Why facilities managers hold the key to net zero carbon
There are about 30 million buildings in the UK which, in total, are responsible for around 30% of our national emissions, giving buildings an integral role in the UK’s decarbonisation challenge.
When it comes to achieving net zero carbon emissions in buildings and estates, facilities managers are on the front line. Not only do they work directly with the systems, assets and services associated with carbon emissions from buildings, but they also have the expertise in monitoring, control and automation necessary to deliver ongoing carbon reductions.
Achieving lasting carbon reductions across an entire estate requires a coordinated programme of measures, including asset replacement, control and automation, operational efficiencies, renewable energy sourcing and generation, behavioural change and continuous monitoring and optimisation. Facilities managers have hands-on experience of working across every area in which efficiencies and improvements need to be delivered – from electrical and mechanical systems to cleaning operations and building fabric maintenance.
Driven by data
The starting point for any effective carbon-reduction programme is data. Without understanding where carbon emissions are generated within the organisation, no effective action can be taken. Data is key to understanding and quantifying emissions, enabling effective actions to be identified, and providing the insights for ongoing performance monitoring to ensure the carbon savings delivered remain on target.
Here again, facilities managers have a vital role to play, ensuring that data is collected accurately from the right systems and assets, and making sure asset registers are kept updated and fully compliant.
Asset control and maintenance
Continuous optimisation of asset performance is vital to achieving the incremental carbon reductions required to reach net zero. Facilities maintenance engineers have the most up-to-date knowledge of individual asset performance and are in a strong position to continuously optimise the efficiency of lighting, heating, HVAC and other building systems.
Such close monitoring means that engineers can also advise on when to replace assets with more efficient models, to achieve a step change in carbon emissions. Assessments of timely asset replacement need to be based on an evaluation of the embedded carbon within an asset, to ensure that any upgrades represent a true carbon saving.
Smart building control systems are another key element in optimising the performance of building systems, 24 hours a day. By monitoring lighting, heating and cooling, alongside occupancy levels throughout the building, smart control and automation systems can ensure energy wastage is minimised every minute of the day and night.
Influencing behaviour and practices
Working on site means that facilities management staff are well placed to encourage carbon-saving practices throughout an organisation. They can help to implement and promote behavioural changes, and support energy-efficient working processes in everything from cleaning and security to the operation of assets and equipment. Facilities managers are also primed to identify any issues that are wasting energy or resources, and in the right place to implement swift corrective actions.
Coordinating a complex programme of actions requires everyone in an organisation to work towards the same shared vision. In practical terms, that means focusing individual targets and objectives on areas that influence carbon emissions, either directly or indirectly. And incentivising people to maintain carbon-saving behaviours and practices in their everyday work.
Access multi-disciplinary expertise
The range of actions, investments and measures required to achieve sustainable carbon reductions mean that many organisations require expert support to deliver the necessary changes.
Choosing a facilities management provider who also understands decarbonisation to handle every aspect of building and asset maintenance, control and management can help to ensure all efforts are focused on delivering net zero carbon across an entire estate. With a single provider managing all aspects of facilities services, businesses can ensure they have the right combination of specialists – either on site or in mobile response teams – to deliver the focused, proactive measures required to achieve net zero targets.
References:
[1] ONS (2020), ‘Households projections for England’ (https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/
populationandmigration/populationprojections/datasets/householdprojectionsforengland), Table 401 and BEIS
[1] BEIS (2021), ‘Final UK greenhouse gas emissions national statistics: 1990 to 2019’ (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/final-uk-greenhouse-gas-emissions-national-statistics-1990-to-2019). And BEIS (2020), ‘Energy consumption in the UK 2020’ (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/energy-consumption-in-the-uk). This figure includes indirect
and direct emissions but excludes international aviation and shipping.
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