The Role Of Facility Manager
The Role of a Facility Manager, is primarily an operational one. They have the responsibility of managing the day to day operations of their facilities, including maintenance, repairs, utilities and energy management. Their goal is to ensure that the building runs both effectively and efficiently and is suitable for the use of the tenants, as well as preserving or increasing the asset value of the property for the Building Owner. Today, May 15th 2019, is Facility Management Day and we, at Prism, want to salute Facility Managers everywhere for doing the challenging and sometimes thankless job that they do. Day in and day out, we as tenants and building occupants, take for granted that we will be warm and safe and dry in our offices, parking garages, educational buildings and industrial or manufacturing facilities. We are not aware of why the water runs and the toilet flushes. We don’t consider how bricks, plaster or ceiling tiles stay in place. Buildings are beautified with paint and carpet while we are sleeping.
If not for the Facility Manager, utility costs that drive rental rates would rise, unchecked. Heating and cooling systems would devolve into disrepair, rendering them less efficient and prone to break down and premature failure. This would add to both the cost of repairs, energy costs to operate, as well as the cost of pre-mature replacements. Most Facility Managers and engineers are members of professional organizations such as IFMA (International Facilities Management Association) that offer training and certification in facilities management disciplines of which utilities and energy management are one. Facility Managers and the buildings they manage increasingly rely on technology to effectively and efficiently operate. It is more important than ever for Facility Managers to learn and deploy technology to mitigate the expense of a diminishing energy supply, the cost of which is exponentially increasing. Rules around the cost of carbon emissions is also a real concern.
So, if you are happy, comfortable and satisfied sitting at your desk reading this article, thank your Facility Manager. Thank them for all the you don’t have to think or worry about. Thank them for keeping your rent down (if you are an employee, the rent your organization pays has a direct impact on your paycheck) and thank them for reducing carbon emissions, making your community a more healthful place to live and work.
Prism & Facility Management
Since 1998, Prism Energy Services regularly works with Facility Managers to address the maintenance, repair and upgrade of building systems such as HVAC, controls, building envelope and plumbing to enhance both comfort conditions, as well as the cost of operating the building. Our team performs energy audits and then installs the energy efficiency measures, repairs or upgrades that our engineers recommend. Prism is a qualified Energy Efficiency Program Vendor for Eversource, National Grid and Unitil. Continue to browse our website for more information regarding our services and to sign up for a free complimentary energy audit.