Australia
High and unreliable energy costs continue to cause disruption, and reports from the Department of Environment and Energy in December warned the country is falling drastically short of its pledge to reduce greenhouse emissions by 26% by 2030. Responsibility is falling to the facility management team to form strategies to reduce energy consumption whilst still maintaining high levels of service provision and workplace productivity.
Almost three quarters of FMs are now using CMMS (computerised maintenance management software), according to research by Service Works Global, and this powerful technology is providing the ability to control and understand buildings and assets like never before.
Combined with smart technology, CMMS gives an unprecedented level of data and automation which is essential in this fight against waste. Sensors placed around buildings can detect occupation and identify activity patterns allowing lighting, air conditioning or even cleaning to specific areas to be reduced. Or, using more widespread applications, CMMS can be integrated with BMS and a room booking system, enabling meeting rooms and offices to be powered only when in use. In this way responsibility for managing resources can be shared between the FM team and the building users, increasing efficiency and savings.
Effective asset management is also a key area of focus when looking at sustainability. CMMS software, such as QFM, can be used to calculate the most effective scheduling for maintaining an asset, reducing unnecessary servicing, unscheduled call outs and keeping energy costs low.
The software can also be used to monitor energy use and costs, helping to identify where the greatest costs lie to inform new strategies. Across large organisations small inefficiencies can converge into substantial performance issues, damaging the environment as well as reducing productivity across the organisation. Even small changes such as switching to LED lightbulbs have played a substantial part in reducing energy demand, consuming 80% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and have a lifespan around ten times longer – meaning less maintenance resource is required in addition to the energy savings generated.
For more information on how Service Works Global’s CMMS software, QFM, can help make your organisation greener and more sustainable, please call +61 (0)3 8676 0380 or email info@swg.com
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