Today, I want to shift my focus from this week’s Red, White and Blue to a color that does run: Green. The concept of “going green” has come to the forefront of just about every market. From the food we eat and the clothes we wear, to the places we choose to travel and the cars we use to get there, people want to be more environmentally conscious. Across industries, companies are recognizing the green desire of consumers and trying to incorporate sustainable practices into their business.
But what does sustainability even mean? With the vast number of environmental challenges that we now face, what can individual real estate owners and operators do to truly have an impact?
According to sustainablebusinessforum.com, sustainability is best defined as actions that focus on ensuring a better social, economic and environmental future.
Many companies conclude that sustainability is a unique category unto itself, a separate financial commitment and investment. In order to make an environmental impact, they believe that have to dedicate time and funds to matters such as energy conservation. However, sustainability goes hand-in-hand with everyday maintenance and building operations. There are numerous ways in which a company can make their business “greener” through actions that both benefit the equipment and system they have in place, and cut operations costs over the long term.
As Building Engines CEO David Osborn points out in Going Green: Is It the Elephant in the Room? there is a tremendous economic, as well as environmental, value in going green. And it doesn’t always involve retrofits, energy consultants and LEED standards. “Preventive and Predictive maintenance is a key component of a sound and sustainable investment strategy,” says Raheem Cash of SustainableBusinessForum.com.
Deferred maintenance is too often the costly norm for companies. A preventive maintenance program is essential to extending the life cycle of equipment, reducing costs and optimizing your staff’s productivity.
Operations related impacts account for 80% of the life cycle impacts on a building, according to SustainableBusinessForum.com. A comprehensive preventive maintenance plan will overall cut your operational costs, while also reducing your environmental footprint down the line.
Learn more about Managing Energy through Preventive Maintenance!
