SEARCH NEWS:       over 10,000 FM articles

FACILITIES MANAGEMENT NEWS

Survey by FMLink, others, finds aggressive approach to energy savings

November 21, 2008 – According to a new survey published by FMLink, the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Association for Facility Engineers (AFE), more and more facility managers are implementing re-commissioning and energy audits to measure and improve their building's energy performance.

The survey, which was sent to more than 30,000 individuals, also found that most energy savings successes were the result of aggressive low-cost operational strategies rather than major capital projects. However, such capital projects are one of the big items scheduled for action in the coming year.

		Click for more information

"With the ever-growing need to reduce our collective carbon footprint and deal with the skyrocketing costs of energy, it is critical that we better understand not only what our building owners and facility managers are doing about this, but also to see which actions have made the greatest impact," said Peter Kimmel, an architect and IFMA Fellow, as well as the Publisher of FMLink. "I was very delighted to see that so many respondents are already doing so much to conserve energy wherever possible. There certainly are many more building professionals doing more than ever before."

Other key findings include:

• Survey responses indicate that more than three quarters of the buildings greater than 50,000 sq. ft. had Building Automation Systems (BAS). 87% of those with more than 600,000 sq. ft. had BAS. Most of the respondents who experienced a greater-than-5% energy savings over the past two years had implemented a BAS.
• Respondents who underwent building re-commissioning two or more times a year had significantly more energy savings over the past two years than those who had not.
• 41% of building operating plans included a professionally-developed energy-strategies staff education program. Just under 12% of respondents said they plan to implement such a plan in the next 12 months.
• 59% of respondents have occupancy sensors in their general office space.
• 9% of the buildings had some form of green certification (mostly ENERGY STAR or LEED). However, a majority said they plan to obtain some aspect of green certification in the future.
• 73% of all buildings greater than 50,000 sq. ft. have had an energy audit. Conversely, 63% of those under 25,000 sq. ft. did not have an audit. 86% of the audits were done in the past five years, 64% in the past three years; and 30% were completed in the past year.

For respondents who had an energy audit, the most common recommendations to come from the audit were lighting upgrades (with more than 45% for respondents with buildings greater than 50,000 sq. ft.), and HVAC upgrade/replacement (chiller, air handling unit, boiler, pumps, outside air), which were mentioned by 34% of respondents. For those with buildings smaller than 50,000 sq. ft., weather stripping and insulation recommendations were frequently mentioned. Overall, more individual recommendations related to HVAC systems than any other building system.

Overall, the respondents averaged energy savings of 5-10% over the past two years. 57% of those respondents measured their savings through the money expended on utilities, energy consumed or their ENERGY STAR score.

66% of respondents indicated that they do not have a green lease; however, 55% of respondents do provide their tenants with an operations manual that includes good energy management practices.

Most respondents showed an excellent understanding of nearly all energy-related concepts, with a few exceptions that often fall in the bailiwick of professional engineers. It also became clear that many building professionals would benefit from general assistance in determining if their buildings are indeed "green" or what they have to do to make them green.

The largest differences in reported energy savings came from those who have had an energy audit over the past three years, those who re-commission at least twice a year, those who have implemented ENERGY STAR rules of procurement, those with variable-frequency drives (VFDs), and those with lighting sensors.

When asked what they plan to upgrade, install or replace over the next year, respondents said

• Minor repairs or corrective maintenance (37%)
• HVAC equipment (30%)
• VFDs (23%)
• Ongoing recommissioning (21%)

"From offering the latest industry education to implementing energy audits to applying effective low-cost operational strategies – property professionals are doing what it takes to save energy and reduce costs," said BOMA International Chair and Chief Elected Officer Richard D. Purtell, RPA, portfolio manager, Grubb & Ellis Management Services, Inc. "We were pleased to be a part of this important survey and look forward to continuing to help our members and the commercial real estate industry at large improve energy performance."

The survey was co-sponsored by McQuay International, Performance Roof Systems and Philips Lighting—three companies that are committed to reducing carbon emissions.

The survey research was planned, coordinated and analyzed by Peter Kimmel, AIA, IFMA Fellow, the Publisher of FMLink and a former facility manager. The charts below provide additional context.

