Facilities managers and building owners aren’t the only ones to benefit when green practices are put into place across a facility. Energy-efficient buildings cost less to run, are healthier for their occupants and better for the planet.
There are many steps you can take on the path to going green with your own building. Try these 20 switches, which we think of as small wins for FMs looking to save some cash and the planet.
Instead of Traditional Software, Use the Internet of Things
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a tech term used to describe the ever-expanding world of smart technology, from refrigerators with built-in screens to juicers that know a user’s favorite fruits and veggies.
Although smart technology can sound intimidating, IoT devices are extremely useful to FMs. When connected, says David Markowitz at automation software company ServiceChannel, “equipment will be able, in a sense, to submit their own work requests and get serviced — before problems occur and negatively impact the all-important customer experience.” In fact, he adds, “work orders will be submitted and addressed before companies even realize a repair is needed.”
Instead of Outsourcing, Reshuffle Responsibilities In-House
Looking to save on expenses? Take a look at who you’ve outsourced work to, Greg Zimmerman at FacilitiesNet recommends. If anyone in your employ can do those jobs instead, do what Zimmerman calls “in-tasking”: Part ways with those outsourced parties and reassign responsibilities in-house.
Instead of Light Switches, Use Dual Light Controls
With sizeable buildings, lighting is a major expense and source of energy consumption. The University of Colorado Boulder’s Facilities Management Sustainability Program recommends a number of strategies that both conserve energy and save money. One is installing dual light controls which allow occupants to turn half the lights off whenever full lighting is not needed.
Instead of Relying on Old Pipes, Upgrade Them
Updating your piping system is a pricey operation. Delaying an upgrade, however, can cost you even more over time in higher utility bills.
Simply replacing the fixtures themselves can make a substantial difference to water usage, Jessica Lyons Hardcastle at Environmental Leader says. She cites findings from Buildings.com which “reports that the biggest waste is found in older buildings with aging fixtures.” An upgrade to EPA-approved models like the water-efficient WaterSense can save dollars and gallons.
Instead of Doing Paperwork, Store Files Digitally
If customer records, repair data and other important information isn’t stored on computer, it should be. Digitally storing documents allows an immediate reduction on paper and ink expenses, and saves man-hours in terms of filing and retrieval. The practice is good for the earth too. According to Kaitlyn Hoover at Georgia Tech, the campus spares nearly 20 trees a year by cutting paper usage by only 160,000 sheets.
Instead of Manually Shutting Equipment Down, Automate
Not only is automating smart, but it can save an FM both time and money. Not sure how to set your equipment to automatically power down? Make Tech Easier has a helpful link for Windows users.
Instead of Guessing on Energy Data, Get Energy Management Software
If you don’t have energy management software for your building yet, you could be missing out on key metrics that could inform you where you can conserve even more.
“Information is power, and a professionally-installed energy management system will give you all the information you could possibly need in regards to your impact on the power grid,” says Electro Industries. This information is presented as it happens for accurate readings.
Instead of Using Incandescent Lighting, Upgrade to LEDs
Incandescent light bulbs have been the standard for decades, and according to the U.S. Department of Energy, they’ve been improved using up to 80 percent less energy than traditional incandescents. However, in recent years, more and more consumers have chosen LED lights both for home and workplace use.
Lighting company LED Transformations says these lights are naturally brighter, already giving them an advantage. These are also better for the environment, as they have a longer lifespan and use less energy than incandescent bulbs.
Instead of Relying Solely on the Main Power Grid, Use a Microgrid
“A microgrid is a distinct electric system consisting of distributed energy resources which can include demand management, storage and generation,” Joseph McCabe at Alternative Energy Stocks writes. He says these can complement a main power grid.
So why use one? “…a facility can receive energy, demand and power factor values from a self-generating microgrid and use the utility to charge batteries in times when self-generation may not be available,” McCabe explains. He adds that while they’re not a new technology, “...microgrids can provide clean, low cost, uninterruptible, reliable and resilient electricity.”
Instead of Fluorescent Lighting, Get Skylights
Sunlight is free and can make a real difference in terms of the quality of lighting and energy usage. Kelly-Moore Paints plant manager Keith Hussinger told Buildings.com that increasing the number of skylights at the California production facility did just that.
“Not only did we reduce our electricity consumption by more than 40 percent, but the overall illumination of the factory floor is far better than before,” Hussinger said.
