Survey Targets Facility Energy Programs

A recent survey of 30,000 facility managers, designed and analyzed by Peter Kimmel, AIA, and funded by the online publication FMLink, found that an increasing number are engaged in energy auditing and re-commissioning. Their efforts resulted in an average 5%–10% energy savings from 2006 to 2008, with the most effective changes being inexpensive operational changes rather than capital investments.

Of respondents who reported more than 5% energy savings, most were larger buildings that installed a building automation system. Those who re-commissioned their buildings at least twice a year enjoyed greater energy savings than those who did not. Forty-one percent of respondents reported having a professionally developed program to educate staff about energy strategies, and about 12% more plan to have such a program within a year. More information is available at www.fmlink.com.