By James Rooke, Managing Director of Carbon Shift at Equans UK & Ireland.
As the world accelerates toward a low‑carbon future, Facilities Managers (FMs) are playing an increasingly vital role in shaping sustainable and resilient workplaces. No longer simply responsible for the operational upkeep of buildings, today FMs are at the forefront of driving net zero strategies and climate adaptation efforts.
In an era marked by the lasting impacts of the pandemic, evolving workplace expectations, increasing sustainability demands and rising climate risks, their role is more critical than ever.
The workplace is changing rapidly. Hybrid working models have altered how we use office space, necessitating a fundamental rethinking of energy consumption, space planning, and day to day operations. Against this backdrop, organisations and FMs must balance the task of driving decarbonisation, ensuring resilience in a changing climate, while maintaining efficiency, compliance, and cost‑effectiveness.
Sustainability has to be moved away from being a discrete stand‑alone strategy and integrated into the core of estate development and business resilience. Smart, energy‑efficient buildings that adapt to changing occupancy patterns and maintenance needs will be key to achieving this. Digital technologies, such as energy management and predictive maintenance systems that flag anomalies before issues arise and provide actionable insights that drive efficiency and reduce emissions.
The road to decarbonisation is a complex one that incorporates technology, finance and estate development and while many organisations have a strategy, a detailed investable operating plan has proved more difficult to crystalize. The insights gained can inform a tailored roadmap that outlines the steps needed to reach net zero. There is no silver bullet for decarbonisation, so to make this investable requires the synthesis of multiple technologies and funding streams.
- Renewable energy sources – on site or through power purchase agreements
- Transitioning from hydrocarbon fuels to sustainable local or district heating schemes
- Integrating smart building management systems to optimise energy use
- The use of blended finance to maximise value from life cycle and operational funds, grant funding and private finance
But achieving net zero is only part of the equation. Organisations must also prepare for the physical risks posed by climate change. Facilities must be designed to withstand increasing temperatures, heavier rainfall, and evolving regulatory requirements. Developing an adaptation risk plan is crucial and it makes sense to do this in tandem with a net zero roadmap. This framework helps organisations assess future climate risks and implement resilience measures to protect operations from climate‑related disruptions.
Of course, all of this is easier said than done if you have unlimited budget. To implement any of these measures, the likelihood is you’ll need access to investment or funding.
At Equans, we have developed Carbon Shift, an integrated decarbonisation and resilience solution that helps organisations plan, fund, and implement decarbonisation strategies.
Through Carbon Shift, we can help organisations identify cost‑saving opportunities, get support with accessing third party funding and government grants, explore private financing partnerships, and develop long‑term investment plans that align with operational and capital expenditure goals.
By taking a strategic approach, we can help organisations unlock external funding sources and turn sustainability from a compliance requirement into a competitive advantage.
The key lies in aligning net zero commitments with cost‑effective, scalable solutions that ensure long‑term operational resilience.
Achieving net zero and building climate resilience must be core to any FM strategy. While the path to net zero is complex, FMs are in a unique position to drive this transformation. By embedding decarbonisation and resilience measures into daily operations and decision making, FMs can create workplaces that not only meet today’s demands but are also prepared for the challenges of the future.