Instead of Doing It Yourself, Call for Routine Maintenance
You may think just dusting off your HVAC system is enough to keep it running longer, but it’s not. Only professionals are advised to disassemble these machines for in-depth cleaning and regular maintenance. Elish Bul-Godley at Tweak Your Biz says this implementing a preventive maintenance practice will “start you off on the right note and improve the efficiency of your plant and machinery.”
Instead of Relying on Fossil Fuels, Power the Building with Renewable Energy
Fossil fuels are finite, and there’s concern about running out of these as the years go on. Lola Butcher at Modern Healthcare wrote about the transition to renewable energy in the healthcare sector. She says some facilities began using hydroelectric, solar and wind energy through turbines. These are infinite sources of energy that are cheaper than burning fossil fuels, cause less pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
INSTEAD OF TRADITIONAL VEHICLE FUELS, FILL UP WITH ALTERNATE FUELS
Vehicles are a contributing factor to greenhouse gases that cause global warming. FMs with large fleets of vehicles should consider making the switch to alternate fuels. This could include vehicles that run on natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas or hydrogen for fuel cells.
Sierra Monitor Corporation, an industrial IoT company that also offers gas and fire detection solutions, points out that “many fleet owners are converting their traditional vehicles to alternative fuel vehicles to save money and to benefit the environment.”
The U.S. Department of Energy recommends natural gas vehicles for high-mileage, centrally fueled fleets. “The advantages of natural gas as a transportation fuel include its domestic availability, widespread distribution infrastructure, low cost, and inherently clean-burning qualities.”
Instead of Wasting Extra Water on Plants, Buy Those That Need Less
If you have any type of landscaping around your building, this needs to be cared for to keep the area looking good. That means regularly watering plants. However, this can be a waste of resources. Some plants can survive on far less water, says the International Facility Management Association (IFMA).
“Make sure the plants you choose are well-suited to your climate zone,” IFMA writes. “Plants are typically separated into three water need categories: very low, low and medium.”
Instead of Blasting the Air Conditioning, Conserve with a Chilled Water System
When the weather warms up, FMs have no choice but to turn on the air conditioning. However, blasting the AC all summer long can lead to high energy bills. Why not try a chilled water system instead?
“Large commercial buildings that require a substantial amount of cooling often use water chillers because they are cost-effective and there is a reduced hazard by not having refrigerant piped all over the building,” says Dave at Fraser Engineering.
Instead of Paying for Everything Yourself, Use an Energy Incentive Program
FMs don’t always have to shell out cash for every energy-efficient improvement they want to make to their buildings. Across the country, there are energy incentive programs that can pay for portions of new projects and retrofitting.
For example, the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) manages the energy incentive program in that state. “Incentives are paid for both energy and summer peak demand savings and are based on either deemed savings values or verified peak demand and energy savings,” PUCT says. “Eligible efficiency technologies include high-efficiency lighting, lighting controls, heat pumps, chillers, motors, variable speed drives, refrigeration units and custom measures.”
Instead of Manually Adjusting Temperature, Use Setpoints
We talked before about setpoints in regards to temperature control systems. These allow the FM to choose a desired temperature range, say between 63 and 66 degrees Fahrenheit in the fall. “For each degree you lower your thermostat (for heat); you will lower your utility bill by an average of one percent,” Worship Facilities Magazine writes.
Instead of Using Old Motors, Get New Ones
How old are your motors? “Electric motors are responsible for almost 70 percent of all energy consumed in industrial applications,” says facilities resource Reliable Plant. “This 70 percent holds a considerable savings potential that is just waiting to be realized.”
By replacing existing electric motors with new, eco-friendly units, the current energy consumption rate can be reduced substantially.
Instead of Just Letting Water Go down the Drain, Repurpose It
Whether with a rainwater management system or a similar system, water can be repurposed nearly endlessly. The University of Minnesota recommends using this water for purposes including a chilled water system (as mentioned above), a heated water system, plumbing and irrigation.
Instead of Electrical Power, Use Solar Panels
We talked before about the necessity of renewable energy sources, and solar panels are a great example of these. Not sure how to get them for your building? Check out the Energy.gov guide called Procuring Solar Energy: A Guide for Federal Decision Makers.
Credits:
Ishan @seefromtheskyAnthony DELANOIX
Alex Blajan
Samuel Zeller
