Australia
Hazel Bedson, group marketing director of Service Works Global features in Smart Buildings Magazine as she considers the sustainability challenges facing the construction and facilities management sectors and explores the technologies that can help deliver more sustainable, efficient estates.
A recent report from Aggreko titled ‘Powering European Construction’ explored how the European construction industry is grappling with higher costs, supply chain disruptions, and rising demand for greener operations.
Sustainability in particular was a key theme. In the UK, more than 82% of respondents said sustainability was more important than three years ago. However, almost 16% of respondents in the region said they did not currently measure the environmental impact of their projects.
Against this backdrop, technologies like Building Information Modelling (BIM), space management software, and Computerised Maintenance Management System (CMMS) have emerged as critical solutions to help the industry navigate these challenges.
By leveraging these tools, companies can reduce waste, optimise building performance, and ultimately support a more sustainable and efficient built environment.
BIM and building lifecycle management: A foundation for sustainability
At its core, BIM is a digital representation of a building’s physical and functional characteristics. When introduced at the start of construction, BIM offers unparalleled insight into how a building will perform, helping reduce material waste and improve energy efficiency from day one.
BIM’s role in sustainable construction is invaluable; it enables construction teams to plan with precision, preventing errors that lead to resource waste, such as incorrectly sized equipment—a problem highlighted in the report, where 50% of respondents said this had impacted their efficiency on site.
Incorrectly sized equipment can have a cascading effect on both the project’s cost and environmental impact. When equipment doesn’t fit, not only do teams lose time and money, but they also waste energy, materials, and transportation resources—factors that detract from both sustainability and efficiency. BIM minimises this risk by providing detailed, accurate models that ensure proper resource allocation throughout the project lifecycle.
BIM is not just limited to the construction phase. Its real value lies in managing the building over its entire lifespan. A well-designed BIM model allows for ongoing building maintenance, making it easier to track energy consumption, plan renovations, and ensure long-term sustainability.
While retrofitting BIM into older buildings is becoming easier and more cost-effective, integrating it from the start is the gold standard, especially when it comes to incorporating hidden elements like wiring and plumbing. Of course, this isn’t always possible which is why retrofitting is a great option for historical buildings. That’s exactly what we did at the Nordic Museum in Sweden, which was prompted by the fire at Notre Dame and there being no digital blueprint for restoration teams to follow.
Introducing BIM early on ensures that building managers have a complete view of the building and can optimise its operations for years to come.
CMMS: Enhancing efficiency through asset management
CMMS systems are an essential tool for facilities managers looking to improve estate efficiency and sustainability. By providing a comprehensive digital platform that tracks all building assets, including maintenance schedules and history, warranties, and permits to work, CMMS ensures that engineers know exactly what tools and equipment they need before visiting a site. This results in fewer unnecessary trips, reducing fuel use and emissions while improving the efficiency of maintenance operations.
In addition, digital asset tracking provides real-time insights, enabling proactive maintenance and early identification of issues. This not only reduces costs but also extends the lifespan of equipment, contributing to more sustainable building operations by reducing the need for frequent replacements and minimising waste.
Space management software: Driving estate efficiency
Estate efficiency is as much about optimising space as it is about managing energy. Space management software allows facilities managers to track how space within a building is being used, ensuring that rooms, offices, and common areas are operating at optimal capacity. This reduces energy waste by ensuring that heating, cooling, and lighting are only used when necessary.
With rising energy costs and increasing regulatory pressure to reduce emissions, space management software becomes a critical tool for driving both sustainability and efficiency. For example, by identifying underutilised spaces, estate teams can consolidate operations, reducing the building’s overall energy demand and lowering operational costs.
Digital twins: The next step beyond BIM
While BIM provides a detailed model of a building, digital twins take this concept further by integrating real-time data from the physical environment into the digital model. This dynamic connection between the physical and digital worlds allows for continuous monitoring and optimisation of building operations. Digital twins offer predictive maintenance capabilities, real-time energy management, and the ability to simulate different operational scenarios.
As companies move toward net zero targets, digital twins will play a crucial role in reducing energy consumption and improving building performance. They can replicate how changes in occupancy, energy demand or asset replacement will affect the building, enabling facilities managers to make informed decisions that enhance both sustainability and efficiency.
By monitoring a building in real-time, digital twins help facilities teams anticipate maintenance needs, reducing the likelihood of equipment failures and the associated resource waste.
Sustainability and efficiency go hand in hand
By adopting these technologies, construction and FM professionals can meet the dual challenges of sustainability and estate efficiency. Whether through precise planning with BIM, asset management with CMMS, or real-time optimisation with digital twins, these innovations are critical for navigating the landscape of modern construction and facilities management. In doing so, they not only help organisations achieve sustainability goals but also ensure that buildings operate at peak efficiency throughout their entire lifecycle.