The power of small actions and human influence on building efficiency

While it can sometimes appear as though operational efficiency in the built environment is the result of massive capex investment and sweeping changes, the reality is far more interesting. Operational success in building operations hinges on the (often minor) daily actions of the people who manage and maintain each building. 

A McKinsey article on “A data-driven approach to improving net working capital” makes the point succinctly: “Performance is the product of people across the business who make thousands of individual decisions on a daily basis.” This is particularly relevant in commercial real estate, where a diverse group of stakeholders—from facility managers (FMs) to contractors, tenants, and asset managers—collaborate to optimise building performance.

Although each individual’s daily actions are small, the net result can be a significant collective impact on sustainability and revenue goals. By addressing performance issues before they have a chance to snowball, each contributor becomes a key player in the overall efficiency and sustainability of the property.

In this article, we’ll assess the net impact of individuals making small choices that add up to big impact over time.  

The net impact of small actions

Community engagement

Before we explore the cumulative effect of an engaged community, it’s worth answering the question of how to engage an asset’s community in the first place. A healthy culture of sustainability and efficiency within a commercial property begins with community engagement. This means including tenants, property managers, investors, and owners in the conversation about an asset’s goals and the key steps along the way.

Encouraging collaboration across company lines and disparate corporate goals can be difficult, but a unified effort will be better positioned to capture innovative solutions and best practices that enhance the building’s overall performance. Hosting events, workshops, and other community initiatives both fosters a sense of community and encourages active participation toward shared goals.

Energy consumption

Energy efficiency is a cornerstone of sustainable building management, and it doesn’t require massive capex investment to make a serious dent. Small actions such as adjusting HVAC settings or optimising lighting systems can lead to significant cost savings and progress toward net-zero goals.

CIM’s PEAK Platform is one tool in an asset team’s toolkit to help maximise each of these opportunities. PEAK analyses building sensor data to prompt quick action on common issues like:

• Overnight and weekend operation: Unnecessary operation of air handlers, chillers, pumps, and fans during off-hours can lead to significant energy waste. By identifying equipment in overuse, building managers can adjust schedules to ensure systems run only when needed.

• Economy mode overrides: This issue occurs when systems bypass energy-saving settings—for example, when they operate in economy mode. By restoring these settings, buildings can optimise their energy consumption, particularly in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.

• Supply pressure oversupply and chilled water overcooling: Excessive cooling or pressure doesn’t just waste energy; it can also strain equipment, reducing its lifespan. Correcting these issues leads to a more balanced and efficient system operation.

Addressing these issues quickly prevents unnecessary energy consumption, resulting in lower utility spend and improving financial and sustainability outcomes for property owners and tenants alike.

Water management

Another common source of wastage where small actions can have big results is water management. Alerts for water wastage, such as overnight consumption in cooling towers or excess use in specific bathroom fixtures, help to identify areas for improvement.

Key areas of focus include:

• Overnight water consumption: Unusual water usage during non-operational hours can indicate leaks or inefficient systems, such as cooling towers running unnecessarily. By addressing these issues, property managers can prevent water wastage.

• Excessive water use in fixtures: Monitoring bathroom fixtures and other water-consuming equipment can help identify areas where water conservation measures such as low-flow fixtures can be implemented to reduce consumption.

• Weekend operations: Like energy systems, water systems should ideally be scaled back during weekends or holidays unless continued use is necessary. Detecting and correcting unnecessary water use during these times can result in significant savings.

Proactive water management not only reduces costs but also supports broader sustainability initiatives, contributing to a building's overall environmental performance. By focusing their attention on these “leak points,” property managers can reduce water consumption and its associated costs, contributing to the property’s overall goals. 

Indoor environment quality

Indoor environment (IE) quality is crucial for tenant satisfaction and well-being. A building with a healthy indoor environment can enhance productivity, reduce absenteeism, and improve overall tenant mood and well-being. 

Sustainable buildings prioritise air quality through improved ventilation systems, low-VOC materials, and air purification systems. By promptly addressing issues like critical sensor malfunctions, airflow blockages, or air quality that is out of balance, property managers can maintain a healthy (and productive) indoor environment. 

The better the indoor environment, the better the odds of increased productivity, reduced absenteeism, and improved overall tenant mood and well-being. PEAK helps ensure high IE by:

• Monitoring critical sensors: Faulty sensors can lead to improper temperature regulation and poor air quality. By regularly reviewing sensor data, building managers can ensure systems are operating correctly and efficiently.

• Detecting airflow blockages and malfunctions: Issues like blocked VAVs (Variable Air Volume systems) or malfunctioning HVAC components can compromise air quality and comfort. Identifying and fixing these problems ensures a steady flow of fresh air and appropriate temperature control.

• Using low-VOC materials and advanced purification systems: These measures reduce the presence of harmful chemicals and improve overall air quality. Analytics platforms like PEAK can monitor and optimise the performance of these systems, ensuring they operate effectively.

Conclusion

The cumulative impact of small actions on energy efficiency, water management, and indoor environment quality is profound. By leveraging advanced building analytics platforms like CIM's PEAK, property managers can optimise operations, reduce costs, and enhance tenant satisfaction with relatively small and simple actions with a ripple effect that compounds over time. These efforts contribute to broader sustainability and financial goals, demonstrating the value of a data-driven approach to modern property management.

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