What are the most effective ways to measure the environmental impact of your facility management practices?

1 Energy audits

One of the first steps to measure and improve your environmental impact is to conduct an energy audit of your facility. An energy audit is a comprehensive assessment of how much energy your facility uses, where it comes from, and how it can be reduced or optimized. An energy audit can help you identify the sources of energy waste, such as inefficient lighting, heating, cooling, or appliances, and provide recommendations for energy-saving measures, such as installing LED bulbs, smart thermostats, or renewable energy systems. An energy audit can also help you estimate the potential savings and payback periods of your energy efficiency investments.

2 Water audits

Another important aspect of your environmental impact is your water consumption and management. A water audit is a similar process to an energy audit, but it focuses on how much water your facility uses, where it comes from, and how it can be reduced or reused. A water audit can help you detect and fix leaks, install low-flow fixtures, implement rainwater harvesting or greywater recycling systems, and educate your tenants or staff about water conservation. A water audit can also help you calculate the environmental and financial benefits of your water efficiency measures.

3 Waste audits

Waste generation and disposal is another key factor that affects your environmental impact. A waste audit is a process of measuring and analyzing the types and amounts of waste your facility produces, and how it can be minimized or diverted from landfills. A waste audit can help you implement waste reduction strategies, such as reducing packaging, purchasing durable or reusable products, or donating unwanted items. It can also help you improve your waste segregation and recycling practices, and explore opportunities for composting or anaerobic digestion. A waste audit can also help you quantify the environmental and social impacts of your waste management practices.

4 Emissions audits

Finally, your facility management practices also have an impact on the emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants that contribute to climate change and air quality issues. An emissions audit is a process of estimating and reporting the emissions associated with your facility's energy use, transportation, waste disposal, and other activities. An emissions audit can help you identify the sources and levels of your emissions, and set targets and action plans for reducing them. It can also help you evaluate the potential of offsetting or compensating your emissions through carbon credits or other mechanisms.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?