Event Description

Heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting, water heating, and irrigation are among the many types of building operating systems necessary to help ensure occupant comfort, safety, and well-being.

However, these same systems consume large quantities of energy and water and produce large amounts of waste. In the United States alone, commercial buildings account for 40% of total energy consumption (US DOE, 2008), 17% of total water consumption (US EPA, 2012), and 45% of total landfill waste produced (Evans, 2016).

28% of all carbon emissions throughout the globe are caused by the operations of existing buildings. Furthermore, global emissions from buildings continue to rise at a rate of 2% per year (Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction, 2019).

With new commercial buildings becoming even larger (US EIA, 2018), CO2 emissions caused by the operations of existing buildings must be significantly reduced to help mitigate the effects of climate change.

Therefore, those who manage and operate existing buildings play a crucial role in helping to stabilize the atmospheric concentration of CO2.

Learn how 16 best practices for sustainable operations and maintenance function as a set of industry standards that, when implemented, result directly in performance improvements for building operations including 1) reduced energy and water consumption, 2) increased waste diversion rates, 3) reduced operational costs, 4) improved indoor air quality, occupant comfort, and human health and wellbeing, 5) reduced environmental impacts caused by transportation, and 6) reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

The 16 best practices are cost-effective and possible to implement in all building types, regardless of their current level of performance (except single family residential). And the tools and resources provided guide participants to create mechanisms for continuous improvement of operations performance. Thus,

enabling those who play one of the most vital roles in helping to mitigate climate change by empowering them with the necessary tools to deliver measurable results.

Learning Objectives

- Describe the concept of sustainability and explain why sustainable practices are advantageous to your facility.
- Determine sustainability projects that will benefit your facility.
- Give examples of resources for funding sustainability projects.
- Identify potential challenges in implementing sustainability projects.