A number of industry organizations offer programs-many in the form of tool or scale-to help industry professionals enhance building performance through the reduction and conservation of energy use. But with so many available options, how do you know where to begin the process of implementing and maintaining an effective sustainability program?
Whether you’re starting from scratch or planning to restructure your current sustainability program, the following two tips will support your efforts.
Tip #1-Refresh What You Know & Learn Something New
A key facet to planning or revising any program is to make sure you are up-to-date on industry best practices. However, keeping current with various applications and trends in greening can be quite time consuming and overwhelming.
The good news is the dirty work has been done for you by BOMI International. A leading industry education provider for over 44 years, BOMI International offers several subject-specific courses that focus on achieving greater building energy efficiency through the implementation of sustainable best practices.
Everything you need to know is compiled into a 15-week Instructor-Led Online course-or, for independent learners, available in a six-month Self-Study format. What’s even better, AGPOM members save 10% on all BOMI International offerings, including the following courses, which are approved by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) for the LEED Credential Maintenance Program (CMP).
Air Handling, Water Treatment, and Plumbing Systems
Revisit the components of HVAC systems, water treatment, and plumbing systems, and learn how to control climate for energy efficiency and for human comfort.
Electrical Systems and Illumination
Learn how to measure electrical consumption, and gain the ability to recognize, set up, and maintain reliable and effective maintenance and safety systems.
Energy Management and Controls
From everyday preventive maintenance tasks to developing an energy plan, this course provides you with the skills to evaluate and optimize your current system, the know-how to integrate new components, and the ability to communicate your needs to decision makers.
Environmental Health and Safety Issues
This course will help you develop and manage proactive environmental/occupational health and safety programs, comply with regulatory standards and guidelines, and assess when to obtain technical assistance.
Refrigeration Systems and Accessories
Gain the skills and knowledge to identify the performance characteristics of refrigeration components, and operate and maintain reciprocating and absorption refrigeration systems.
The Design, Operation, and Maintenance of Building Systems, Part I
This course covers best practices in building operations and maintenance-you will learn how to effectively manage the ongoing operation and maintenance of building systems to maximize building efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
The Design, Operation, and Maintenance of Building Systems, Part II
This course covers building systems management, analytics, and optimization, and high-performance security and life safety systems design-you will gain the knowledge needed to increase occupant safety and comfort while facilitating building efficiency to meet your business goals.
For a complete course/program list visit: www.bomi.org/AGPOM.aspx.
Tip #2-Assess & Select A Tool
No matter your experience level, after a refresher course or two, it becomes easier to understand and, therefore, determine the right tool to assist with your organizations’ building improvement initiatives.
Listed below are summaries of a few options you can research and perhaps consider for your company.
Consider These Tools
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Provides building owners and operators with a framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations, and maintenance solutions. There are several LEED rating systems, including ones for new construction, existing buildings/O&M, core and shell, and others.
BOMA 360
Evaluates major areas of building operations and management, and incorporates a rating system to compare a building’s performance against industry standards. Only occupied commercial office buildings and industrial buildings are eligible.
Green Globes
An assessment and rating system that delivers guidance for green building design, operation, and management in the US and Canada.
Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method(BREEAM)
An assessment using recognized measures of performance, which are set against established benchmarks, to evaluate a building’s specification, design, construction, and use.
Energy Star
Focuses on saving money and protecting the environment through energy-efficient products and practices. For a manager, the most important part of the program is the Portfolio Manager. Portfolio Manager is an interactive energy management tool that allows the tracking and assessment of energy and water consumption across a portfolio of buildings in a secure online environment.
Green Seal
A nonprofit organization that develops lifecycle-based sustainability standards for products, services, and companies and offers third-party certification for those that meet the standard criteria.
For more information about BOMI International’s courses and programs, and to learn how you can save 10% as an AGPOM member, please visit: www.bomi.org/AGPOM.aspx or call 1.800.235.
BOMI International, a nonprofit educational organization founded in 1970, provides critical education and expertise to industry personnel with property, facility, building systems management, and sustainability responsibilities. More than 27,000 industry professionals hold one or more BOMI International designations, and over 90,000 property and facility management professionals have turned to BOMI International for their continuing education, professional development, and staff training needs.
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