Introducing sustainable practices into your facilities management efforts is a key step towards achieving an eco-friendlier and energy-efficient workplace.
But what role does the FMS (Facilities Management System) play in creating an eco-friendlier business? Sustainable facilities management focuses on reducing, reusing, and recycling resources to minimize the environmental impact of any workspace. The FMS is an essential tool that helps management teams track and record every aspect of their efforts.
For businesses, this kind of approach brings multiple benefits - from having a vision for a sustainable future, to saving money, to reducing carbon emissions, and making it easier for companies to attract and keep employees. So, let’s explore how you can go about implementing sustainable best practices within your own organization!
Focusing on sustainability will bring a wide range of benefits to a business. Check out a few of these benefits below:
Save Money and Improve Profit Margins
Committing to sustainability-focused facilities management is an investment that will pay dividends - both for the planet and for your business.
You don't have to look too far to find that many businesses have successfully implemented sustainable facilities management to create cost savings and improve their bottom lines.
By being more efficient, they are not only doing their part to protect our environment but also gaining a financial boost at the same time.
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint and Environmental Impact
Addressing the climate crisis is a necessity that all businesses – regardless of size – must tackle. All organisations large and small, not just global enterprises, have an increased responsibility to reduce their carbon footprint, and that’s something a good FMS can help them do.
Besides being the right thing to do, promoting sustainability can also benefit your business in terms of reputation and brand recognition. Demonstrating your commitment to the environment shows clients, customers, and employees that you care about the planet as much as they do.
Therefore, it’s important for facilities managers to audit their current operations for any opportunities for improvement, replace or upgrade outdated equipment with more efficient models and find green partners that share their sustainability goals.
Attract and Retain the Best Employees
For those looking to recruit or retain the best employees, going green and committing to sustainable practices is key. In particular, Millennials and Gen Z-ers tend to be especially enthusiastic about environmental protection and corporate social responsibility.
Take sustainability seriously, and you will have an easier time finding top-tier talent and keeping your current staff happy. You will also attract customers from a growing demographic of environmentally conscious individuals who prefer to spend their money with like-minded companies.
If you're aiming for a more sustainable approach to facilities management, now is the perfect time to act. With hybrid working becoming increasingly popular, more businesses have an opportunity to consider how they can use office spaces and resources in a more effective way.
Here are five ideas on how facilities managers can help achieve greater sustainability in their organization:
Audit Your Existing Facilities and Processes
First off, conducting a sustainability audit is essential for getting an idea of where you can update operations to make them more efficient. Replacing or upgrading older equipment with modern components can also help enhance sustainability goals. Finding green partners who share the same commitment to eco-friendly practices makes it easier to stay on top of current trends and technologies.
Leveraging technology can be instrumental when transitioning towards green initiatives. For example, incorporating ideas such as smart systems that gather data from thermal sensors located throughout the buildings will make heating and cooling much more efficient.
Upgrade and Replace Your Old Equipment
It's essential to replace aging electrical equipment with more modern alternatives, as this will provide your company with considerable advantages, from both an ecological and competitive advantage standpoint. Not only do these newer technologies use less energy and therefore save you money, but they also leave a smaller carbon footprint - something that both employees and customers can appreciate.
Foster a Culture of Sustainability
To keep your facilities management on track with sustainability goals, it's important to make sure everyone in the organization is familiar with the required actions. For instance, people should know how and when to recycle common items such as paper, cans, plastics, and glass, along with old stock, broken fittings and other business waste. Likewise, employees should also be aware of what to do with large-scale e-waste like computers or batteries.
In addition to recycling procedures, encourage staff members to power down their equipment at the end of each day instead of simply leaving them on standby. Educating people about green practices will help establish a culture that values sustainability.
Work With Likeminded Third-Party Services and Providers
Working with third parties is usually a challenge without tight processes and systems, but it is essential for ensuring your facilities are always in good working order. It's tough to find good help, but an FMS can make this task a lot more straightforward, especially when you are striving to only work with services that are committed to greener work practices.
Partnering with green providers can really help you meet your sustainability goals. Examine the businesses that supply you with products or services and make sure they share a commitment to the environment.
For instance, consider switching to environmentally friendly cleaning supplies, offering a healthy canteen menu that changes according to the season, or finding an energy supplier who specializes in renewable sources - all these steps will go a long way towards boosting your impact on the planet.
Reduce Your Square Footage
To help reduce your facilities' footprint on the environment, it may be worthwhile to consider scaling back the office or retail space you need. With many companies utilizing a hybrid office model for the long term, there's less of a requirement for substantial amounts of physical space. You will also eliminate the costs associated with maintaining it.
Aside from this green benefit, fewer people coming into an office daily also means a lower carbon footprint when it comes to commuting. This is an additional way that cutting down on your office space usage can help improve sustainability.
Creating a more sustainable workplace is much easier when you leverage the right technology.
Having access to data about your energy output and sustainability goals can provide important insights that help drive lasting changes. That's where the Ticked Off FMS app comes in.
Ticked Off’s FMS solution helps businesses use their workspaces and facilities more efficiently and sustainably. Get in touch now to learn more about how Ticked Off could be the perfect addition to your eco-friendly plans!