27/09/10 Up and running with sustainability management

Within less than a month of implementing Integrated fm’s Sustainability iQ system, Sage UK is generating key information that is already helping the company manage its sustainability more effectively.

Just one of many examples of this is evaluating the energy savings achieved by automatically putting PCs on standby, as Safety, Health and Environmental Manager Tony Dodds explained: “This was initially a pilot scheme and with the help of Sustainability iQ we have been able to very quickly evaluate its effectiveness before rolling it out across the estate – and to accurately predict savings in other buildings. In the past this would have required many hours work with spreadsheets but with Sustainability iQ the information is available at the click of a mouse.

“Similarly, we can now calculate the effects of changes in building usage on energy consumption, such as an increase in head count, and pinpoint areas of unexpected increases in energy usage. The fact that this can all be done by two people, working with data relating to 2,500 people in 24 buildings is testament to the functionality of Sustainability iQ,” he continued.

The new system has also made it possible to provide people with information on the effects of their actions. For example, when somebody books travel arrangements the travel team can immediately calculate the carbon footprint of that journey. As the system is further developed it will be able to automatically offer alternative travel plans with a lower carbon footprint.

This rapid evaluation has also proved invaluable in assessing energy-saving and other suggestions from staff. “In using current and historical information we can very quickly identify the ideas that have worked well, quantify those benefits and congratulate the people responsible,” Tony Dodds added.

With the help of Integrated fm, Sage UK is also working closely with other corporate users of Sustainability iQ to establish benchmarks, so that all such measurements are more meaningful and Sage can compare its performance to industry norms.