The Leading News & Information Service For The Facilities, Workplace & Built Environment Community

Six Ways Facilities Managers Can Plan For A More Sustainable Future

Six Ways Facilities Managers Can Plan For A More Sustainable Future
22 April 2020 | Updated 24 April 2020
 

In honour of Earth Day, here are six simple ways facilities managers can plan for a more sustainable future. 

It’s a common misconception that making changes within your business to become more “green” means big additional expenses, lots of resources, and dramatic operational changes. But by focussing on the smaller, simpler changes, it’s surprising the difference that can be made. 

 

Clear out your car park 

 

We expect that your company’s car park is probably empty at the moment anyway, but just imagine if you could keep it that way? Initiate an incentive programme for walkers and bicycle commuters, and encourage colleagues who travel from similar areas to think about carsharing. 

 

Prepare to go paperless 

 

Printers in the workplace are open to overuse. More often than not, work can be viewed on-screen, rather than on a print-out. Employees may well be learning this whilst working from home, and hopefully any habitual reliance on using the printer may reduce once back in the office.

As a general rule, employees should be encouraged to print only when necessary. Not only does this reduce paper wastage, but it also helps cut energy required to run the printer, which in turn reduces energy costs and extends the lifespan of your printer.

 

Baseline your energy consumption

 

In a recent article from ThisWeekinFM, we looked at opportunities whilst your building is temporarily closed. One of which was to set a baseline for your energy usage.

As the saying goes, “You can’t manage what you don’t measure,” so establishing a baseline usage will help you track the effectiveness of your sustainability initiatives. Any measurements recorded now, can be useful to compare against occupied space, when normal activity ensues.

 

 

Don’t Waste It!

 

We recently hosted an informative roundtable alongside waste management company Reconomy and a group of industry peers, capturing what was discussed in a series of videos. The theme was around more effective waste management, covering everything from measurement and managing demand, to how to affect the triple bottom line. 

In essence, the videos are a great way to start when looking to make real change when it comes to waste in your business

View the roundtable videos now

 

 

Keep remote working

 

If remote working is proving to be a positive change for your business, then why not consider keeping it that way?

If possible, you could allow employees to work from home on alternate days. Employees can still be in contact with those in the office and it’s also likely that they will get more work done at home without the distractions that often occur in the office environment.

Technology allows employees to have flexible work arrangements, and by having fewer employees in the office, less lighting, cooling and running workstations would be required. 

You can read more about how technology can assist your team with collaborative working here.

 

Create sustainability champions 

 

Do you have passionate employees who are always banging the drum for environmental concerns and sustainability? You could consider making them sustainability champions, to promote simple steps and best practices within the workplace. There are some great tips on where to start here.

Leadership is, of course, key to embedding the sustainable business model and the process typically starts with the CEO getting their leadership team on board. However, it is not enough to have sustainability champions at the top — they must be cultivated at all levels of the organisation.

 

Being green doesn’t have to cost the earth

 

If you’re still unsure about the cost versus benefit side of sustainability, take a look at this opinion piece, it may just change your mind.

Picture: A hand holding a small globe

Article written by Daisy Miceli | Published 22 April 2020

Share



Related Articles

Net-Zero Policies to Watch in 2024

To mark Earth Day 2024, Planet Mark spotlights how businesses can stay ahead of net-zero policy.   UK Policies: SECR and ESOS   In the UK, over...

 Read Full Article
Earth Day 2022 – Would You Buy A CO₂ Removal Subscription?

From £27 per month, you can pay for CO₂ removal through direct air capture technology. Coinciding with Earth Day 2022, direct air capture (DAC) company...

 Read Full Article
Amey Pledges Carbon Emissions Target

Amey marked Earth Day by defining its roadmap to achieving carbon net-zero by 2040. The infrastructure services and engineering company has also committed to achieving...

 Read Full Article
What Technologies are Essential for the Fight Against Climate Change?

April 22 marks Earth Day, a worldwide event that aims to diversify, educate and activate the environmental movement. Could technology play a key role in the fight against...

 Read Full Article
IWFM Publishes Waste Management Guide for Facilities Managers

IWFM has published a best practice guide to recycling, waste and resource management. As businesses face pressure to ensure that their waste practices stand up to...

 Read Full Article
The Planet Mark Home Worker Package

Sustainability programme leader The Planet Mark has produced an interactive guide of best practice advice to stay happy, healthy and productive whilst working from...

 Read Full Article
Don’t Waste It Roundtable Series - Adding Value To The Triple Bottom Line

Welcome to the final part of our Don’t Waste It Roundtable, sponsored by Reconomy. In the last video of this four-part series, the panel discusses how to...

 Read Full Article
Don’t Waste It Roundtable Series – Applying A Different Measure

Welcome to the third part of our Don’t Waste It Roundtable, sponsored by Reconomy. In the penultimate video of our four-part series, the theme this week is...

 Read Full Article
Don’t Waste It Roundtable Series – Changing To Improve Efficiency

Welcome to part two of our coverage of the Don’t Waste It Roundtable, sponsored by Reconomy. In the second of a four-part series, we continue with the subject of...

 Read Full Article
Don’t Waste It Roundtable Series – Managing Demand and Expectations

This week sees us dive into the coverage of our Don’t Waste It Roundtable, sponsored by Reconomy. In the first in a four-part series of informative videos, we begin...

 Read Full Article