Photo credit: Muse Event PhotographyFacilities managers are under growing pressure as energy costs continue to rise. During an NFMT East Show Central Session in March, Dave Lubach, chief editor of the facilities market, sat down with Facility Influencer Ken Sandler, author of the Substack newsletter Regenerative Futures, to discuss how facilities teams can respond. With more than 35 years of experience advancing green building initiatives across the federal government, Sandler emphasizes that facility managers and building engineers play a critical role in reducing energy use.
FacilitiesNet: On the topic of high energy costs, how did we get to this point?
Ken Sandler: It’s hard to generalize because in terms of electricity costs, all 50 states have their own systems and rules. There are a lot of layers, but the biggest reason for the increase in price is the need to upgrade the transmission and distribution systems. First of all, they are really old, between 25 to 75 years old. And second of all, there are so many new challenges arising including climate challenges, like the California wildfires that pose serious issues with the grid, and increased opportunities with new technology, which requires upgraded equipment and infrastructure. There’s also a growth in demand, specifically with data centers, and a greater demand, of course, leads to higher prices.
FN: How much of an impact can facility managers and building engineers have on reducing their building's energy use?
KS: A huge impact. Facility managers and building engineers are the heroes of the story. The Energy Star program for years has done studies on the correlations between why a building is efficient and why one is not. It never correlates with the building’s age or structure; it has to do with management. I worked for the General Services Administration for many years, and we had buildings with 40-year-old HVAC systems. Facility managers and building engineers were the ones keeping them going. They are the eyes and ears.
FN: What approaches do you think are likely to save the most energy going forward?
KS: I presume most people have switched to LED lighting by now and if you can bring in controls, that makes a big difference. Taking advantage of daylighting is also huge, with all the net zero buildings, that’s a factor that makes it more pleasant. Obviously, HVAC is where most of the energy is being used, so getting the most out of the system is crucial. Making sure everything is well serviced and taken care of helps to avoid sudden breakdowns or replacements.