Energy-Savings Survey Results: Accompanying Charts produced by FMLink.

The above chart shows, as expected, that fewer buildings have sensors in their restrooms as the percentage of restrooms with sensors increases for each building. Surprisingly, there are many buildings with a high percentage of restrooms with sensors at the right side of this chart, indicating that there are many facilities that try to implement some energy savings initiatives to the fullest extent possible.

The above chart shows that there has been a clear trend of more audits in the most recent years.

Note in the above chart that most of the energy audits' recommendations related to HVAC systems.

By looking at the buildings that have had re-commissioning at least twice a year there are clear indications that they are likely to have considerable energy savings (the height of each column trends downward from left to right). There were no such trends for re-commissioning when done once a year or less. When there was no re-commissioning the trend goes upwards to the right, indicating that one is less likely to experience energy savings. Note: The percentages of energy savings represent savings over the most recent two-year period.

When looking at the first two sources in the above chart (building operating plan and BAS) one sees that the savings were flat for all but the last column, which was considerably lower than the others; this means that with these two sources, one is likely to have savings but not necessarily a lot. The remaining five sources have a downward trend, indicating that it is much more likely to have more savings as a result of their implementation. Note: The percentages of energy savings represent savings over the most recent two-year period.

About FMLink

FMLink is a comprehensive, online facilities management publication; it includes over 12,000 pages of news and featured articles, including survey and benchmarking data, events calendars, recent and pending regulations, best practices, checklists, magazine articles from many FM publications, discussion forums, job mart, vendor directories, and much more to support facilities professionals in their jobs. It also includes a very major section on sustainability. FMLink has 75,000 registered online subscribers, and over the past 12 months had over 600,000 unique visitors. FMLink offers free access through its Web site.

About BOMA International

Founded in 1907, the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International is an international federation of more than 100 local associations and affiliated organizations. The 17,000-plus members of BOMA International own or manage more than 9 billion square feet of commercial properties in North America and abroad. BOMA's mission is to enhance the human, intellectual and physical assets of the commercial real estate industry through advocacy, education, research, standards and information. See the Web site for more information.

About USGBC

The US Green Building Council is a nonprofit membership organization whose vision is a sustainable built environment within a generation. Its membership includes corporations, builders, universities, government agencies, and other nonprofit organizations. Since UGSBC's founding in 1993, the Council has grown to more than 16,700 member companies and organizations, a comprehensive family of LEED® green building rating systems, an expansive educational offering, the industry's popular Greenbuild International Conference and Exp, and a network of 78 local chapters, affiliates, and organizing groups. For more information, visit the Web site.

About the Association for Facilities Engineering (AFE)

AFE is the premier organization for facility engineers and maintenance personnel. The Association unites a large community of likeminded professionals for networking opportunities, knowledge-sharing, and support, as well as offers members a wide variety of educational opportunities, training, and certification for career advancement. AFE maintains this strong community position by serving as the central store for facilities engineers and maintenance professionals to advance their knowledge and skills. For more information, visit the Web site.

   
      Trends

• BLS: Fatal occupational injuries declined in 2009
  
• Demand for Australian office space bounces back, says Property Council of Australia
  
• ASIS: Salaries for security professionals were up six percent in 2010
  
• Construction jobs drop in 285 of 337 metro areas June 2009-2010
  
• Green data center market to reach $41 billion annually by 2015, forecasts Pike Research
  
• Labor Department report shows lowest number of construction jobs in 14 years
  
• Study: Wind power is generating a growing share of U.K. electricity
  
• IMS Research: World market for perimeter security sensors will exceed $440 million
  
• Pike Research Report: Certified green building area will increase 780% by 2020
  
• Federal data: Construction employment shows signs of "stabilizing"
  
• AIA: Start of nonresidential construction recovery possible by mid 2011
  
• EL Insights report: Green building could grow 18.1 percent a year
  
• BOMA report shows operating expenses reduced by 1% in 2009
  
• Worker deaths in Britain fall to record low
  
• BSRIA study shows 2009 decline in solar market
  
• Increase seen in shareholder resolutions related to climate change and energy
  
• IEA report: The energy technology revolution now underway
  
• Architecture Billings Index slips slightly in May
  
• Research: Green building is growing fast on U.S. campuses
  
• IFMA/TFM report depicts FM staffing trends
  
• AWEA reports slower first-quarter U.S. wind power growth
  
• In survey, 80 percent of utility execs dissatisfied with Obama on energy issues
  
