Why Facilities Managers Need Environmental Training (With Examples)

The facilities manager’s role has continued to evolve beyond traditional maintenance and operational needs. It has transcended into modern technological advancement in the needs of facilities and buildings. The facilities, buildings, and structures have increasingly incorporated intelligent and sophisticated technology like Artificial Intelligence (AI) to predict maintenance, streamline operations, enhance efficiency and reduce costs. Thus, facilities managers apply software, data and technology to deliver predictive maintenance and make well-informed decisions.

What Are Facilities Managers Typically Responsible For?

Traditionally, the facilities manager role was filled with dealing with and managing reactive maintenance and correcting faults in physical spaces to meet organisational objectives.

However, facilities managers are now expected to take proactive steps towards building safety and security, focusing on efficiency and productivity that align with the business goals. This proactive role also now extends to environmental management, with recent significant changes in legislation and regulations placing a considerable emphasis on facilities managers keeping an extensive record of maintenance works in buildings and facilities.

There is a broader, increasing emphasis on the environmental impact of building activities on resources like water and energy, which requires meeting regulatory requirements and sustainability initiatives.

Renovation works in buildings often require facilities managers to collaborate with other stakeholders such as designers, owners, consultants, engineers, and employees to ensure effective streamlining of activities.

How Do Facilities Impact the Environment?

Facility operations significantly contribute to environmental challenges depending on their purpose, etc.

Energy Consumption

To deliver human thermal comfort and productivity, facilities provide the following to meet business needs:

• Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Systems (HVAC)
• Lighting
• Energy-Consuming Machinery

These equipment and systems consume significant energy, impacting operational costs and associated greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, facilities managers must implement energy-efficient systems and electrification and embed renewable energy sources like

• Solar Photovoltaic
• Solar Thermal
• Biofuels
• Wind Power

Waste Management

Organisations and business processes in office buildings and manufacturing sites generate amounts of waste for which facility managers are responsible. They devise effective waste management strategies to recycle and dispose of waste to minimise or avoid the environmental impact. Facilities managers must work to prevent or reduce waste sent to landfills to minimise harmful environmental damage and pollution.

Water Use

Facilities consume large amounts of water for services or manufacturing processes. Thus, facilities managers must install water conservation, grey water recycling, rainwater harvesting, and low-flow water fixtures to conserve water and deliver efficient water usage in businesses and organisations.

Building Design and Maintenance

During new building designs and renovations, facility managers must adopt green building strategies, such as using construction materials that have less embodied carbon, optimising day light, prolonging equipment life, and minimising waste.

Emissions Management

Facilities managers can reduce greenhouse gas emissions in offices and operational sites by implementing less carbon-intensive processes like carbon capture and storage, energy-efficient appliances and equipment, and substituting fossil-based energy systems with renewable energy like solar photovoltaic and wind power systems. For instance, they can install energy-efficient lighting systems, use renewable energy sources for power generation, and implement waste-to-energy systems to reduce emissions.

Benefits of Environmental Training for Facilities Managers

The numerous benefits of environmental training for all industries cannot be understated. Facilities Managers will find environmental training to be a pivotal part of their development and will be able to apply its concepts directly to their day-to-day activities.

Improved Environmental Performance

Facilities managers trained in environmental management better understand the impacts of their work and how to improve environmental performance by implementing environmental frameworks, optimising resources, and minimising environmental impacts.

Compliance and Risk Management

Environmental training equips facilities managers with the knowledge to be fully informed about the most up-to-date regulations and standards to avoid penalties and damage to the business's brand image and public perception.

Cost Reduction

Environmental training educates facility managers on optimising resources like energy and water to reduce consumption and costs. Facilities managers also learn to apply circular economy principles, which involve reducing, reusing, and recycling resources to minimise waste and environmental impact, deliver zero waste and avoid landfill costs.

Enhanced Corporate Image and Competitive Advantage

Facilities managers who undergo environmental training can use the skills gained to identify new opportunities and deliver a competitive edge in the marketplace. Additionally, ecological performance can improve the organisation's reputation, attract customers and investors, and win contracts / tenders.

Areas of Environmental Training for Facilities Managers

We strongly encourage Facilities Managers of any kind to look into the following training courses:

• IEMA Certificate in Environmental Management
• IEMA Foundation Certificate in Environmental Management
• IEMA Pathways to NetZero 

Facilities must seek environmental training, like the Certificate in Environmental Management below, to enhance their skills and knowledge and contribute to significant benefits for the organisation, society and the environment.