The TFM Forum: Energy and Sustainability event kicked off yesterday at The Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, IL with a discussion of how facility management professionals could use energy efficiency improvements as tools for reducing their organizations’ environmental impact and operational costs over time. A group of facility managers from a cross-section of industries — including government, higher education, healthcare, and business – attended the morning session presented by Chris Hodges, P.E, CFM, LEED®AP, IFMA Fellow, Principal of Facility Engineering Associates, P.C. in Fairfax, VA.
During his presentation, “The Growing Demand For Public Disclosure of Energy Consumption: Using ENERGY STAR,” Hodges talked about how utilities represent, on average, 31% of an organization’s operational costs, making this the largest controllable operating expense for management professionals. “Energy efficient upgrades can not only reduce operating costs, but they also help to increase asset value,” he said.
There is currently an industry trend toward both voluntary and mandatory energy performance disclosures for facilities across the U.S. As this shift toward increased disclosure continues, facility managers can use the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool to benchmark and evaluate current energy performance and then to improve upon energy efficiency. Further, facility managers can use this tool to earn the ENERGY STAR label, which is given to buildings that achieve a rating of 75 or higher according to the system’s parameters. Hodges noted there are currently 9,000 ENERGY STAR labeled buildings operating in the U.S. today.
After the ENERGY STAR discussion, attendees participated in one-on-one meetings with a select group of product and service providers to discuss the solutions available to improve upon their energy and sustainability goals. The pre-scheduled meetings took place between sponsors — who represent an array of facility management product and service providers from across North America; and delegates — facility executives who are looking for the energy and sustainability-related products and services they need for their projects. Personal schedules were created for all participants according to their individual interests and project requirements.
Delegates met one-on-one with the following sponsors during The TFM Forum: Energy and Sustainability:
Air Cycle Corporation
Digital Identification Solutions
Duro-Last Roofing, Inc.
Firestone Building Products, LLC
Fluke Thermography
Silverback Solar
Solutia’s Performance Films Division
SYLVANIA Lighting Services
For information about future TFM Forum events, visit www.TFMForum.com.
