How can FM foster a culture of environmental awareness and responsibility among staff and contractors?

1 Assess the current situation

The first step to foster a culture of environmental awareness and responsibility is to assess the current situation of the facilities and their environmental performance. This involves conducting an environmental audit, which is a systematic evaluation of the environmental aspects and impacts of the facilities, such as energy consumption, water usage, waste generation, carbon footprint, and compliance with environmental regulations and standards. An environmental audit can help identify the strengths and weaknesses of the facilities, as well as the opportunities and risks for improvement. It can also provide a baseline for setting goals and measuring progress.

2 Set goals and strategies

The next step is to set goals and strategies for improving the environmental performance of the facilities and reducing their environmental impact. These goals and strategies should be aligned with the organization's vision, mission, values, and objectives, as well as the expectations and needs of the stakeholders, such as customers, employees, regulators, and communities. The goals and strategies should also be SMART, which means specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. For example, a goal could be to reduce the energy consumption of the facilities by 10% in one year, and a strategy could be to install energy-efficient lighting and appliances, and to implement energy management systems.

3 Communicate and engage

The third step is to communicate and engage with the staff and contractors who are involved in the operation and maintenance of the facilities, and who can influence or be affected by the environmental performance of the facilities. Communication and engagement are essential to raise awareness, educate, motivate, and empower the staff and contractors to adopt sustainable and green practices in their daily work. Communication and engagement can take various forms, such as newsletters, posters, workshops, training sessions, feedback mechanisms, recognition programs, and incentives. Communication and engagement should also be consistent, transparent, and collaborative, and should emphasize the benefits and values of environmental awareness and responsibility for the organization, the staff and contractors, and the society.

4 Implement and monitor

The fourth step is to implement and monitor the environmental goals and strategies that have been set for the facilities. This involves allocating resources, assigning roles and responsibilities, establishing procedures and standards, and providing tools and equipment to support the implementation of the sustainable and green practices in the facilities. It also involves monitoring and measuring the environmental performance of the facilities, using indicators and metrics that are relevant, reliable, and comparable. Monitoring and measuring can help track progress, evaluate results, identify gaps and challenges, and provide feedback and learning opportunities.

5 Review and improve

The final step is to review and improve the environmental performance of the facilities and the culture of environmental awareness and responsibility among the staff and contractors. This involves analyzing the data and information collected from the monitoring and measuring process, comparing them with the goals and strategies that have been set, and assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of the sustainable and green practices in the facilities. It also involves soliciting feedback and input from the staff and contractors, as well as other stakeholders, to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the environmental culture, and to explore new ideas and innovations for improvement. Reviewing and improving should be done periodically and systematically, and should lead to continuous learning and adaptation.