• Real estate industry still has problems for 2010-2011, says Plunkett Research
  
• EPA report shows increase in U.S. climate change indicators
  
• One-third of countries improved climate accountability in 2010, analysis finds
  
• Survey from Buck Consultants shows rise in green workplace programs
  
• IBM report shows buildings are inefficient, not keeping pace with available technology
  
• American Institute of Architects reports highest billings since August 2008
  
• Report: China led world in 2009 clean energy investments
  
• U.S. wind energy manufacturing expanded in 2009, says AWEA
  
• FMI predicts 2010 will be a down year for construction
  
• Surveyed execs say commercial property values and rents will keep falling in 2010
  
• AGC: Construction jobs declined in every state, most cities in 2009
  
• AIA Index: Design activity still declining, but hopeful signs emerge in February
  
• Report shows paper recycling at a record high
  
• EPA report shows air quality improvements since 1990
  
• NEMA survey shows increase in demand for lighting equipment
  
• Australia's construction jobs are getting more eco-friendly, says Green Building Council
  
• AIA reports significant drop in Architecture Billings Index
  
• Report: U.S. utilities increased energy efficiency 43% spending in 2009
  
• Global building automation market predicted to grow 3 percent by 2015
  
• Green power usage rose in 2009 among EPA partners
  
• London office space vacancies decline for first time in two years
  
• Report: U.K. FM market shifting toward multi-service providers
  
• Public sector projects to boost 2010 construction demand in Singapore
  
• AIA sees further decline in nonresidential construction for 2010, modest increase in 2011
  
• Census: U.S. construction employment declines, spending hits six-year low
  
• MRSA infections morph, increase in California hospitals
  
• Green building trends predicted for 2010 include energy labeling, net zero buildings
  
• Report: More than half of CRE professionals expect salary increases in 2010
  
• Facility management ranks 11 in list of jobs with high salary growth
  
• Zpryme research predicts green building markets will grow 146 percent
  
• Venture capital investment in green technologies down in 2009, but number of deals is up
  
• EIA projects moderate growth in energy consumption, greater use of renewable energy
  
• Emerging Energy Research sees growth for global offshore wind industry in next decade
  
• Annual study finds a rise in retail theft
  
• EIA: U.S. emissions decreased by 2.2 percent in 2008
  
• RICS report shows rise in distress sales of commercial property
  
• Report: Green building to pump $554 billion into U.S. economy by 2013
  
• EU-OSHA releases preliminary risk assessment survey
  
• AIA: green building programs grow by 50 percent despite downturn
  
• Monthly architecture billings index highest since August 2008
  
• Construction spending declines 20 percent; pro-growth measures urged
  
• REALpac/FPL survey shows Canadian real estate confidence up
  
• RICS global property survey shows third-quarter improvement
  
• New statistics show improvements in U.K. workplace safety, health
  
• CNT study shows not all green buildings are alike on energy efficiency
  
• AWEA: Recovery Act spurs U.S. wind power growth in third quarter
  
• IEA: Nations should build on economy-forced emissions cuts
  
• Architecture Billings Index up 1.4 points, but still indicates contracting demand
  
• Construction employment declines in 48 states compared to 2008
  
• U.K. construction tenders set to keep falling until 2011
  
• Costs of energy efficiency hold steady at 2.5 cents/kWh as new power costs rise
  
• ABC Construction Backlog Indicator jumps 8.9 percent, nonresidential construction may have hit bottom
  
• International Energy Agency's 2008 global wind energy report documents growing capacity
  
• Real Estate Management benchmarking study of office buildings shows modest rise in income, costs
  
• Employees more productive in green buildings, study finds
  
• Private nonresidential construction spending falls for fifth month
  
• Carbon Trust: U.K. public sector has doubled carbon cuts over last four years
  
• ExxonMobil investment highlights growing interest in algae biofuel projects
  
• Nonresidential Construction Index indicates recession-like conditions will continue
  
• Survey by FMLink, others, finds aggressive approach to energy savings