Commercial buildings account for a significant portion of global energy use. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that commercial buildings waste 30% of the energy they consume. So, why should energy efficiency be a priority in facility management? This is a question that facility managers, building owners, and occupants grapple with daily.
Rising energy costs, growing concerns about climate change, and increasing pressure for corporate responsibility are pushing facility managers to rethink. Energy efficiency is far more than a feel-good initiative; it’s a strategic need.
Energy efficiency offers cost savings, regulatory compliance, and enhanced sustainability for building owners. Facility managers must keep building energy costs in mind.
The Business Case for Energy Efficiency
Inefficient systems, such as outdated HVAC and lighting, can impact budgets. Making spaces more energy-efficient takes planning and money.
Did you know that facility management will see significant growth over the next 5 years? It truly becomes one of those topics of, how do we save energy as building managers?
Let’s explore some specific ways we can focus our efforts to make our facilities use energy better.
Cost Savings & Financial ROI
Retrofitting lighting with LED bulbs can drastically reduce energy usage. Many building managers look at upfront costs but fail to account for the substantial long-term return on investment.
Think of upgrading lighting systems and replacing whole systems as something more. It might take money now, but consider the energy savings long term.
Regulatory Compliance
Global regulations are getting tighter. Buildings must stay compliant as demands to stay energy efficient become more in focus.
There are also incentives for going green, but you need to keep track of how things change. Organizations that put a preventive maintenance plan in place have saved between 12%-18% on their annual maintenance expenses.
Environmental Impact
Every kilowatt-hour (kWh) of energy saved has a direct effect on reducing your carbon footprint. This alignment is critical for a company in facilities management because clients might care deeply about going green.
Reducing energy consumption can help companies cut their carbon dioxide emissions and improve ESG standing. More businesses want to make the world healthier and this might matter a lot.
Reputation & Tenant Satisfaction
Many tenants and employees prefer sustainable practices. Studies have even shown occupancy rates get bigger at green-certified buildings.
Going green can increase demand and keep occupants long term. Consider how the building energy will factor into everyone’s overall comfort.
Key Challenges in Implementing Energy Efficiency
While the advantages are clear, facility managers often face a variety of roadblocks. So we will break it down and address all the challenges.
Upfront Costs
The initial investment in energy-efficient technology can seem pricey. Many decision-makers hesitate, thinking they will have to pay out more than necessary to reduce utility costs.
This perspective misses the point because the long-term savings far surpass the initial outlay. Think about that initial expense as a long-term game.
Outdated Infrastructure
Many buildings, especially older ones, are using very old systems. Older structures hinder progress on overall energy targets.
Retrofitting or replacing these systems is often difficult. It becomes expensive and disrupts daily use.
Lack of Expertise
Facility management teams may not possess the needed expertise in energy management strategies. This lack of expertise makes them poorly equipped for any complex changes or recommendations.
Hiring external consultants or providing further training to current team members can cover that.
Behavioral Resistance
Even with energy-efficient systems in place, the habits of building occupants impact energy savings. Some people may simply turn the air conditioning down rather than change into something comfortable.
It requires getting employees and tenants to cooperate. Then, getting building users invested becomes an easy, energy-efficient target.
Practical Strategies for Facility Managers
How do you cut down on energy usage in a facility management setting? Consider some of the information below.
Audit & Benchmark
Conduct regular energy audits to detect problems. Use tools like thermal imaging to find less-than-obvious heat loss.
Consider using existing programs. There are software tools at your disposal to improve energy efficiency.
Smart Technology Integration
Use IoT sensors to help to get real-time data monitoring. Add automatic systems, like lighting that comes on and off based on people in the area.
Real-time information gives an instant insight into the equipment in your area. Smart lighting and occupancy sensors automate greater efficiency.
Retrofitting & Upgrades
Swap out older equipment for energy-efficient ones. Think of installing things like solar panels for making the spaces use renewable energy.
Look for systems with high Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratios (SEER) and Energy Star ratings. Upgrades contribute to large reductions in building energy consumption.
Replacing exit signs with LED options offer big savings too; with one facility reporting $14,755 in annual savings. The energy savings are good for a budget, so keep it a focus.
Employee Engagement
Starting training helps team members reduce energy consumption waste. Focus especially on things that passively take electricity from equipment not in use.
Also, turning it into a team effort, with recognition given to people in the company reducing energy, makes sense. Encouraging users to reduce usage might seem small, but these have a big long-term payoff.
Partner with Experts
Talking to and learning from people that know how energy flows can assist with changes. Utility companies also know how building managers get the best out of spaces.
Energy specialists, as an outside resource, can improve a facility manager’s efforts. They might catch the small issues that facility staff might normally overlook.
Real-World Success Stories
It is crucial to note that these are all actual cases, not hypothetical ideas of success.
Case Study 1: Healthcare Facility HVAC Optimization
One hospital cut energy costs by a very noticeable percentage. By simply updating its heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) settings, the team made energy less wasteful.
Adjusting air changes when spaces are not in operation contributed to that. Hospitals use a huge amount of energy annually.
Controlling HVAC systems operation contributes, but facility managers can improve things at lower prices.
Case Study 2: Warehouse Efficiency Through Renewables and Smart Lighting
A warehouse reduced energy costs and their use in energy efficiency and made their area greener. The combination of smart technology and energy-conscious areas did more for that than most realized.
Using the space above to bring power, along with changes in small things inside, like LED bulbs, made great returns. Smart building lighting systems achieve big energy savings of up to 38%, and that turns into cash.
The Future of Energy-Efficient Facility Management
Looking to make things different takes a bigger idea of what happens in a long-term scenario.
AI & Predictive Maintenance
Algorithms predict equipment issues to cut wasted energy from them working poorly.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) analyzes how machines perform so small adjustments become possible. The result reduces long-term issues, fixing a minor problem.
Make sure your facilities management includes proactive tech to improve how the overall space works.
Net-Zero Buildings
Demand grows, every day, for self-sustaining places. Buildings designed as such offset their own energy consumption.
It also leads to more buildings made this way and changing it long-term. It involves structures with small carbon footprints.
Zero-energy facilities make it possible to take their utility needs totally out of the picture.
Circular Economy
Consider using methods that send wasted material or things, like heat, into a reusable form of energy.
| Strategy | Description | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Waste Heat Recovery | Capture and repurpose heat produced by systems | Reduces the building’s reliance on separate heaters |
| Material Reuse | Old building components turned into materials for new applications | Reduces raw material demands and less trash. |
| Water Conservation | Install low-flow fixtures & harvest rainwater. | Reduce water usage & lowers utility costs. |
Facilities turn waste into things that support the space itself. Circular models minimize how much is bought while helping the world by improving a company’s bottom line.
Why Energy Efficiency Should Be A Priority In Facility Management
Energy efficiency provides profit increases. This helps greatly with maintaining standards, and offers marketing appeal to support making places better.
Starting with smaller steps can make larger effects in energy. Consider the insights from places like facility management success at IBM.
By committing to an action plan, you can improve everything to be far better long-term, while making employees happier. Making energy efficiency work in the long term is truly possible. As more building operations keep it at the forefront, it can increase sustainability long term.
Conclusion
Why should energy efficiency be a priority in facility management? It comes down to cost savings, meeting regulations, and demonstrating a commitment to energy conservation, all happening simultaneously.
Taking initial steps towards small wins and progressing to larger upgrades leads to long-term gains in overall energy use. This demonstrates a successful turnaround in energy waste.
By implementing these strategies, facility managers can contribute to a more sustainable future. These simple and effective tips not only save energy but also support broader energy conservation efforts.
