High‐performance facilities engineering: Preparing the team for the sustainable workplace

Rising energy costs, mould remediation and ‘greening up’ the workplace are among the many new challenges facing today’s organisation. Where does management turn for solutions? In most organisations, it is the facilities management (FM) department and, for many, this the best place to look, because a skilled engineering group can be the organisation’s greatest asset for addressing energy consumption, peak load management, indoor air quality and greening of the building. How can organisations get on the path to accessing their FM engineering group more effectively? It begins with workforce skill assessment, followed by an organisational commitment to effective, lasting training. This paper is for middle and upperlevel managers seeking to prepare their FM departments for the sustainable workplace. Topics include a review of operation and maintenance (O&M) best practices for energy efficiency, an assessment of the O&M workforce within the facilities department, and a summary of the competency areas for improved O&M practices. Readers will become familiar with the critical elements of an O&M programme aimed at reducing utility costs as well as the workforce competencies necessary to implement such a programme. The results promise good return on the organisation’s investment as well as enhanced stature for the FM department.