How to succeed with ‘green’ changes at facilities

There are many operational and behavioural changes that can be made to reduce the carbon footprint of facilities at a minimal cost, according to Dan Hoffman, one of the international keynote speakers at the upcoming Total Facilities expo. He says one of the keys to implementing these changes is a good communication plan, and it can be the difference between a successful project and a failure.

Hoffman has designed, built and led facilities for Google, Apple and NetApp and is sharing his tips on integrating green initiatives into the daily operations of facilities during the Total Facilities expo, which is being held 5-6 June 2013 at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre.

“Creating a culture of sustainability is the most important driver to success,” says Hoffman. But ...“the users need to understand what you are doing, why you are doing it, when you are doing it, what they should expect, and how they can provide feedback.

“Sometimes the business needs can be in conflict with sustainability goals and you need to compromise and work through the issues. For instance, a common challenge is trying to reduce lighting and HVAC operating hours to save energy while users want to extend their hours to achieve key project milestones. These need to be understood by both parties and negotiated.”

For example, in one of Hoffman’s projects in the US, the directive was providing a healthy indoor air environment using a higher level of air filtration. He said they paid an energy penalty for this initiative but the healthier environment was a higher priority in this case.

When asked about how to maintain the effectiveness of sustainability initiatives at facilities, Hoffman said commissioning, retrocommissioning and continuous commissioning are powerful tools. “The commissioning process also allows you to quantify and report the achievements in a verifiable manner. Proclaim and celebrate small wins and continually strive for improvement,” he says.

Hoffman’s presentation at the Total Facilities expo is titled ‘It’s easy being green: Lessons from Silicon Valley’s biggest tech brands’ and will take place on the second day of the expo (Thursday 6 June, 10.30-11.15 am). During the presentation, he will share:

• How to integrate low cost, green practices into your daily operations;
• How to tie green initiatives to company brand to improve perception; and
• How to get employee buy-in to green initiatives to drive higher employee satisfaction in the workplace.

The Total Facilities expo will also include a number of other local and international speakers including Robert Stowe, Vice President of Engineering Operations for Bellagio, who will explain how he saved over 15 million kWh in five years working across 975,481 m² of building, running one of the world’s most famous resorts. The High Performance Buildings Theatre, which is sponsored by Sustainability Matters, will showcase of the latest solutions for optimising efficiency in the areas of energy, waste and water.

The Total Facilities expo and learning event is free to qualified industry professionals and suitable for building services, maintenance and facilities management. Being held 5-6 June 2013 at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, visit the Total Facilities website to register.