SUSTAINED SUSTAINABILITY
Chris Edwards, Facilities Show Event Director, outlines current environmental trends amid political and economic change.
Many cleaning and FM-related organisations are giving more importance to sustainability through measures including chemical- free cleaning, reduction in energy consumption and adoption of greener technologies. These initiatives reduce carbon footprint, while at the same time helping client organisations to cut costs, and demonstrate corporate responsibility.
However recent austerity measures have seen budget cuts in public and private sectors. Environmental steps can often take less precedence when spend is reduced.
Uncertainty remains about the implications of Brexit, which means UK companies may be reluctant to place funds on any activity that doesn’t provide guaranteed return on investment. It is also unclear yet the direction that the government will take in terms of environmental legislation post- Brexit, although under the ‘Great Repeal Bill’ all European laws will initially at least be transferred into UK law.
LEGISLATIVE IMPACT At a European level, increased recycling targets proposed under the European Commission’s revised Circular Economy Package are currently being analysed by Member States. Since the UK voted to leave the EU, the recycling industry has been seeking clarity from government on how this might affect the UK’s approach to the Circular Economy and future resource efficiency targets.
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In March, President Donald Trump signed The Energy Independence Executive Order boosting fossil fuels and suspending more than half a dozen measures enacted by his predecessor aimed at curbing climate change. This may see less investment internationally in renewable energy, which provides energy in important areas including electricity generation, water heating and cooling and transportation.
CORPORATE ACTION While governments may delay implementing further measures that promote sustainability, organisations and industries can take a lead role by stepping up their green strategies. Systems and processes to help use resources more efficiently may have some upfront cost but will reap rewards in the long term.
Businesses should take an evidence- based approach to sustainability to show both the environmental impact and cost-effectiveness of measures. A good starting point for any business is to identify the greatest impacts that it has on the environment, such as vehicle emissions, electricity and gas usage.
By initiating activities like an energy audit, companies can look at practical ways to reduce the amount used and set out an action plan to improve their carbon footprint. This can include simple steps like putting screens into sleep mode or turning off heating or air conditioning.
Cleaning and FM partners can act as the ‘first line of defence’ in terms of reporting minor maintenance issues that may become major – if left unattended to. Having an onsite professional remedy the problem can help organisations avoid having to call out for expensive maintenance or even replacement solutions, with its attendant cost and travel-related impact on the environment.
Naturally clients will have their own environmental targets and the facilities service provider should work with them to support their goals.
SMART USE OF
TECHNOLOGY Advances in technology provide new ways to reduce carbon footprint. Many companies are already starting to use dedicated systems to monitor and better manage their energy usage. Remote monitoring is another trend contributing to sustainable practices, resulting in a greater shift towards planned maintenance – and away from much more expensive emergency maintenance. Greater availability of data is enabling companies to develop systems that share data to use building resources more efficiently.
Professionals interested in how to build a more sustainable future can find out more at Facilities Show 2017, which takes place at ExCeL London from 20-22 June.
www.facilitiesshow.com twitter.com/TomoCleaning
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