Last updated on Mar 13, 2024

Facilities engineers are tasked with improving sustainability. How can you make a difference?

Facilities engineers are responsible for designing, operating, and maintaining the physical systems and infrastructure of buildings and facilities. They play a vital role in ensuring the safety, comfort, efficiency, and sustainability of these environments. But how can you, as a facilities engineer, make a difference in improving sustainability? Here are some tips and strategies to help you achieve this goal.

1 Assess your baseline

The first step to improve sustainability is to measure your current performance and identify areas of improvement. You can use tools such as energy audits, water audits, waste audits, carbon footprint calculators, and green building certifications to assess your baseline. These tools can help you evaluate your energy consumption, water usage, waste generation, greenhouse gas emissions, and environmental impact. They can also help you benchmark your performance against industry standards and best practices.

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Hamza Khawaja

Environmental Consultant | Energy Engineer | Sustainability & ESG Strategist | Carbon Markets & Net Zero Solutions | Combatting Greenwashing
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Using tools to measure how much energy, water, and waste a company uses helps them figure out where they can save money and help the environment, making them more successful in the long run.

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2 Implement solutions

The next step is to implement solutions that can reduce your environmental impact and improve your efficiency. Depending on your specific needs and goals, you can install energy-efficient lighting, heating, cooling, and ventilation systems; use renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, or biomass; implement water conservation measures like low-flow fixtures, rainwater harvesting, and greywater recycling; reduce waste generation and increase recycling and composting; improve indoor air quality and thermal comfort with natural ventilation, green roofs, and biophilic design; and enhance the resilience and adaptability of your facilities to climate change and natural disasters.

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I Wayan Eka Putra

Engineering | Surface Facilities | Pipeline | Digital | Technologies | Sustainability | Advance Material | Installation | Hydrogen | CO2
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Digitalization in engineering is one of solution to enhance sustainability in facility engineering. Utilization of digital tool, automation and online collaboration enhance effectiveness in design teamwork, optimize manhour as well as reduce carbon emission. Online collaboration, meetings reduce energy, time and resources required to travel, punctuality thus reduce time wastage.

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Hamza Khawaja

Environmental Consultant | Energy Engineer | Sustainability & ESG Strategist | Carbon Markets & Net Zero Solutions | Combatting Greenwashing
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In addition to the mentioned solutions, companies can also encourage employees to adopt eco-friendly practices, such as carpooling or using public transportation, and promote telecommuting options to reduce carbon emissions from commuting.

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3 Monitor and evaluate

The final step is to monitor and evaluate the results of your solutions and make adjustments as needed. You can use the same tools that you used to assess your baseline to measure your progress and performance. You can also use feedback from your stakeholders, such as occupants, clients, managers, and regulators, to evaluate your satisfaction and compliance levels. By monitoring and evaluating your solutions, you can identify what works and what doesn't, and learn from your successes and failures.

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Hamza Khawaja

Environmental Consultant | Energy Engineer | Sustainability & ESG Strategist | Carbon Markets & Net Zero Solutions | Combatting Greenwashing
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To improve further, companies can conduct regular check-ins with staff to gather suggestions for improvement and organize training sessions to keep everyone informed about sustainability goals and practices.

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4 Collaborate and communicate

Improving sustainability is not a solo effort. It requires collaboration and communication with various stakeholders, such as other engineers, architects, contractors, suppliers, owners, managers, occupants, and regulators. You need to work with them to understand their needs, expectations, and preferences, and to align your goals and strategies. You also need to communicate with them to share your vision, plans, results, and challenges, and to solicit their feedback, input, and support. By collaborating and communicating with your stakeholders, you can foster trust, engagement, and innovation.

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Hamza Khawaja

Environmental Consultant | Energy Engineer | Sustainability & ESG Strategist | Carbon Markets & Net Zero Solutions | Combatting Greenwashing
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Companies can establish partnerships with local communities and non-profit organizations to exchange ideas, resources, and support for sustainable initiatives, ensuring a broader positive impact on the environment and society.

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5 Educate and inspire

Improving sustainability is not only a technical challenge, but also a cultural and behavioral one. To successfully adopt sustainable practices and values, you need to educate and inspire your stakeholders. You can do this by providing training and workshops on sustainability topics and skills, creating awareness campaigns and events to showcase your solutions and achievements, sharing stories and testimonials from your stakeholders, recognizing and rewarding their contributions, and inviting them to participate in your solutions and decision-making processes. Through these methods, you can demonstrate the benefits of your solutions to your stakeholders.

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6 Keep learning and improving

Improving sustainability is not a one-time project. It is a continuous process of learning and improving. You need to keep abreast of the latest trends, technologies, and best practices in sustainability, and to seek new opportunities and challenges to enhance your skills and knowledge. You also need to keep reviewing and revising your goals and strategies, and to seek feedback and guidance from your peers, mentors, and experts. By keeping learning and improving, you can stay ahead of the curve and make a lasting difference.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Hamza Khawaja

Environmental Consultant | Energy Engineer | Sustainability & ESG Strategist | Carbon Markets & Net Zero Solutions | Combatting Greenwashing
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Companies can turn their waste into useful things, like making new products or materials, which helps the environment and saves money - Circular Economy!

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Facilities engineers are tasked with improving sustainability. How can you make a difference?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Assess your baseline

2 Implement solutions

3 Monitor and evaluate

4 Collaborate and communicate

5 Educate and inspire

6 Keep learning and improving

7 Here’s what else to consider

Facilities Engineering

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Facilities engineers are tasked with improving sustainability. How can you make a difference?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Assess your baseline

2 Implement solutions

3 Monitor and evaluate

4 Collaborate and communicate

5 Educate and inspire

6 Keep learning and improving

7 Here’s what else to consider

Facilities Engineering

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