The 2026 World Cup has had some truly headline moments – from Trump stepping in to lift a USA player’s match suspension; sensors in the ball detecting a hair touch from Croatia which sent them home against Portugal; to the new player hydration breaks. But this bigger tournament, hosted across three countries in 16 venues, is projected to have a total carbon footprint of 9 million tonnes of CO2. This is nearly double the average of the last four tournaments, leading it to be billed as the ‘most polluting World Cup’.
The event, also set to be tri-hosted by European countries in 2030, has brought sustainability to the global spotlight. It’s not just the air travel and plastic water bottles, it’s also the record-breaking heatwaves that have plagued America and Europe – which scientists say is a direct result of the climate crisis and the burning of fossil fuels. This reinforces the need for every sector to play its part in reducing emissions.
One of the biggest opportunities for this lies in the built environment. Buildings are currently responsible for 39% of global energy related carbon emissions: 28% from operational emissions, from energy needed to heat, cool and power them, and the remaining 11% from materials and construction. This therefore brings facility management to the spotlight, as key players who can try and reduce this output.
So with this in mind, here are five practical ways our own clients are working to reduce their carbon footprint.
1) Automated ventilation
One UK healthcare client has embraced a full digital strategy to reduce both spend and carbon emissions. Starting with a strong CMMS foundation, the Trust is now journeying towards a digital twin by integrating BIM and sensor data within SWG’s connected built environment platform, Geminus. Starting with automating the ventilation of 16 operating theatres in line with operating hours, the Trust expects to make a saving of £100,000 in the first year, with a target to further reduce energy savings thereafter.
2) Energy efficient lighting
A change from fluorescent to LED bulbs in a common energy-saving strategy but one university client has integrated our CMMS with a smart lighting system. This not only means improved compliance through automated emergency lighting testing, but also environmental savings. Sensors in the luminaires adjust brightness in line with detected daylight levels and can turn lighting off when no occupants are detected.
3) Reduced travel using BIM
Another hospital client in Australia had its premises designed and constructed using BIM, but the model was never handed over to the FM team. They are now working with us to update and operationalize the BIM model, unlocking a range of benefits, including the ability to visualize the site remotely. By seeing exactly where an asset is located and understanding how it connects to surrounding equipment, in-house engineers can diagnose many issues before travelling to site. This reduces unnecessary expensive supplier call-outs and vehicle journeys, saving both time and carbon emissions.
4) Predictive lift maintenance
Supplier travel was high on the agenda for a Swedish transport hub too, as their lifts required outsourced maintenance. By using sensors and IoT to determine when lifts were likely to require maintenance, the train station could reduce engineer visits by 20% – which is 120 trips by car. More reliable lifts and escalators also make public transport a more viable option for many, further reducing private transport.
5) User-centric sustainability
User comfort lies at the heart of an Irish university’s sustainability strategy. It aims to improve energy performance by 20% by connecting BIM models, IoT sensors, BAS data and operational systems through SWG’s Geminus platform. It will use its digital twin to model the impact of any changes to ensure staff, students and visitors can work in optimal conditions.
Keep up to date on the latest industry and technology developments. Sign up to receive SWG’s blog delivered straight to your inbox:
