OVERVIEW
Operations and maintenance (O&M) of existing buildings get short shrift in the green building community.
But greening existing buildings has immediate benefits for owners, occupants, and the planet. And new buildings that look good on paper need a successful handoff to operations. That often includes a year or more of working out the kinks in sophisticated energy systems.
Sustainable O&M encompasses:
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site maintenance, landscaping, and rainwater management
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water efficiency
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energy efficiency, including auditing and commissioning
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environmentally preferable purchasing
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waste management
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indoor air quality management
- green cleaning
IN-DEPTH
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On the Path to Net Zero
April 4, 2016Op-Ed
At Leonard Farm, we’ve taken another big step in our quest for net-zero energy and net-zero carbon—but we’re not there yet!
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A “Waterless” Urinal Without the Odor
September 8, 2015Product Review
Sloan’s Hybrid urinal is water efficient and uses a pre-programmed, bi-weekly rinse that minimizes odor and maintenance problems.
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How the 2015 EBie Award Winners Did It
August 3, 2015News Brief
Underrated and overlooked building operators and facility managers received their due at the annual EBie awards.
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New Label from ILFI to “Reveal” Building Energy Data
June 1, 2015News Analysis
Buildings will be able to display a standard label showing energy use under a new program from the International Living Future Institute.
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Huge Carbon Savings from Transit Could Dwarf Building Efficiency
February 1, 2015News Analysis
LEED-EBOM project data confirm that how people get to the office has a greater impact than other green building efforts.
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First Existing Multifamily Buildings Earn Energy Star Certification
November 22, 2014News Analysis
Tenants are saving more than $500 a year in one of the first existing apartment buildings to be certified.
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EPA Primer on Moisture Control Filled With Strategies, Checklists
September 2, 2014News Brief
A free resource outlines basic moisture-management practices for design, construction, and maintenance of both homes and commercial buildings.
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For a Low-Maintenance Green Roof, Give Plants Better Soil
September 2, 2014Product Review
Inventors of the WaterGrip growing medium say it supports near-miraculous growth—but do their claims hold as much water as their soil?
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EBies for 2014 Shine (Efficient) Spotlight on Existing Buildings
June 9, 2014News Analysis
Urban Green Council rolls out the green carpet and rewards exceptional achievements in energy, water, lighting, and more.
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Urban Green Council Announces 2014 EBie Finalists
May 5, 2014News Brief
