BOMI

Sustainability is now a priority in facility management

Thursday, February 17, 2022

Sustainability has taken precedence in facility management, and for good reasons. Beyond the fact that greener operations unlock savings and protect asset values, tenants and investors are more interested than ever in partnering with facilities that demonstrate an awareness for – and resilience against – evolving climate issues.

“The idea of sustainability has been around for decades, but the awareness around climate-related issues has evolved,” agrees Kim Saunders, RPA®|HP®, CLO®, BOMA Fellow, Property Manager with East Port Properties, adding, “Today, there’s a recognition that real estate accounts for a significant portion of the world’s energy usage – up to 40% according to the United Nations – and that property managers and operators have a big role to play in contributing to a healthier, more resilient planet.”

Prioritizing sustainability in asset management also makes business sense. Facilities that embrace energy-saving equipment and eco-forward practices are more resilient and cost-effective to run. It’s little wonder, then, that a recent Bloomberg reports states Global ESG assets will surpass $53 trillion by 2025 to represent over a third of the world’s total assets under management(1)

In short: It pays to put environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies at the top of the facility management agenda. And to do that, says Saunders, facility teams require the training, skills, and support to lead the way.

“To be successful, [facility managers] need to know a bit about everything when it comes to sustainability,” says Saunders. “They need to know what technologies or processes will make their buildings more efficient, and they have to be able to sell sustainable strategies and investments to owners and other stakeholders.”

Going further with BOMI
Championing sustainability in facilities management takes more than good intentions. It requires additional training and resources to ensure impactful strategies take root. It’s for this reason that programs like BOMI’s High Performance (HP) Sustainable Buildings and Facilities Management Administrator programs are designed to provide
facility managers with the tools, resources, and skills to rise above evolving climate change challenges.

“BOMI’s FMA® designation course basically prepares you for anything that comes your way,” says Saunders. “It gives you the additional skills and knowledge to take your job to the next level or even take steps towards your future career in facilities management.”

“I always tell my coworkers to plan for the job they want, and that’s what the FMA® program allows,” she adds. BOMI’s FMA® program is complemented by the organization’s HP program, a designation source that offers a more granular exploration of this fast-evolving topic.

“The BOMI-HP® program is deep dive into the things you do as a property or facility manager, how they relate to sustainability, and how to get future ESG initiatives off the ground,“ Saunders explains. “And that’s an important piece,” she continues. “To make any progress on sustainability, you need to know how to engage stakeholders and communicate both the financial and social benefits.”

BOMI

Indeed, gaining buy-in for sustainable initiatives can be a barrier for facilities management teams. It is a skill that requires insight into how investments in cleaner, more efficient operations translate into long-term savings. And that’s not always an easy sell.

“I remember trying to implement daytime cleaning among our tenants because I knew it would save energy,” Saunders recalls. “I got a lot of resistance at first until one of the tenants finally agreed to try it on a pilot basis. I kept track of the results and shared them with other tenants, and pretty soon everyone started seeing the benefits. Soon after, they started asking me to sign them up.”

The good news is that it’s getting easier to sell building owners and tenants on sustainability – both in regards to the return on investment and the positive impact on tenant relations. The key, Saunders notes, is communicating the value:

“Once people understand how sustainability benefits and operation, it’s easier to get that support and engagement. And now, because climate change is such a public
issue, that buy-in is becoming easier to secure.”

The pressure is on facility teams to go further with sustainability and ESG. For those in the industry, that means understanding what needs to be done and acquiring the skills to take action.

Learn more about BOMI’s FMA® and BOMI-HP® Designation courses.

1 https://www.bloomberg.com/professional/blog/esg-assets-may-hit-53-trillion-by-2025-a-third-of-global-aum/

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

In our efforts to deter spam comments, please type in the missing part of this simple calculation: *Time limit exceeded. Please complete the captcha once again.