Sustainability in facilities management: A review of drivers and policy issues

Spurred on by a variety of drivers and policy issues, the continued growth in the development and implementation sustainability, as an obligation and expectation within businesses, has placed more responsibilities on facilities managers. However, it is not clear which of the drivers, issues and responsibilities are most important for facilities managers to develop skills and knowledge in. It is also not clear how issues such as energy management and productivity are closely linked to responsibilities. Drawing on a web based self-administered questionnaire survey of facilities managers, the key drivers, issues and responsibilities are identified and ranked. With a response rate of 22% representing 268 respondents, the results indicate that legislative directives, corporate image and organisational ethos are the most important drivers for the development and implementation of sustainable practices. Similarly, the keys issues and responsibilities identified are energy management, waste and recycling management, health and safety, and carbon footprint. These findings demand that facilities managers develop competences in the identified areas in order to manage and improve the environmental performance of their businesses. Clearly, sustainability policies and responsibilities continue to be influenced by the proliferation of energy and carbon footprint related environmental issues than a balanced approach which takes into consideration the wider social and economic aspects of sustainability. The trend in developing and implementing sustainability will continue due to new statutory directives and requirements.