Author: Mitchell Hall
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Are You Still Using Banned Refrigerant in Your HVAC?
R-22 (Chlorodifluoromethane), also known as R22 Freon or HCFC-22 Freon, was a common refrigerant for HVAC systems. It is now a banned refrigerant that is illegal to import or manufacture. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) followed the tiered timeline laid out by the Montreal Protocol to phase out the importation and production of ozone-depleting substances.…
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What’s in Store for CRE Building Operations in 2022?
It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future. (So said the great philosopher Yogi Berra.) Rather than make predictions about 2022, in the fall of 2021 Building Engines partnered with BOMA (Building Owners and Managers Association International) to ask property professionals about their plans for 2022. Their answers offer a guide to what’s in…
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Redesigning Commercial Office Layout for a Post-COVID World
With most office workers working remotely for the last 18 months, COVID has fundamentally changed the way we work. The relative success of remote working means employees want and need different things from office layout now. Obviously office layouts need to address hygiene concerns. But COVID has also made clear that offices must facilitate collaboration…
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One Little-Known Software Feature is Key to CRE’s Future
The commercial real estate (CRE) industry has a well-earned reputation for being slow to change. CRE professionals tend to be firm believers in the maxim of “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” They think of themselves as being in the relationships business, not the technology business. And to be fair, it is scientifically proven…
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Is it Time to Make Your Old Building Smart?
Smart is sexy. Just look at how often the commercial real estate (CRE) industry mentions “smart building.” Everyone is seemingly excited by the opportunity presented by outfitting buildings with sensors and connecting those sensors to the internet. These sensors attach to a building’s HVAC, lighting, and other systems, and transmit data over the internet to…
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How Building Operations is Redefining Tenant Experience
Pre-pandemic, office tenant experience (TeX) for commercial offices was all about using technology to promote and manage investments made in physical amenities. This included things like gym facilities, bike storage, conference rooms that could be reserved for meetings, shared community spaces, in-building food and retail options, outdoor spaces, and daycare. It was about adding and…
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You Don’t Need to Upgrade to New Building Management Software, Right?
If you’re a commercial real estate property manager, asset manager, or owner, you may be thinking you don’t really need a modern building management software system. After all, the system you currently have works well … enough. And installing and implementing a new system may feel like a hassle you don’t need or have time…
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Understand BOMA Measurement for Offices to Maximize Your RSF
If you’re a property manager or owner and looking for ways to increase revenue, don’t sleep on accurate space measurement. Whenever the Building Owners and Managers Association of North America updates its BOMA measurement standards, this typically has significant implications for maximizing property revenue. Accurately measuring spaces to reflect current market conditions and measurement standards…