Author: Dawn Allcot

The average person spends nearly 90% of their day indoors. As people return to the office, a sizable portion of that time will be spent inside their workplace. Employees will be leaving the comfort and relative safety of their familiar homes and stepping back into shared workspaces, some reluctantly. Bringing businesses back to brick and mortar buildings, while making the transition easy for employees, doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. And while it’s obviously not the responsibility of building managers or property developers to retrofit spaces for the return to work, making small changes to improve the health…

Alimentation Couche-Tard, the parent company of the North American Circle K gas station and convenience store concept, has begun the installation of Circle K electric vehicle fast chargers across the United States and Canada. The first EV charging station was recently installed at a Circle K store in Rock Hill, South Carolina. In a press release, the company said it plans to install electric vehicle (EV) fast chargers in 200 Circle K and Couche-Tard locations across the U.S. and Canada. Following the Rock Hill installation, Circle K also announced the opening of an EV charging station at Circle K in…

If you’ve worked in an office space prior to the recent decade, you probably remember flickering overhead fluorescent lighting that would create fatigue and headaches. The low-level buzzing created a constant distraction and the poor lighting distorted colors on your computer screen, making any kind of work – but especially design-heavy tasks – more difficult. Building developers, property managers, and business owners, today, have found a better way with energy saving, sustainable LED lighting technology. First, let’s briefly explore the benefits of LED lighting for office workers and management and then talk about the five steps you can take to…

Living green walls or vertical gardens, sometimes just called “living walls,” have been a growing trend in commercial real estate for some time. Now, as people seek healthier indoor spaces, with an emphasis on indoor air quality and air purification, we are seeing living walls in even more commercial properties. Companies ranging from Google to Etsy have embraced biophilic design, or the addition of natural outdoor elements to an indoor environment, in many of their offices. In New York City, Apple’s Fifth Avenue flagship store includes not just indoor trees, but two living walls on either side of the building.…

In 2021, there were more than 16 million electric vehicles (EVs) on the road, says a report from the International Energy Agency. The IEA says there could be more than 250 million EVs on the road by 2030. As EV adoption grows, generating clean energy for EV charging station solutions becomes crucial. Electric costs are on the rise, making it harder for commercial property managers, landlords, and developers to provide free EV charging solutions. Offering free EV charging has many benefits. Free EV charging is a desirable amenity for tenants in office buildings, as it’s a powerful recruiting tool for…

If you’re planning an office retrofit that includes upgrading HVAC equipment, you may want to consider how artificial intelligence can help you save energy, achieve optimal performance, and improve indoor air quality. Companies like SoftEQ.com are calling AI technology for HVAC the “next big thing in the commercial real estate market.” But how is AI used in heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems? How can it help reduce energy consumption in commercial and residential buildings? And what’s the difference between AI-powered HVAC systems and other smart building technology? Let’s explore the benefits of AI in HVAC systems. Keep in mind…

How an office redesign can enhance workplace wellness and sustainability In a post pandemic world, people may return to office spaces that don’t look very much like the ones they left in March 2020. As employees push for hybrid work models, savvy property managers, landlords, and company owners will consider an office retrofit or office renovation for the new hybrid workplace. First, let’s consider what a hybrid work model may look like and then explore the features that should be part of an office renovation for hybrid work. What Is Hybrid Work? Nearly all (99%) remote workers want to continue…