Laurie Gilmer presented “Understanding the Four E’s of Sustainability: Explore, Engage, Execute, Enjoy” at NFMT in Las Vegas on November 1st. If you missed the presentation or would like a copy, click here.
In the facility management world, sustainability in existing buildings has evolved from design-focused efforts to incorporating sustainability in to operational practices. To integrate sustainability, we need to infuse sustainability fully into our organizations, bridging the gap between a sustainable building/facility and a sustainable organization. This 4-hour workshop will help you better understand how to connect the benefits of sustainable facility operations with the goals of your organization, enabling you to play a key role in moving your organization forward toward a truly high performance organization at all levels of FM operations. The workshop will be interactive, combining lecture with work in small groups to explore how to assess the sustainability maturity of your current operational practices. We will practice using an assessment methodology that bridges the gap between the efficient building and the organization to assess the level of operational excellence. Through a series of operational questions, we will explore several categories of sustainability including engagement, leadership, and other areas identified in internationally recognized programs. We also will look deeper into the organization at how you engage with your customers, staff, and community to see how sustainability is and can be integrated into your organization. By the end of this workshop, you will have created a framework for ongoing sustainability in your organization which will serve as a guide to further evaluate and improve your facilities.
Learning Objectives:
1. Discover how sustainability efforts have evolved in high performance organizations
2. Learn how to integrate the principles of integrated sustainability into your FM program
3. Identify the essentials of a successful program that are uniquely applicable to your organization
4. Develop a specific evaluation of your current operations and “Take Away Plan” for your organization
Laurie Gilmer, P.E., CFM, LEED AP, CxA is a Vice President at Facility Engineering Associates and leads FEA’s facility asset management, building energy management, and sustainability services. Laurie is a published author, and co-authored the International Facility Management Association’s (IFMA) second manual in the Sustainability “How-To-Guide” Series, EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. Laurie is chair of IFMA’s Sustainability Facility Credential scheme committee, chair of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Council’s Building Operator Certification program advisory committee, and an instructor for IFMA’s Sustainability Facility Management and Facility Management Professional programs.
