Latest news with #buildingmanagement
Zawya
08-08-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Why retrofitting South Africa's buildings is key to a sustainable future?
In South Africa, where many commercial buildings, particularly in cities like Pretoria, Johannesburg, and Cape Town date back to the 1970s ,1980s or even older, retrofitting should enjoy priority. These ageing structures, often home to government offices or long-term tenants, are increasingly falling short of today's demands for comfort, energy performance, and environmental accountability. Furthermore, the idea that mostly well-built and completely habitable buildings are simply demolished is neither feasible nor financially viable. The greener and downright prudent alternative therefore lies in retrofitting; equipping these buildings with modern technologies that reduce energy consumption, improve tenant satisfaction, and future-proof these assets against rising utility costs and stricter carbon regulations. But why so modern? Today, older buildings mostly feature inefficient HVAC systems, poor insulation, and outdated lighting and metering infrastructure. As a result, building owners are left managing complaints around inconsistent temperatures, high operational costs, and growing vacancy rates. 'Thermal comfort' becomes a luxury instead of a standard, and tenants grow increasingly dissatisfied with spaces that are no longer fit for purpose. This is where smart Building Management Systems (BMS) and integrated energy platforms come into play. These systems offer centralised, data-driven control over HVAC, lighting, and energy monitoring, enabling real-time decision-making and predictive maintenance. A major plus is that these retrofits don't require tearing down concrete or rebuilding from scratch. As mentioned, many older buildings still have structurally sound foundations and facades. Preserving them means maintaining what is known as embodied carbon, the emissions produced during the original construction. Retrofitting also has multiple advantages beyond mere energy savings. It allows landlords, operators and owners to: - Reduce energy waste by installing unified HVAC and lighting systems. - Support predictive maintenance to lower long-term operational costs. - Ensure better air quality, especially in shared environments like hospitals or public offices. - Achieve green certifications through accurate digital monitoring, thus making buildings more appealing to tenants, investors, and environmentally conscious stakeholders. Tenant retention and value A modernised building is not just more efficient, it's more attractive. Energy-conscious tenants are increasingly drawn to spaces that align with their sustainability goals. Imagine walking into a reception with a Green Building Council certification, this immediately signals environmental credibility, which can influence leasing decisions and investor interest. Retrofitting also improves tenant retention. When facilities are comfortable, costs are predictable, and when systems are reliable, people are more likely to stay. This long-term occupancy protects the asset's value and enhances return on investment for property owners. Mitigating supply risk South Africa's unstable energy landscape adds urgency to this transformation. With unplanned outages, and load shedding a persistent reality, integrating renewables and improving building efficiency can significantly lessen pressure on the national grid and again, provide consistent supply to tenants. Retrofitted buildings that include solar panels, smart energy storage, and real-time monitoring can contribute to a more stable and resilient national energy mix. Importantly, South Africa's energy transition and climate commitments hinge on sectors like commercial real estate playing their part. Buildings worldwide are among the largest consumers of energy. Again retrofitting them is one of the quickest ways to drive down emissions without incurring the high environmental and financial costs of new construction.
Khaleej Times
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Watch: Tearful Tanushree Dutta says she is victim of harassment, shares troubling details
Actor Tanushree Dutta has come forward with new claims of harassment at her home, sharing an emotional video on Tuesday night where she stated that the harassment has been ongoing since the last 4-5 years. In the video, Dutta appeared visibly distressed and said she had contacted the police for assistance and intended to file a formal complaint. "Guys, I am being harassed in my own home," she says in the Instagram video. "I just called the cops and they have asked me to visit a police station and lodge a proper complaint. I will probably go tomorrow and do that, I am not keeping well." Watch the video below: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tanushree Dutta Miss India Universe (@iamtanushreeduttaofficial) She added: "I have been tortured so much in the last 4-5 years that it has taken a toll on my health. I am not able to do anything, my house is a mess. I cannot even hire maids because they planted maids in my house...I had such bad experiences with maids, coming in and stealing and doing all kinds of things." "I am being troubled in my own house, please someone help me," she says at the end of the video. Tanushree later shared another video in which some noises can be heard in the background. "I have also dealt with loud noises like this and other very loud banging noises above my roof and outside my door almost every day at odd hours since 2020," she wrote in the caption. "I got tired of complaining to the building management and gave up a few years ago. Now I just live with it and put headphones with Hindu mantras to distract my mind and keep my sanity. Today I was so unwell, as you guys know I have developed Chronic fatigue syndrome due to dealing with constant stress and anxiety for last 5 years, and this was going on all day and evening, way past acceptable and allowed hours." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tanushree Dutta Miss India Universe (@iamtanushreeduttaofficial) Tanushree accused actor Nana Patekar of sexual harassment in 2018. It played a key role in sparking the #MeToo movement in India. She also claimed that filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri had instructed her to "remove clothes and dance" during a scene with Irrfan Khan in the film Chocolate. Nana Patekar was later given a clean chit in the case, while Agnihotri publicly denied the allegations.
