World Environment Day is an annual reminder that our future is in our hands and a means of motivating action. And creating and maintaining enthusiasm is key because as with any complex or long-term project or goal, staying committed can be just as challenging as the project itself.
Maintaining motivation
This need to obtain and maintain buy-in is why we have focused efforts on reducing our environmental impact in areas where we can have the greatest impact and on projects where quick wins and gains have helped our people remain focused on reaching long-term goals.
One such project is the building management system we have been developing over the past eight years. We need a tool to assess and control our facilities’ energy and resource consumption and identify use patterns and opportunities to improve efficiency. But that system needs to deliver a return or make a positive difference whether a facility is in Central America or northern Europe.
We chose our facilities in Costa Rica for the pilot project, and with good reason. The country is a world leader when it comes to environmental protection, pollution and energy conservation. It has been investing in biodiversity and environmental education since the 1940s and, as a result, has created a workforce that is knowledgeable and passionate about the planet and has the drive and motivation to work on projects that can make a positive difference. This is critical because even as a comparatively small-scale endeavor, the system requires a combined 4,900 hours of work and improvement every year.
Rewarding work
But the work is worth it. The building management system provides a real-time understanding of heating, air conditioning, ventilation, lighting system and water use, so that we can identify opportunities to reduce strain on resources based on need and building occupancy or to prioritize the use of certain spaces over others during different moments during a working day, or at different times during the year to align with seasonal changes.
And even if the system is in a constant state of iteration and improvement, since its initial rollout in 2016, it has helped us reduce energy and resource costs by roughly $17,000 per year.
The long-term aim is to roll out this system across as many of our facilities as possible. However, alongside future goals, there is a constant need for immediate insights and quick wins. And, thanks to the data and insights we’ve already collected from the system and other pilots in southern Europe and the Philippines, we’ve been able to better manage both energy consumption and physical spaces across our wider business.
A changing working environment
The need to optimize commercial real estate has never been greater. The move to full remote and hybrid working has added an extra dimension to the employee experience. However, it has also added another environmental dimension to building and facilities management as offices now seldom if ever operate with 100% occupancy rates. What’s more, not all organizations are in a position to develop and deploy their own building management systems or draw on historical data to optimize energy conservation.
Fortunately, there are a number of smaller steps that an organization of any size can reasonably take to start making progress and in doing so, build up buy-in.
Audit energy use
Conducting an initial audit will give you your energy consumption baseline. It will show you not only how much energy facilities are using but also where that energy is potentially being wasted. This audit should also provide the first insights in terms of where improvements can be made or how the building can be better used as a facility.
Rethink space
Can an existing single-purpose space be converted into a multipurpose room? Can some areas of a building be removed from daily use? Think about what you need from an office space and how each square foot can be better exploited in line with flexible or remote working. This should reduce the need to fully power, heat or air condition the building as a whole without creating employee discomfort.
Have a clear remote work policy
Working doesn’t have to be 100% flexible. Even if the goal is to provide employees with as much freedom as possible, your organization still needs to be able to forecast occupancy or facility use. So, develop a policy that enables you to know who will be on-site and when so you can make short-term energy efficiency gains and, over the long term, develop the understanding necessary to redevelop the existing space to suit employee needs or identify alternative premises.
Invest in human resources
You need to make energy conservation and the responsible use of resources part of employee training and development. This will not only improve energy efficiency in the short term but will also provide that initial foundation of motivation for longer-term projects. Also, don’t forget that younger employees, in particular, are actively seeking responsible employers. The provision of training and sharing performance data will help prove your CSR or ESG credentials.
Monitor metrics
As initiatives progress, it will be possible to add digital components to any project aimed at reducing energy consumption, such as smart lighting or sensor-activated heating and ventilation. However, each next step should be based on current performance, and that means having metrics in place and monitoring them to understand performance relative to goals. Part of this monitoring should also include further independent audits to reset baselines. Data should help you make informed decisions about current and future facilities management.
By starting small while thinking big, any organization of any size can better manage its energy and resource consumption and in doing so lower costs and environmental impact while enhancing the employee experience. Our Costa Rica pilot project is just one example of our commitment to Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) practices. We invite you to dive deeper into our initiatives and discover how we’re making a difference on a global scale. Visit our ESG page to learn more about our ongoing efforts.