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Last edited 31 Mar 2023

Integrating Sustainability in Facility Management Operations

1 Introduction
2 How Smart Technologies Foster Sustainability
3 The Practical Impact of Sustainability on Buildings
4 Using Analytics to Combine Sustainability and Facilities Management
5 Related articles on Designing Buildings

[edit] Introduction

The term "sustainable facilities management," or SFM is used to describe the integration of a company's people, place, and operations in a way that maximises the economic, environmental, and social advantages of sustainability.

Through the adoption of maintenance and operating procedures that take into account the social, environmental, and economic benefits of all business decisions, facilities management (FM) is currently shifting attention towards a long-term perspective.

[edit] How Smart Technologies Foster Sustainability

Through the use of technology and cutting-edge business strategies that balance the social, economic, and environmental effects of business decisions, the notion of sustainable facilities management (SFM) unifies the two concepts of facilities management (FM) and sustainable development.

The need for the FM sector to come up with and create solutions that minimise the damaging effects of buildings on the environment is being influenced by the worldwide challenges of climate change and the desire for energy efficiency.

Therefore, it is imperative to modernise and green the current building stock.

As the built environment as a whole continues to develop, the FM industry is actively pursuing a sustainable development agenda.

Commercial buildings are one of the main sources of a city's greenhouse gas emissions.

Sustainable buildings are not simply a good idea—they are necessary for the age of broad rules to cut carbon emissions and growing global concern over climate change.

However, neither building owners nor facilities managers typically place a high priority on sustainable building operations.

It is generally accepted that maintaining more environmentally friendly infrastructure and amenities calls for large financial outlays or tenant sacrifices.

Sustainability in building management, however, involves more than merely good deeds for future generations. Reduced operating expenses can be greatly aided by increased energy efficiency in processes like lighting and HVAC.

Furthermore, tenant priorities in the commercial real estate sector are changing as newer generations enter the workforce and the buildings that host them.

Many tenants today like working in structures that are upfront about their energy usage and those that go above and above to earn accolades. Bringing occupants back to their office premises or homes will require new incentives, and sustainable operations will become more important than ever.

[edit] The Practical Impact of Sustainability on Buildings

Interest in lowering operational carbon emissions is exploding as a result of programs like the United Nations Global Compact and C40.

These emissions, which account for around 28% of all carbon emissions each year, are directly tied to the power, lighting, and HVAC activities in buildings.

To combat climate change, the federal, state, and local governments of the United States have recently taken action to reduce these emissions through voluntary and required energy efficiency requirements.

For instance, Local Law 33 in New York City mandated that commercial and residential structures with 25,000 square feet or greater show energy efficiency grades.

The Climate Mobilization Act penalises building owners who fail to meet the required levels of energy efficiency and emissions on their properties.

Standards like these force facilities managers to look for energy reduction opportunities across their operations, making sustainability goals for buildings a must.

However, reducing energy use can improve facility management for going beyond simply fulfilling basic criteria, which are explored below.

[edit] Benefits From Rewards

You may qualify for several state and local cash incentives and programs if your facility satisfies energy efficiency requirements, especially in the US.

These incentives, which frequently take the form of grants, loans, funding for clean energy based on property assessments, or tax benefits, may aid you in taking additional sustainability measures, such as converting to renewable energy sources.

Going green could also have non-financial advantages.

For instance, Local Law 33 might grant Energy Star certification to buildings with high-efficiency ratings in addition to penalising building owners whose structures receive low-efficiency ratings.

This certification can increase a building's appeal and value to its residents.

[edit] System Upgrades for the HVAC and lighting

The two components of a facility that use the most energy and produce the greatest carbon emissions are often the HVAC and lighting.

Energy use expenses can be significantly decreased by switching to high-efficiency HVAC and LED lighting systems, especially if they form part of a well-thought-out performance enhancement plan.

For instance, adjusting the temperature, lighting, and other systems depending on usage rather than the time of day can significantly cut down on energy loss and the need for manual intervention.

Other times, energy usage can be automatically controlled to prevent price surges.

By making the building sensitive to occupant needs, automated demand control can not only assist you in achieving sustainability goals but also enhance occupant comfort and enjoyment.

Additionally, if tenants are in charge of paying the utilities, increased efficiency may have a significant impact on their ability to pay.

[edit] Use Renewable Energy

Despite the reality that solar energy has historically been expensive for many commercial facilities, lowering equipment and installation costs as well as the rising cost of grid-supplied energy are encouraging many facility managers to consider solar energy as a viable option.

Achieving a net-zero carbon footprint may be possible with the use of solar panels, which can also lessen the need for grid energy purchases and protect you from unforeseen price rises.

With sufficient energy generation and storage, you are no longer exposed when the grid goes down, which increases the building's resilience.

While this can be helpful in almost any commercial building, it is especially appealing in regions that are prone to brownouts and subject to rolling blackouts, which can seriously disrupt building operations and occupant activity.

[edit] Using Analytics to Combine Sustainability and Facilities Management

The configuration and upkeep of the networked system of equipment created to optimise energy usage is the key to sustainable building operations.

Data analytics and smart system integrations provide creative solutions that enable sustainability to become a key aspect of facilities management rather than an afterthought for maintaining and further enhancing a building's efficiency.

Facilities management companies may improve operational efficiency and encourage more sustainability by using Analytics to better understand how buildings work.

Many software packages can track building equipment and circumstances to link heating, cooling, and lighting patterns with elements like occupancy by continuously collecting and analysing data from equipment and sensors.

Without requiring human involvement, it may then automatically modify to maximise energy use while maintaining occupant comfort. This might have a big effect.

Sustainability is at the forefront of facility management due to rising environmental restrictions and awareness at the moment.

Adopting sustainable facility management methods leads to more efficient operations, a smaller negative impact on the environment, and happier and healthier building occupants.

The expansion of sustainability depends in large part on facility management companies.

They are in a good position to champion change and operational excellence because of their impact on operations.