AI-curated news for your industry

At the Black Hat USA 2025 conference, experts warned that cyberattacks targeting operational technology (OT) are shifting from data theft and ransomware to physical destruction, with Iran-linked intrusions already targeting U.S. critical infrastructure such as water systems. Due to widespread vulnerabilities in OT devices, including default passwords and inability to patch, attackers can cause severe damage without advanced AI or zero-day exploits.

U.S. Senator Mike Lee introduced the Energy Efficiency Reform Act on August 6, aiming to codify procedural rule changes proposed by the Department of Energy last month, including setting an energy savings threshold of 2 quadrillion Btu and eliminating the statutory six-year product review cycle. Supporters argue this prevents standards from excessively raising costs, while opponents warn it could render energy efficiency standards ineffective.

KODE Labs announced this week that its building operating system, KODE OS, has achieved FedRAMP High authorization, marking the platform as available for use by U.S. federal agencies and highly compliant organizations operating in sensitive, mission-critical environments. FedRAMP High represents the highest security standard for cloud services used by the U.S. federal government.

The Denver Broncos' new training facility opened last week. This three-story, 205,000-square-foot timber structure is centered on player experience, encouraging increased training volume by shortening the distance between the locker room and the weight room. Team owner Greg Penner stated that the first floor will be entirely player-facing, and both players and designers believe this could become a competitive advantage in the new season.

Caterpillar reported record second-quarter sales and revenue of $20.5 billion, with significant year-over-year growth, primarily driven by demand for large generator sets and turbines used in data centers. Despite market doubts about the sustainability of AI-related data center construction, CEO Joseph Creed stated that customer orders are booked through 2030 with no signs of slowing. The company also restarted its 10-megawatt medium-speed gas reciprocating engine platform and raised its full-year growth outlook to the mid-to-high teens range.

Cushman & Wakefield CEO Michelle MacKay noted during the Q2 2026 earnings call on August 5 that the commercial real estate market remains stable amid multiple shocks, driven by 'deep structural demand' for 'physical assets.' The company's data center-related revenue grew 83% year-over-year, and Americas leasing revenue increased 35% to $524 million.

Convenience store remodeling differs from traditional retail, requiring coordination of multiple revenue streams such as fuel, food, and merchandise while operating. Successful projects rely on upfront planning, phased construction, strict logistics, and safety management.

Schneider Electric and Budderfly collaborate to implement energy efficiency upgrades and distributed energy deployments at seven municipal facilities in Cadillac, Michigan, with no upfront costs, expected to stabilize long-term operating costs and enhance the reliability of critical services.

CBRE's quarterly report released last week showed that the office vacancy rate fell 30 basis points to 18.3% in the second quarter, the largest quarterly decline since 2015. Leasing activity increased 16% year-over-year to 62.4 million square feet, totaling 243 million square feet over the past 12 months. Despite accelerating demand, companies remain cautious in balancing the quantity, quality, and location of space.

Opterra Energy Services announced on Monday the completion of its acquisition of Noresco, a Massachusetts-based energy services company formerly part of Carrier Global Corporation. Following the merger, the two entities will integrate the resources of 750 energy professionals to jointly serve educational institutions, local governments, commercial and industrial organizations, and federal facilities, addressing complex energy, water, and infrastructure challenges.