Green for life

A clean environment invokes civic pride, inspiring future generations to be eco-responsible

As the Middle East acts to shed its reputation for a lack of environmental awareness, fmME talks to the innovators who understand the value of facilities management professionals in safe-guarding the planet for future generations

Much as the United Kingdom had to move from awareness to action when labelled the ‘dirty man of Europe’ for the poor ecological state of its coastline, the Middle East is now taking its own actions to address its lack of solid environmental credentials.

The facilities management sector is at the fulcrum of this environmental awakening in the region. “We’ve found FM consultants to be hugely supportive,” says Graham Bell, Envac Abu Dhabi president. “For example, they understand that automated systems reduce the need for manpower in removing waste from chute rooms to the periphery, and the attendant removal logistics. Developers, building owners and residents are now starting to listen to their advice.”

Envac has installed subterranean automated sustainable waste collection systems from North Korea to Sweden. “The cultures are very different,” says Bell, “but the overriding FM aim is the same, whichever country or continent you operate in: to provide residential and commercial districts and their populous with environmentally appropriate solutions for the collection and transportation of waste and recycling products.”

The Middle East differs from Europe and Asia as its more developed regions such as UAE, KSA and Qatar are maturing fast due to the amount of continuing construction, new projects coming online and the strong demand from municipalities for retro-fit, he continues.

“So what I find gratifying from an environmental stand point, is to see governmental directives yielding a tangible change in a project’s environmental ethos. This is a turning point signaling a change in attitude and responsibility. It means the market is maturing.”

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Data rich transparency

With the onset of owner association law, whereby residents have the power to award FM contracts, the ability to produce transparent costings will be a key differentiator in the decision making process, and add to a building’s eco-credentials.

However, to some building cleaning may seem an additional expense and one that is not always measurable. “To an extent,” says Sharbel Kordahi, director, business unit professional, Kärcher Middle East. “If you operate a facility in the healthcare or catering sector for example, then of course hygiene is paramount and cleaning therefore a justifiable and needed cost.

“However, if you’re a resident counting the pennies, expenditure on keeping communal areas clean many not be a priority. Either way, if an FM can present transparent, data rich service charge modeling as a billing service, or at tender, it’s going to be a powerful tool in your relationship armoury or in winning a contract.

Kärcher’s software system optimises manual cleaning sequences, enabling facilities managers to gather data relating to labour, comestibles used and performance, calculating exact costs. “This system can only improve service delivery, now the benchmark in the Middle East.”