Facilities Management Advisor: How Going Green Saves Green for Facilities
ESFM Senior Director of Sustainability and Energy Solutions Gary Williams recently joined Facilities Management Advisor for an insightful webinar on “How Going Green Saves Green for Facilities.”
Williams shared practical, cost-saving strategies that reduce energy use, minimize waste, and enhance facility operations and resiliency. As more organizations invest in renewable energy, he emphasized the importance of optimizing existing systems first to ensure those investments deliver maximum value.
“The average building, according to the Department of Energy, wastes about 40% of its energy,” Williams noted. “That’s why energy conservation and efficiency should come before installing renewable energy sources.”
He also cautioned against common pitfalls — such as improperly aligned solar panels — that can undermine renewable energy efforts.
Simple maintenance practices can yield significant savings. For instance, dirty or blocked HVAC filters can reduce efficiency by up to 15%. Other effective measures include adjusting temperature set points based on occupancy and installing variable frequency drives on electric motors.
These small changes can lead to big savings.