Sustainable Facilities Management: A Future Vision

At Avrenim, sustainability is a fundamental part of how we work and deliver projects for our clients. Our role in sustainability as facilities managers ensures we work to reduce consumption costs, promote green procurement, and care for the planet and its people, creating lost lasting systems that are focused on resource and energy efficiency while reducing operational costs. Within our commitment to a greener planet, we are dedicated to driving the net zero agenda, ensuring all our customers understand the transition to net zero.

Avrenim continuously reviews how we can effectively integrate sustainability into all elements of our delivery, finding low carbon and renewable energy solutions for our customers across our service offering, from consultancy and design to facilities management and project delivery in 2023 and into the future.

Why is sustainability in facilities management important?

Sustainability is a vital aspect of how we aim to improve the environment for the future, and the next generation. The built environment is responsible for a large part of the UK’s emissions with the government estimating that 30% of UK emissions are from buildings, with 23% of that total coming from the heating of buildings. Avrenim plays an important role in supporting a more eco-conscious built environment, placing a focus on the decarbonisation of existing buildings as we integrate net zero into our facility management service through the reduction and ultimately, elimination, of carbon emissions.

What steps can we make to improve sustainability?

Through the adoption of eco-friendly initiatives, facilities managers can contribute significantly to environmental conservation while reaping various benefits by implementing numerous strategies that can help to build a greener future.

Conduct a sustainability analysis

Using accurate data analytics on the total energy facilities we are wasting, and these numbers can guide us in where we can lower our energy usage when necessary.

By analysing client facilities, our data-driven findings can identify where facilities are wasting energy. Energy waste can be caused by a variety of things, including; inefficient use of equipment and seasonal usage (certain seasons may be more costly than others for different reasons). By monitoring the analytics of energy that buildings are using, it is possible to improve sustainability.

Conduct preventative maintenance

Preventative maintenance ensures your equipment is functioning well as older pieces of equipment that aren’t performing optimally can lead to greater energy consumption and higher maintenance costs. Committing to regular maintenance can keep energy usage to a minimum in the long run as well as extending the equipment’s lifespan.

Energy efficiency and conservation: Update or replace equipment with eco-friendly alternatives

Energy efficiency is fundamental to sustainability in facilities management with eco-friendly alternatives being essential to push a more sustainable future. Small steps can be taken to change the way we work and implement energy-saving measures in buildings. This includes the adoption of solar panels, which, as one of the greenest forms of energy production, significantly contribute to energy waste reduction. Other ways to reduce waste include:

• Replacing old insulation with modern insulation
• Adopt renewable energy sources like solar
• Use smart metres to monitor utilities, i.e., gas, electricity, water, etc.
• Make upgrades on lighting by using motion-sensing lights, and natural lighting where possible
• Improved ventilation
• Air filtration systems
• New roofing can make heat-trapping optimal
• Replace traditional boilers with boilers that are designed for energy efficiency as well as windows and HVAC units

Sustainable procurement

Avrenim makes environmentally conscious choices when sourcing products and materials and when delivering our services to clients we prioritise those suppliers who demonstrate a commitment to sustainability.

Through the procurement of energy-efficient equipment and sustainable building materials, our facilities managers can contribute to reducing the ecological footprint of the project.

Encourage net zero alternatives to clients and partners

We want to spread the cause for net zero to our shareholders as we pride ourselves on fighting for a greener future, and by doing our bit, we hope it can influence others to do their part for our planet too. We consider sustainability in facilities management no longer an option but a necessity, as without change we leave behind a future with high-level pollution and toxicity for future generations. Sustainability also provides financial benefits due to decreased operational costs and improvement of business reputation. By working together we can all build a better, greener future.