Facilitating sustainability

FM firms recommend LED lighting at the start of a project to save energy costs in the long run.

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Everybody is talking about sustainability. Sustainable power, sustainable water, sustainable infrastructure.

The problem with sustainability in GCC construction is that there is no set way of implementing solutions, and under renewed pressure to go green, developers, property owners and contractors are frantically ‘retrofitting’ their buildings and structures rather than taking a chance on sustainable systems at the beginning.

Aside from being a somewhat costly procedure, retrofitting has the added disadvantage of causing a great deal of inconvenience to the end users of a building.

A possible solution to the problem being put forward by sustainability specialists currently, is to involve facilities management consultants at the start of a project – a practice relatively unheard of in the region until now.

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Managing the maintenance and operation of a building, FM companies argue that they are in a good position to advise designers and project managers on technology, equipment and systems which will reduce energy consumption and operational costs while increasing the sustainability of their buildings.

Simple though it seems, the idea of involving FM companies at the start of a project inevitably brings with it a degree of controversy, with concerns over costs and confusion over services, at the centre.

But like most other developing industry-trends in the region, it seems it is just a lack of awareness as to the benefits and possibilities of FM consultancy during construction that is keeping the region behind Europe.

A backwards system
Famous for launching some of the largest, tallest, first and best projects in world, it may come as a surprise that the Middle East construction market could neglect to involve FM firms at the beginning of its projects with a view to improving energy efficiency.

Unfortunately, both sustainability and FM processes have taken a backseat in recent years, creating widespread fears among energy experts of potential blackouts, high building operational costs and additional pollution.

As an example, Honeywell’s Business Development Director for the Middle East, Kyle Bashy, explains how 70% of properties in Dubai have not had motion sensors installed, even though this one piece of technology could save 80% on a building’s energy consumption.