Sustainability has evolved from a buzzword to a core element of facility management and corporate real estate. Facility managers and real estate leaders have a duty beyond regulations to meet Net Zero targets and reduce buildings’ environmental impact. Johnson Controls’ recent sustainability report highlighted that nearly 40% of global CO₂ emissions come from corporate real estate and office buildings, emphasizing the need to reduce emissions and energy use. Despite investments in smart building technologies and clean energy, global energy consumption and CO₂ emissions continue to rise. Embracing technology-driven sustainability helps facility managers optimize energy use, reduce emissions and create efficient, self-regulating buildings that align with Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles.
Strengthening Risk Management with AI
As sustainability becomes a core focus in facility management, advancements in technology are reshaping how facilities are managed beyond environmental goals. Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and smart building technology is now key to anticipating and responding to extreme events, like hurricanes, floods and earthquakes, adding a new layer to strategic management. The 2024 International Facility Management Association (IFMA) conference emphasized using building automation to assess facility vulnerabilities and centralized data to enable immediate, coordinated emergency responses.
AI also boosts operational safety and security by enhancing access tracking and visitor management. In emergencies such as fires or security threats, AI-driven solutions quickly identify occupants, aiding efficient evacuations with real-time alerts. These systems also support compliance with data privacy regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), ensuring strict data handling protocols.
Overall, integrating AI and smart building technology strengthens risk management, streamlines emergency responses and maintains data compliance, empowering facility managers to better protect people and assets.
The Innovation of Asset Maintenance in Buildings
While AI-driven risk management strengthens emergency response and security, smart building technologies are redefining day-to-day operations. Traditionally, buildings operated with isolated systems located in basements or ceilings. Connected buildings introduced monitoring for energy use through one or two systems. Smart buildings advance this by integrating building management systems (BMS) with various data sources to enhance performance, aiming for autonomous buildings powered by advanced AI to make decisions, recommend actions and predict failures.
A transformative tool in this field is the digital twin—a precise digital replica of a building and its operations. Internet of Things (IoT) sensors connect digital twins to building systems, allowing facility managers to predict system performance, such as HVAC efficiency during temperature spikes. Digital twins analyze real-time data for predictive scheduling and store essential asset documents like Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) manuals, accelerating issue resolution and improving efficiency. This shift enables proactive maintenance, reducing downtime and maximizing system availability.
Smart technology automates maintenance to optimize resources. For example, analyzing room bookings can guide maintenance efforts, avoiding unnecessary checks on unused spaces. Flow sensors in restrooms enable maintenance based on usage, saving time and resources. Real-time visualization of performance allows buildings to communicate with managers and prompt adaptive responses. Autonomous buildings can alert managers, suggest solutions and initiate corrective actions.
As facility managers adopt these innovations, focusing on data collection and analysis is crucial for optimizing operations. Transitioning to smart, autonomous buildings revolutionizes maintenance strategies and creates high-performing workplaces. Leveraging data from digital twins and IoT systems enhances decision-making, resource allocation and sustainable building management.
Supporting and Enhancing the Employee Experience
Optimizing facility systems through digital twins and IoT sensors paves the way for more than just operational efficiency. Real-time environmental adjustments support an organization’s most valuable asset: its people. Environmental data has become essential as employees prioritize well-being and productivity, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the impact of air quality on health. “Cognitive ergonomics” refers to how factors like air quality, lighting and sound affect cognitive abilities. Harvard partnered with Syracuse University and SUNY Upstate Medical University to conduct research into whether working in a “green building” resulted in better cognitive performance than “non-green buildings. Poor air quality is shown to cause fatigue, headaches and decreased focus, impairing productivity. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, improving workplace indoor air quality can increase employee productivity by up to $6,500 per person per year.
Inclusivity should also be central to workplace technology. AI-driven accessibility tools, such as text alternatives for signage, text-to-speech in lobbies and automated meeting transcriptions, ensure user-friendly experiences for all. Adhering to standards like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) establishes sustainable, accessible workplace technology.
Focusing on employee experience helps facilities teams create adaptable, inclusive workspaces that boost well-being and productivity. Leveraging real-time environmental data and accessible technology ensures workplaces remain supportive, sustainable and responsive to employees’ needs.
While real-time adjustments enhance employee well-being and inclusivity, facility managers are also experiencing a broader shift in their roles. This evolution, driven by data and AI, transforms facility management from a reactive approach to proactive and strategic, demonstrating the transformative power of technology. By leveraging these tools, facility managers can align operational strategies with ESG objectives and Net Zero targets, creating workplaces that are sustainable, efficient and supportive of their greatest asset: people.
Watch FM:Systems’ webinar “People, Places, Planet: Leveraging Technology to Integrate ESG into FM Operations” to dive deeper into cutting-edge strategies and best practices that empower facility managers to drive innovation and enhance operational performance.
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