How Modern Facilities Management Can Contribute to the Mitigation of Climate Change

Facilities Managers are being recognized for their role as frontline influencers in the global effort to mitigate climate change .Residential and commercial facilities consume up to 40% of the world’s energy, and consequently, contribute a significant portion of overall emissions from energy use. Managing assets in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner have become imperative in the efficient management of energy use, as well as for the overall impact that this has on the environment.

The Changing Role of Facility Managers

Facilities managers have grown to play an intricate role in the delivery of service to an asset’s tenants and users. Their role overlaps with a wide range of service providers, both from within the facility, as well as from external parties such as municipal, civil, security, and health & safety authorities. They are entrusted to provide users with a clean, safe, and functional working and living space. They are also required to do that in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Furthermore, with the increasing awareness about climate change, they are responsible for knowing the impact that their asset has on the environment and taking the necessary steps to minimize their ecological footprint.

Regulations governing the environmental footprint of a facility are usually governed by local, regional, and international standards that offer guidance and frameworks for energy consumption, water, and waste management, as well as recycling and reuse practices. Although these provide a framework for compliance, they do not recognize the circumstances of individual properties, nor the efficiencies that can be generated from its optimized operations.  

A New Way of Doing Things - Ecologically

Modern environmental standards are designed to contribute to a sustainable environment while adding efficiency and cost savings to encourage adoption. For example, at Isnaad, over 90% of the chemicals used conform to the EU Ecolabel standard, the European Union’s voluntary program for environmental excellence. This standard covers the life cycle of products: from raw material extraction to production, distribution, and final disposal.

By applying this standard across large operations, even small adjustments to procedures can have a dramatic impact on the environment, as well as on the bottom line. For example, by keeping cleaning products in their concentrated form and only diluting them when being used on-site, significant cost savings are accrued from efficiencies of shipping smaller liquid volumes, consequently burning less fuel and producing fewer emissions. Along with optimized management of the amounts of cleaning solutions used, Isnaad was able to improve cleaning efficiency and reduce waste by 20%. To complete the cycle, all cans and bottles used in the process are sent for processing at Farz, Imdaad Group’s material recovery facility, where they are recovered for reuse in new products.

While these actions present a viable – and even profitable economic and ecological motivation for adopting policies and protocols that support the environment, more importantly, they also reflect and respond to tenant demand. Most people today have high levels of awareness and are supportive of ecological initiatives. They behave in a way that conserves and protects it and demand the same from the companies they buy products and services from. Managing a facility with the same ethos is no longer just a good idea. It has become mandatory for tenants who will prefer it and will actively choose it over alternatives.

Imdaad Group’s Commitment to the Environment

In addition to the EU Ecolabel, the Imdaad group has been at the forefront of adopting global standards for quality and environmental management systems and operates to the ISO 14001 standard for Environmental Management, ISO 9001 for Quality Management, ISO 45001 for Occupational Health, and ISO 50001 for Energy Management, and ISO18295:2017 for Customer response center operations. Isnaad is the group’s soft facilities management services provider and offers a comprehensive range of services including all types of cleaning, manpower supply, and specialized solutions. Isnaad’s services are relied on by clients across residential and commercial usage and have grown to include clients from industries that traditionally relied on in-house services, such as hospitality and leisure. These are industries that typically have a heavy carbon footprint. By outsourcing this critical function, they can benefit from Isnaad’s expertise, as well as from the Imdaad Group’s commitment to quality, service, and stewardship of the environment.

Their efficient management has ramifications that extend beyond cost savings and delivery of a safe, clean, and hygienic environment for its users and residents. Assets that can demonstrate optimized energy use and care for the climate attract a higher caliber of discerning users willing to pay a premium for living and working in an ecological facility, thereby increasing the overall value of the asset.

To assess your facility’s ecological impact, and to explore the returns that you actualize from improving it, Contact Us