Over the past two years, virtually all aspects of supporting a distributed portfolio and critical assets have taken a dramatic turn. Massive changes in guest demand and an expectation for companies to maintain environmentally-friendly operations are now integral to all facilities management. There is a very clear need for companies to establish ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) initiatives that include establishing energy reduction goals and sustainability metrics, and as companies expand and technology changes, integrated facilities management (IFM) demands are apparent.
Energy management is not just about finance budgeting or saving money for businesses. It is about reducing the carbon footprint or GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions. Part of this includes approaching all multi-site facility maintenance needs from a proactive standpoint, which according to BuildingEngines, accounts for over 50% of total energy consumption in commercial spaces. Therefore, establishing sustainable facilities management and business energy management within IFM is vital. There has never been an easier time to implement trends and energy management techniques.
There are multiple trends in energy management in IFM. Facility managers are adjusting to the constant ebb and flow of the economy. Below are trends that should be on the top of all facility manager’s minds.
Trend 1: Energy Management Measures Facility Waste Through Integrated Data and Insights
Energy management measures are evolving to fit the needs of facilities management and the environment. Therefore, analyzing and managing facility waste through integrated data and insights is vital. This data allows facility managers to adjust in real time.
Trend 2: Distributed Portfolios Will Use Smart Sensors for Energy Efficiency Scoring and Reductions
Sustainability and energy management techniques are vital in effectively managing distributed portfolios with large numbers of critical assets. With the current trend surrounding ESG, energy management measures have become more accessible than ever. In addition, using smart technology with sensors provides a way for an energy management company to have control at all times. These technology trends allow facility managers to control remotely, such as monitoring and implementing an HVAC checklist, parking garages, lighting, grounds care, security alarms, and even indoor air quality (IAQ). This encourages and escalates sustainability in facilities management.
Trend 3: Facilities Managers Will Want an Embedded Energy Management Company in IFM Partners
The ability to outsource facilities management enables a business to take full advantage of the current technology trends. When choosing an IFM, ensure it has integrated energy management into its services. Choosing an IFM that focuses on reducing carbon footprints, managing energy efficiency, and providing environmentally sustainable options is vital to the sustainability of a business.
Trend 4: Facilities Managers Will Want Centralized Energy Management Controls and “Actionable” Data
Part of the challenge in managing energy comes from the diversity of different buildings and sites that today’s facilities managers must oversee. The individual portfolio of companies may span vast geographies if not entire countries and facility managers want a singular view on the total energy used for both facilities on their own and as a whole for the portfolio. This centralized view means aggregating and analyzing data at scale and allowing facility managers access to data analytics.
The ability to manage multiple sites at once will be crucial to making portfolio-wide investments, such as upgrading HVAC units across the company or determining the unique improvements best suited to reduce energy use in a single facility. Regardless, the trick is to capture the data, see it in both a local and company-wide context and make it “actionable” to produce the best business decisions for a particular site and the critical assets within.
Get Better Energy Management Services Across Your IFM Needs With SMG Facilities
With the constant changes over the past two years, business energy management trends in IFM are more straightforward than ever to achieve. Integrating hybrid workplaces, mobile apps, integrated data and insights, and smart sensor-controlled features enables facility managers to provide efficient energy management solutions to businesses that drive down maintenance costs, reduce carbon emissions and better align with corporate ESG initiatives. Get better energy management services across your IFM needs and contact SMG Facilities today.
