Sustainable Facility Management: Eco-Friendly Practices That Save Money & the Environment
One problem many facility managers face is a lean budget. Finding ways to save money in facilities is challenging, particularly when the cost of materials and labor continues to increase. What is a facility manager to do when faced with these challenges?
The United States has many laws and regulations regarding sustainable practices, such as the Clear Air Act, Resources Conservation and Recovery Act, and policies regarding asbestos, mold, and drinking water. Companies will have to adapt to these rules to avoid fines and other potential penalties.
At The Firm, we believe in helping our clients manage their facilities with sustainability in mind. The solution that companies are turning to involves eco-friendly facility practices. Not only can eco-friendly practices and upgrades help save money over time, but they can help reduce the company’s carbon footprint and environmental impact, and help comply with laws and regulations.
Energy-Efficiency Lighting Solutions
The easiest way to save money and embrace sustainability is through energy-efficient lighting. This includes upgrading to LED lighting systems, which can provide long-term cost savings and reduced environmental impact.
Motion sensors can help as well. If you have areas that are not always occupied, you can keep the lights off. The motion sensors will turn the lights on when someone enters the space, and turn them off after no movement has been detected for a set amount of time.
Smart Building Technologies
With so many smart technologies out there, it’s a great idea to incorporate them into your facilities for energy management. Using smart thermostats and sensors can help better control your HVAC usage. With a smart thermostat, you can save money and energy by setting your facility to certain temperatures throughout the day. For example, if you have a large space that faces west, it will be much warmer in the afternoon, so your thermostat can adjust to compensate for the temperature change.
Sustainable Outdoor Maintenance
Your facility is more than just the inside and outside of your building. It also includes the surrounding landscaping, sidewalks, and parking lots. Some ways to incorporate sustainable outdoor maintenance includes:
As much as possible, your facility should try to recycle or use compostable items. This can reduce the amount of trash sent to landfills and help improve the environment.
Green Painting and Coatings
When painting interior or exterior walls, you can choose to use low-VOC and eco-friendly paints. These have a lower impact on the environment compared to traditional paints. Eco-friendly paints are also better for indoor air quality.
As for your facility’s roof, you can implement a cool roof coating to help reduce energy costs. Cool roofs are designed to reflect more sunlight than a conventional roof, helping it absorb less solar energy. It can help lower the temperature of your facility without additional air conditioning or other cooling efforts.
Energy-Efficient Windows and Insulation
Improving your facility’s energy efficiency through windows and insulation can help reduce energy costs and keep your facility more comfortable. With energy efficient windows, they reduce heat transfer between the inside and outside of your building by being more insulated and sealed. Depending on the type of windows you have, you can upgrade to modern, triple-paned windows to drastically improve your energy efficiency.
In addition, using wall, attic, and floor insulation can help reduce heat transfer. Just like your home needs insulation, your facility needs it to keep the interior comfortable. Combined with several of the other eco-friendly methods we’ve discussed, you can save a lot of money on your energy consumption over time.
Sustainable Building Materials
When building a facility, renovating, or repairing, choose to use sustainable building materials. This can look like materials that are local to your area, recycled materials, or materials like bamboo, which is a fast-growing plant and is easy to replant. Locally sourced materials help reduce pollution due to transportation.
As an example, if your facility has concrete floors, consider refinishing them to keep them looking great. Concrete is a great sustainable material, and they can be dressed up to look beautiful, rather than opting to cover it with some other flooring material.
Choose the Eco-Friendly Construction Experts at The Firm
If your facility needs help converting to eco-friendly and sustainable materials and practices, The Firm can help. Whether you need construction project management, remodels & refreshes, or other project and roll out assistance, our experts are ready. We can help you better our planet and adhere to sustainability regulations through professional facility services, nationwide. Our extensive network helps us cast a wide net for multi-facility businesses.
Give us a call today at 1-833-FIRM-411 for more information or contact us online!