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2 - 4 December
ExCeL London

Why FMs need to embrace energy management

Today, facilities managers are becoming increasingly aware of the impact their buildings have on the environment. The answer is smart energy management – monitoring and controlling energy usage within a building or organisation to ensure it is used more efficiently.

Measuring and reducing energy usage can lead to enormous cost savings, reduce the impact of energy price hikes, and give your company a welcome PR boost. And in this age of climate emergency, it’s also the right thing to do.

Inefficient HVAC and lighting wastes significant amounts of money and energy, so installing responsive systems benefits your business in a number of ways.

Here’s why facilities managers need to embrace energy management:

 

1. It will reduce carbon emissions
Efficient energy usage can significantly reduce a company’s carbon footprint, lowering greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 40%. Carbon emissions are the main driver of catastrophic climate change, and high-polluting organisations also risk taking a big hit to their public relations, with consumers increasingly aware of the impact of greenhouse gases. Moreover, some jurisdictions impose carbon taxes on businesses, so taking steps to reduce emissions can considerably benefit your bottom line.

2. It will reduce costs
The more energy you use, the more money your business will spend on electricity – It’s as simple as that. With energy consumption comprising 50 to 60 per cent of operational costs, an effective energy management strategy is essential to saving your company money. Even simple additions to your building such as LED lights, motion sensors and smart heating systems can make a huge difference, ensuring your business only uses the energy it really requires. In this way, most organisations can save around 25-30% of their fuel costs, according to a report by McKinsey

 

3. It reduces risk
Rising energy prices or supply shortage pose enormous risks to businesses, particularly as energy consumption only increases. Energy management can reduce this risk by limiting the amount of energy a business uses. It’s a vital part of future-proofing your business, and as the price of oil rises, limiting the amount of energy it uses can significantly limit long-term costs.

4. It’s innovative
A large corporation trying to meet its energy management objectives will hire skilled technicians, train existing staff, develop systems to collect and analyse data about energy usage, and even create better alignment between different parts of the business. It’s a good way to demonstrate a firm’s responsiveness and innovation.

A large corporation trying to meet its energy management objectives will hire skilled technicians, train existing staff, develop systems to collect and analyse data about energy usage, and even create better alignment between different parts of the business. It’s a good way to demonstrate a firm’s responsiveness and innovation.

However, embracing energy management principles can often result in significant costs. Replacing old and inefficient appliances and equipment and installing smart meters and Internet of Things-enabled devices that react to heat and light levels can be expensive. But in doing so you can reap enormous dividends.

Furthermore, improving the sustainability and energy efficiency of your business is a guaranteed route to good press. With young people taking to the streets in protests and floods, wildfires and heatwaves dominating the headlines, any positive environmental action taken by your business will win it serious plaudits and develop its green credentials. This, in turn, can strengthen your company’s market position.

25/11/2019