges have only been amplified by the pandemic, decreasing enrollments, aging infrastructure, and funding constraints. The operating environment of educational facilities has undoubtably become more stressful.
09/14/2023
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Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR) are the future; Isaac Asimov and the rest of classic sci-fi have been telling us this for decades.
07/10/2023
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As schools and universities prepare for the return of students and faculty after nearly a year of remote learning, many are faced with growing concerns around how to keep facilities safe in the post-pandemic world. This is doubly true when considering that crucial HVAC and building management systems (BMS) are often outdated and in need of replacement.
08/11/2021
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02/08/2021
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01/15/2021
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Although you set your initial school maintenance plan during the late summer months, now is a good time to evaluate its effectiveness, find opportunities to refine your processes, and make sure you and your teams are doing all you can to safeguard students and staff if and when they enter your doors in person.
12/07/2020
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This year, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, reducing the spread of respiratory illnesses like the flu is more important than ever.
11/30/2020
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How do you create a hygienic and safe environment equipped to handle everyday usage and increased handwashing activity by students, faculty, administration and staff? And, how do you improve the restroom experience to make it more appealing to its users?
10/20/2020
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Floors are too often overlooked when it comes to fighting the spread of infection. For many years, many hospital administrators did not even believe it was necessary to disinfect floors. Now we know better. Floors, as well as the tools used to clean floors, deserve close attention when it comes to minimizing the spread of coronavirus.
10/06/2020
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A building’s HVAC technology can help decrease the transmission rate or mitigate the risk of exposure. Thus, schools must consider their HVAC system as part of their overall COVID-19 mitigation strategy, in addition to social distancing, cleaning, screening, signage and operational practices.
09/28/2020
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In this episode of Schools In Focus podcast, I speak to Belinda Oakley, CEO of Chartwells K12 and Seth Ferriell, CEO of SSC Services for Education, about school food service during a pandemic.
09/08/2020
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Will a more methodical, well-thought-out approach be implemented for disinfectant use or, will they be once again randomly applied, essentially using a “hope for the best” mentality? Let’s hope application is not random, and here is why. In the U.S., disinfectants are considered “pesticides” by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and rightly so.
08/12/2020
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As universities begin to welcome students back, directors of college recreational centers will need to develop plans, policies and protocols to maintain a safe and healthy environment. The many “moving parts” that make up college recreational center operations present some unique challenges for maintaining a safe and clean facility.
07/22/2020
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As colleges and universities make plans to reopen facilities in the fall, higher ed decision makers must consider a variety of issues while COVID-19 continues to spread in communities across the country. A facility services expert shares strategies and protocols used to ensure a healthy environment for students, faculty and staff.
06/17/2020
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We asked designers and architects from across the country what they anticipate classrooms will look like in the fall if they were to reopen, how the coronavirus will impact school design in the long-term, and suggestions on design concepts schools can implement right away to help with social distancing in facilities. Their answers offer insight to available design options and possibilities that can help school leaders plan and make the best decisions for their students and staff.
05/18/2020
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While the attention so far has been focused mainly on ensuring that all students continue to receive a high-quality learning experience from home, leaders are now shifting their focus to how they can safely and responsibly reopen schools. Here are eight key suggestions for keeping students and staff safe when schools reopen.
04/29/2020
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This cleaning process provides more thorough coverage, essentially leaving no place for germs and pathogens, including those that cause COVID-19, to hide.
04/20/2020
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There may not be a good answer as to why restrooms are vandalized, but there are products and methods available to help with discouraging the act.
03/27/2020
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What do your students complain about? Fair or not, parking is usually near the top of the list. To handle those complaints, many campuses are turning to parking-specific customer service platforms to support their automated parking operations.
03/20/2020
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School and campus administrators throughout North America are very concerned about coronavirus and its impact on their facilities, students, teachers and staff. And there is good reason.
03/17/2020
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As coronavirus concerns mount, what should administrators and cleaning professionals know?
03/09/2020
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Spaces4Learning has several resources on best practices for cleaning and sanitizing schools and maintaining healthy schools during peak flu season, which can be applied to the coronavirus. Here you'll find our top articles and a webinar on the subject to help you combat the spread of coronavirus.
03/06/2020
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Autonomous shuttles could make transportation around campus easier for students, instructors, staff and visitors.
03/04/2020
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When a system shows signs of failing, what is the most cost-effective course of action an owner should take? Does the owner replace the system or close the facility?
03/01/2020
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Issues impacting the ability and training of cleaning contractors vary in different settings and situations. However, all of them must be overcome, and urgently, if we are going to get on top of the COVID-19 situation.
03/01/2020
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Custodial workers must modify cleaning practices and behaviors to help reduce COVID-19 risks, not only for a building’s occupants, but especially for themselves.
03/01/2020
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Parking guidance also offers tremendous administrative benefits to colleges and universities by keeping track of how their parking assets are being utilized.
02/21/2020
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Can more effective cleaning reduce student absenteeism? The evidence seems to say that it can.
01/01/2020
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Using a geographic information system helps school and district leaders connect disparate data sources and present their conclusions to their boards and communities.
12/11/2019
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Comprehensive scoping plus planning equals savings.
12/04/2019
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Clean facilities are healthy and high-performing facilities. Ensuring that custodial workers are properly trained on equipment, supplies, and methods leads to more effective and successful workers and healthier facilities.
09/01/2019
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Autumn is the ideal time to prepare structures for winter from roof to foundation. Undertaking routine inspections in the fall can prevent costly repairs in the future.
09/01/2019
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09/01/2019
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Look inside for commentary from experts in the field who share their perspective on trends in education and the effect those changes will have on various learning environments.
07/01/2019
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It is important to include a structural perspective of your facilities when considering the impact of deferred maintenance.
07/01/2019
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Your environment is more than simply the place you are; the atmosphere you occupy affects you on a biological level, sending signals to your body and mind that influence your health in a variety of ways.
07/01/2019
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Taking a closer look at the pros and cons of chemical-free cleaning.
07/01/2019
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Look inside for commentary from experts in the field who share their perspective on trends in education and the effect those changes will have on various learning environments.
07/01/2019
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By a minimum of effort at formulating a real district wellness policy, local education authorities can affect the health of all students in schools by inventing a way to concentrate on helping those kids eat better, exercise more, and eliminate properly.
06/06/2019
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06/01/2019
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Nearly all flooring surfaces in a school facility can be considered 'high traffic areas.'
06/01/2019
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College dorms are among the top 10 hiding places for bed bugs. Prevention is preferable to treatment when dealing with this pest.
04/17/2019
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Each roof leak is an opportunity to fail. As always, planning for all possible alternatives in advance will pay dividends in the future.
04/01/2019
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An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to roof maintenance.
04/01/2019
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Optimizing School Mechanical Systems By Paying Attention.
03/01/2019
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03/01/2019
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It’s flu season. Effectively keeping the campus environment clean can help reduce the spread of the pathogens that cause the flu.
02/25/2019
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Things to consider for continued progress and efficiency.
01/01/2019
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12/05/2018