CNA
21-07-2025
- Climate
- CNA
2 workers rescued after being trapped on gondola over 20 storeys high outside Raffles City Tower
Two workers have been rescued after being stranded on a gondola more than 20 storeys high outside Raffles City Tower. The building's management says the workers were trapped for more than an hour after "the weather suddenly changed". They were carrying out routine re-sealant work on the building's exterior. Eugene Chow reports.
South China Morning Post
18-07-2025
- Climate
- South China Morning Post
US consulate in China halts visa interviews over ‘unsafe' heat, alleges air con delay
The US consulate in the central Chinese city of Wuhan has suspended all visa interviews, citing 'unsafe' indoor temperatures it blamed on building management. In a public notice posted on its official social media account on Friday, the consulate said temperatures in its interview waiting area exceeded 33 degrees Celsius (91 degrees Fahrenheit) in the morning, as it accused the building management of 'routinely delaying the activation of air conditioning'. It also criticised 'extra security procedures' that required visa applicants to wait in the sun for extended periods. The suspension comes during peak US student visa season in China, with about 200,000 processed annually by the Wuhan mission alone. 'We are working with the building management to improve conditions,' the consulate said. 'We will resume visa services as soon as we can ensure the health and safety of our applicants and staff.' It apologised for the inconvenience and said cancelled appointments could be rescheduled through the visa application system.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Johnson Controls' Q3 2025 Earnings: What to Expect
Johnson Controls International plc (JCI), headquartered in Cork, Ireland, engineers, manufactures, commissions, and retrofits building products and systems. With a market cap of $69.7 billion, the company offers air systems, building management, HVAC controls, security, and fire safety solutions. The engineering giant is expected to announce its fiscal third-quarter earnings for 2025 before the market opens on Tuesday, Jul. 29. Ahead of the event, analysts expect JCI to report a profit of $1.01 per share on a diluted basis, down 11.4% from $1.14 per share in the year-ago quarter. The company has consistently surpassed Wall Street's EPS estimates in its last four quarterly reports. Shopify Stock is a Bargain - How to Make a 3.2% One-Month Yield with SHOP Tariffs, Inflation and Other Key Things to Watch this Week Stocks Set to Open Lower as Trump Ratchets Up Tariff Threats, U.S. Inflation Data and Big Bank Earnings Awaited Get exclusive insights with the FREE Barchart Brief newsletter. Subscribe now for quick, incisive midday market analysis you won't find anywhere else. For the full year, analysts expect JCI to report EPS of $3.63, down 2.2% from $3.71 in fiscal 2024. Its EPS is expected to rise 15.2% year over year to $4.18 in fiscal 2026. JCI stock has outperformed the S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) 12.1% gains over the past 52 weeks, with shares up 51.9% during this period. Similarly, it outperformed the Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund's (XLI) 21.7% rise over the same time frame. On May 7, JCI shares closed up more than 1% after reporting its Q2 results. Its net sales stood at $5.7 billion, up 1.4% from the year-ago quarter. The company's adjusted EPS of $0.82 climbed 18.8% year over year. Analysts' consensus opinion on JCI stock is reasonably bullish, with a 'Moderate Buy' rating overall. Out of 20 analysts covering the stock, 12 advise a 'Strong Buy' rating, and eight give a 'Hold.' JCI's average analyst price target is $107.70, indicating a potential upside of 1.7% from the current levels. On the date of publication, Neha Panjwani did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on
