Sometimes it is difficult for Facility Managers to obtain the resources needed to effectively perform their jobs. One area that can be overlooked and has high cost implications is the energy management function.
Step 1 — Energy Benchmarking Definitions…
The Facility Managers Roundtable collects costs and consumption data in the utilities section that allows the participants to compare their usage and costs on a normalized basis.
| B1. Annual cost of electricity including any penalties/credits imposed by your utility company. ($000). | |
| B2. Annual cost of water ($000). If you cannot separate your water and sewer costs include the total cost for these services here. | |
| B3. Annual sewer costs ($000). | |
| B4. Annual cost of fuels such as: natural gas, propane, fuel oil etc. ($000) | |
| B5. Other utility costs such as purchased steam or fuel oil. ($000) If you enter a value here please describe the basis in question B6. |
We also ask benchmarking participants how much they spend on energy management costs.
| Function | Internal Costs ($000) | Contractual Costs ($000) |
| B7. Energy management costs ($000). Energy management functions include buyers, contract negotiators, energy management systems and support, etc. Use your best estimate where the same system provides support for energy management and operations / maintenance. Do not include building energy management systems in this section. |
Step 2 — How Do I Compare With Others…
When energy management costs are compared as a percent of the total energy expenditures per factored gross square foot it is interesting to note the relationship.
- Organizations spending about two percent of their energy budget on energy management have the lowest energy costs per factored gross square foot.
- Organizations spending one percent or less of their energy budget on energy management have the highest energy costs per factored gross square foot.
Step 3 — Using This Information…
The data clearly suggests that if adequate resources are applied to Energy Management functions such as: buyers, contract negotiators, energy management systems and support, then costs will be reduced.
Most facility managers would arrive at the same conclusion on an intuitive basis but a good chart backed by strong supporting data may help with your request for adequate resources to perform this critical function. Especially since energy costs are forecast to rise sharply over the next year or two.
Metrics from the Facility Managers Round Table (FMRT)
In 2006 there were 94 unique sites in the FMRT with a median size of about 1,400,000 million square feet. See the chart below to see how the group looked by industry type.
Participants By Industry Type
Space Metrics
- Space Utilization 430 Gross Square Feet per Occupant
- Cost Metrics
- Utilities $2.17 / GSF
- Custodial $1.33 / Cleanable SF
- Maintenance $1.82 / GSF
- Parking and Paving $1529 / Acre
- Groundskeeping $3405 / Acre
- Security $0.73 / GSF
- Mail Services $0.22 / GSF
- Environmental Health and Safety $0.35 / GSF
- Fixed Costs (Includes: Building, Leasehold Improvements, Furniture/Equipment) $ 3.71 / GSF
Move / Churn Cost Metrics
- Box Move Costs $421 / Person Moved
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
- Satisfaction With Overall Facilities Services 3.80 on a 1 to 5 scale
