energy management

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U-Haul Opens First Solar-Powered, Off-Grid Propane Station

by Katie Lee

Branson, Mo. — U-Haul International has opened its first propane station that operates off the grid, using stored solar energy to power the pump and utilizing propane as a backup source. The off-grid skid system stores solar energy within the generator that powers the station’s propane pump. If solar power is insufficient, the system can run on propane as a backup energy source. Customers can refill propane tanks at the Branson location with pay-at-the-pump service. The station at U-Haul Moving & Storage of Branson has been serving customers since September. …

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construction and designenergy managementHVAC/RNewssupply chainvendors

Carrier Global to Invest $600 Million in HVAC Manufacturing Facility

by Katie Lee

Fort Worth, Texas — Carrier Global Corp. will invest approximately $600 million in a new HVAC manufacturing and engineering facility in Fort Worth, Texas, an initiative that is expected to add about 1,500 new jobs to the local economy over the next 3 years. The site is located within Hillwood’s AllianceTexas master-planned community on the city’s north side. The facility will span approximately 1 million square feet and produce advanced thermal management systems, including air- and water-cooled commercial chillers. Carrier expects to begin operations at the facility sometime next year. …

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construction and designenergy managementgreen building/LEEDNewsremodelsretailers

L.L.Bean Completes $50 Million Renovation to Maine Flagship Store

by Katie Lee

Freeport, Me. — L.L.Bean, the legendary outdoor retailer since 1912, has completed a 7-year, $50 million renovation to its Freeport, Me., flagship store. Grand opening celebrations are scheduled to take place Sept. 18 through Oct. 25, 2026. The modern, reimagined flagship stays true to L.L.Bean’s heritage but also offers more retail space (150,000 square feet), new areas to explore and thoughtful features throughout. According to the company website, “Every detail is intended to immerse customers in the outdoor lifestyle and surround them with the products to help them enjoy it.” …

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construction and designenergy managementgreen newsHVAC/RNewsretailerssupply chainvendors

Trinity Energy Delivers Energy Independence to Costco Distribution Center

by Katie Lee

Snohomish, Wash. — Trinity Energy, a leading provider of integrated operating systems for sustainable energy solutions, has taken Costco Wholesale off grid with the launch of an independent, on-site energy system at Costco’s distribution center in Port St. Lucie, Fla. The fully integrated solar and battery platform was installed significantly faster than installing a traditional energy backup system from local power providers, enabling Costco to accelerate its operational readiness, bypass lengthy grid interconnection queues and permitting delays, and benefit from substantial cost savings. The energy independence solution, which combines solar …

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energy managementfacilities managementHVAC/RIndustry VoicesProduct Spotlightrestaurantsretailersvendors

Stop Flying Insects at the Door

by Katie Lee

— By Natalie Clarke — How air curtains deliver proactive, chemical-free pest control for retail and restaurant facilities. For facility managers in retail stores and restaurants, flying insect control is a constant operational challenge. A single open door can invite flies into food prep areas, dining spaces and checkout lines — creating sanitation risks, failed inspections, and negative customer experiences. The challenge is compounded by increasing pressure to reduce chemical use and adopt more environmentally responsible pest management strategies. Traditional tools like insect light traps and sprays still play a …

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construction and designenergy managementfacilities managementHVAC/RIndustry Voicesproperty managementrestaurants

The Hidden Cost of Comfort

by Katie Lee

— By Julia Burman Tziolis — Resolving a restaurant’s HVAC breakdown through partnership. Operational performance and energy efficiency are closely connected in commercial real estate. Each supports the other, and both are critical to tenant satisfaction and long term business success. My firm, a net-lease real estate company named Essential Properties Realty Trust (EPRT), recently demonstrated how aligning the right expertise with strategic partnerships can resolve persistent facility issues and deliver measurable results. When one of its restaurant tenants, a Zaxbys location in Florida, struggled with longstanding HVAC problems that …

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The Energy Intelligence Model

by Katie Lee

— By Matt Browning — How QSR chains are moving beyond reactive maintenance. For a quick-service restaurant operator managing hundreds of locations, equipment failure is never just a maintenance problem — it’s a guest experience problem, a food safety problem and a bottom-line problem…all at once. A malfunctioning HVAC unit on a hot summer afternoon sends customers out the door. A refrigeration anomaly discovered too late means spoiled inventory and potential health code violations. An emergency repair call on a holiday weekend carries a price tag that can erase a …

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construction and designenergy managementgreen building/LEEDgreen newsmanagementNewsproperty managementretailers

Tanger Releases 2025 Impact Report

by Katie Lee

Greensboro, N.C. — Tanger®, a leading owner and operator of outlet and other open-air retail shopping destinations, has released its 2025 Impact Report for the annual period ending December 31, 2025, marking a decade of reporting on the company’s sustainability and corporate responsibility initiatives. Additionally, the Institute for Market Transformation has named Tanger a 2026 Green Lease Leader at the Silver level. Launched in 2014, Green Lease Leaders recognizes landlords, tenants and teams who modernize their leases to spur collaborative action on energy and water efficiency, shared cost-savings, air quality …

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construction and designenergy managementgreen building/LEEDgreen newsHVAC/RIndustry Voiceslightingretailers

More Money, More Problems

by Katie Lee

— By Nellie Day — California buildouts get a power upgrade — and a new set of challenges. The two items development teams are always trying to manage — time and cost — are getting a whole lot harder to control due to California’s updated Title 24 Energy Code. This code, which is updated every 3 years, sets efficiency standards for building systems like HVAC, lighting and electrical infrastructure across the state. The latest version took effect Jan. 1, 2026, and requires all newly permitted projects to include higher-efficiency systems, …

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Warming Up Winter

by Katie Lee

— By Jay Fiske — Achieving winter savings through effective energy management. [EDITOR’S NOTE: This article originally published in winter 2025 as part of the December/January magazine issue.] It’s cold outside, and the temperature may drop even further. According to The Weather Channel, “from the Northern Plains to the Midwest, Southeast and Northeast, the last 2 weeks of January are typically the coldest times of the year.” This frigid weather puts pressure on multi-unit retail facility managers (FMs), who juggle two conflicting priorities: (1) providing shoppers with an exceptional in-store …

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