5 Ways to Have a More Sustainable Facility

In an age where environmental concerns are at the forefront of global discourse, sustainability has emerged as a critical aspect of corporate responsibility. For facility managers, the task of 'greening' your operation may seem overwhelming. However, the benefits of sustainability initiatives are not only environmental but also economic and social. Here are the top five ways you can make your facility more sustainable, benefiting your bottom line while reducing your environmental footprint.

1. Go Paperless

The Environmental Cost of Paper

Paper production is a significant driver of global deforestation and water consumption. In an organization where paperwork seems indispensable, going digital can be one of the most impactful sustainability moves.

How to Achieve a Paperless Office

• Assess What Can Be Paperless: If you're not already using digital marketing materials to promote your services, you're wasting money and leaving a first impression that your operation isn't thinking green. At IST Management, we use digital slicks to promote our services and use iPads for proposals for in-person meetings. Our internal processes and those we implement on our sites also focus on paperless solutions, including management reports, payroll systems, billing, purchase order systems, and copy job submissions. Promoting sustainability as an organization starts with your own processes. We want IST employees to know that our talk matches our walk when it comes to how we handle business.

• Embrace Electronic Document Management: This solution eradicates the need to keep paper documents long-term, and minimizes vulnerability in losing valuable information. Paper filing takes up precious space that ultimately costs more in the end. Moving to electronic document management, like IST's DocStor, can give you confidence that your filing is secure and compliant.

• Dashboard Reporting: Instead of keeping tabs on paper, consider technology that focuses on real-time reporting on dashboards. IST's proprietary solutions remove the unnecessary and maximize real data to create a seamless workflow. From work orders that monitor the completion of tasks, conference room reservations, and package distribution technology like the IST Kiosk, we utilize dashboards and screens to share status updates instead of relying on paper.

The transition may take time, but the productivity gains and sustainability benefits are worth the effort.

2. Audit Your Energy Usage

The Case for Energy Efficiency

Energy usage, often a facility’s largest operational cost, provides significant opportunities for savings and sustainability. Conducting an energy audit is the first step to understanding your consumption patterns and identifying efficiency opportunities.

Implementing an Energy Audit

• Assess Your Space: Utilize tools to monitor and report your energy consumption, such as HVAC systems with energy reporting features. IST's Integrated Facilities Management can assist in auditing and handling each service contract to get your operation up to speed.

• Drive Less: If your operation involves delivery, consider incorporating technology that works smarter and limits wasteful activity. Secure locker systems complement mail and package delivery when daily pick-up isn't an option. Especially as work embraces hybrid working structures, secure locker systems can offer a reliable receptacle until recipients can pick up their deliverables.

• Employee Engagement: Educate and involve employees in energy-saving practices, such as turning off lights and equipment when not in use.