The IFMA Foundation is pleased to announce the release of U.S. Government Policy Impacts and Opportunities for Facility Management, a free publication in the “Sustainability ‘How-To’ Guide Series” offering a comprehensive, practical approach to making sustainability improvements to public- and private-sector properties based on federal government guidelines.
Many organizations today are striving to reduce the negative impacts their businesses have on the environment through the implementation of sustainability programs that meet or exceed applicable laws and regulatory acts. Even executive orders and other mandates directed exclusively at federal facilities may offer benchmarking guidance or serve as a preview of what could soon be required from the private sector.
This guide is written for facility professionals who want to stay ahead of the executive and legislative curve and implement strategic sustainability performance plans for their facilities that utilize the best-in-class resources and benchmarking information developed by the U.S. federal government and state governments. “U.S. Government Policy Impacts and Opportunities for Facility Management” will enable public- and private-sector facility professionals to:
- Understand how recent legislative and executive initiatives have focused on reducing costs and increasing the efficiency of energy and water use in federal buildings;
- Learn how to achieve greener buildings through site planning, building material selection, water efficiency, HVAC systems, and ongoing building operations;
- Improve energy management techniques through consideration of lighting, windows, energy demand, refrigeration systems, and efficient and ENERGY STAR® appliances;
- Build a business case for sustainability initiatives and use effective measurement tools;
- Learn more about waste stream management, including reusable dishes and flatware, composting, and recycling;
- Procure sustainable foods through local purchasing and learn more about food safety and disposable products;
- Take advantage of available grants, rebates, and incentives; encourage increased operational and capital investments; and identify resources supporting sustainability planning and execution;
- Understand the current reporting requirements affecting both federal agencies and commercial entities; and
- Learn from case studies offering real world insight into effective sustainability approaches.
The guide is primarily built around U.S. acts and executive orders pertaining to the built environment, including: the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; the Energy Policy Act of 2005; the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007; Executive Order 13423; and Executive Order 13514.
“There’s a broad range of support tools available for federal and private-sector facility professionals tasked with responding to energy improvement and carbon emission reduction goals, and this guide will help them better understand and utilize these resources,” said John McGee, past chair of the IFMA board of directors and a co-author of the guide. “Facility managers who read this guide, access the websites mentioned, and implement the recommended practices will find they have all the tools they need to develop and implement a successful sustainability strategy.”
Other co-authors include Sarah Slaughter, Ph.D., professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management and Eric Teicholz, IFMA Fellow, president of Graphic Systems.
The IFMA Foundation created the guide in partnership with the Atlanta Chapter of IFMA and the IFMA Sustainability Committee. U.S. Government Policy Impacts and Opportunities for Facility Management is available online free of charge. In total, 12 publications from the “Sustainability ‘How-to’ Guide Series” are available online.
