Any time I hear someone speak up for the maintenance and engineering profession, my ears perk up.
This occurred recently while attending an event dedicated to high-performance buildings. New high-performance buildings are designed to operate more efficiently, improve productivity and the indoor environment, and maintain a smaller carbon footprint than their lower-performing counterparts.
For existing buildings with performance that has tapered off since the facilities came online, how do organizations bridge the gap between current operations and high-performance goals? For starters, they can look to those responsible for maintaining day-to-day operations to guide existing buildings on the path to high performance.
An attendee at this event took that thought one step further and said: "It should be an era of building engineering and maintenance."
That comment highlights the need for greater investment in maintenance and operations as a way to improve the performance of existing buildings. Despite advanced equipment designed to improve energy efficiency, reliability, and occupant comfort, no magic installations will turn a laggard existing building into a high-performance facility. Instead, organizations will rely on managers and front-line technicians to put their expertise to work in improving building performance.
High-performance buildings also received national attention in May, when the High-Performance Building Congressional Caucus Coalition — established by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers — highlighted the importance of these buildings to federal, state, and local policymakers during High-Performance Building Week.
Given this recent attention on improving building performance, are more people likely to speak up for maintenance and engineering departments and their critical role in this process? I know I'll be listening.
Chris Matt offers insights gleaned from conversations with managers who make key maintenance and engineering decisions in commercial and institutional facilities.
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Mike Rowe an Advocate for Maintenance, Engineering
High-Performance Buildings Need High-Performing Operators
