Facilities

Introducing Project Management in Facilities Management

KARL ATTARD

Introducing Sustainability and Sustainable Practice in Facilities Management

Businesses are becoming more environmentally focused, and interaction between their core processes is essential in adopting a sustainable approach. Facilities management is a discipline that facilitates an organization in efficiently providing its primary business. Various studies have reported on organization attempts to put sustainability into reality. Sustainability and green building practices in facility management can benefits from different aspects such as reduction in energy consumption, productivity increases, waste reduction, and many other sectors that effects the sustainability of such premises. These can be quantified and presented to an organisation’s leadership to defend sustainable practices and their positive effect on the bottom line.

considered, an organisation can develop a much clearer picture of the benefits of sustainable practices. The facility manager is in a unique position to view the entire process and is often the leader of the only group that has influence over the entire life cycle of a facility. Therefore, the facility manager often becomes the proponent of sustainable and green practices. Implement the proper financial and strategic planning tools, the facility manager can create long-lasting value to the organisation by developing, implementing, and maintaining sustainable facility practices. sustainable approach.

Sustainability is seen as a far-reaching issue now, and one which the facilities management profession cannot overlook. In a 2007 IFMA report, sustainability was identified as one of the key areas FM professionals need to develop their competencies to face the demands, challenges and opportunities of sustainable development and practices. With the increasing relevance of FM toward business success, the FM function has transformed from just a cost cutting option to a strategic link between organization’s core business and support services. Facilities management professionals are seen as being “at the forefront of organizational behaviour change and, in a position, to influence individuals working in business; government departments and public services”. The concept of sustainable facilities management has gained relevance recently to integrate FM functions with sustainability. The facilities management profession is presented with this need in two perspectives. One, because of the negative impact of existing buildings over the environment, and on the other hand, the increasing demand for technical knowledge required of facilities managers to understand the complexities of intelligent buildings and their operation.

It is important to note that many of the positive economic effects do not show up immediately. This must be taken on a long-term view of most sustainable practices and carefully evaluate green alternatives to traditional construction, operating and maintenance methodologies. Once the life-cycle cost and total cost of ownership are