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January 8, 2026
AI innovations, security threats, labor pressure and the federal government’s energy efficiency rollbacks are among the trends defining the facilities management landscape in the coming year.
Facility managers are facing a quickly changing landscape this year.
More than ever, they’re being counted on to turn their operation into a value creator – by increasing the energy efficiency of the buildings they oversee, getting smarter about maintenance and repair and helping their organization better leverage real estate assets as occupancy and other market trends shift.
Meanwhile, increased workplace violence means they’ll need to weigh whether to add more security and, as more building systems go online, whether it’s time for them to become part of their organization’s cybersecurity team.
Here are six trends that are top of mind for facilities managers in 2026.
Despite cuts to federal clean energy funding and other Trump administration actions that deprioritize energy efficiency and environmental goals, organizations will be keeping their sights on energy efficiency and electrification this year, according to an Accenture report. U.S. corporate net-zero ambition remains strong, with commitments from companies headquartered in the states growing 9% in the past year, from 279 to 304, including new commitments from eBay, Merck & Co. and Goodyear, according to Net Zero Tracker’s 2025 Stocktake.
Part of that continued commitment is driven by economics and part by state and local initiatives. With energy prices rising rapidly — up 4.0% year over year in October — and many states and localities passing building performance standards for energy consumption or emissions, aiming for more efficient and lower-emissions building systems makes financial sense, commercial real estate pros say. Doing so can lower costs, improve valuations and help a building meet sustainability targets.
