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Successes include substantial energy, waste and water reductions in 2012
SAN DIEGO –– By 2015, nearly half of new, non-residential construction by value will be green, according to a recent report by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). In a comprehensive document that outlines key environmental and social successes,KBM Facility Solutions, a national provider of facility solutions, has announced the availability of its 2012 Corporate Sustainability Report. This report highlights KBM’s continued dedication to greening its programs and its customers’ facilities.
“Each year, we take significant steps to improve the sustainability of our cleaning operations,” said Maureen Gray, CEO of KBM Facility Solutions. “We continually monitor and measure our activity to ensure we are always making progress. This report reflects the hard work and dedication of our partners, suppliers and customers to limit the impact of our programs and create a better, healthier environment.”
Reduction in energy, water and waste consumption has been an ongoing focus for KBM’s green initiatives. Eighty-six percent of the total energy used at KBM’s national headquarters in 2012 was produced by a solar power. In addition, its recent replacement of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system has achieved 42 percent efficiency gains and has also contributed to a five percent decline in natural gas consumption. Its new high-efficiency cool roof reflects heat and sunlight, reducing internal temperatures during warm months by approximately 70 percent.
In 2012, KBM reduced its water use by 19 percent from the previous year. This decrease is consistent with reductions in previous years, despite the addition of 25 percent more employees to its workforce. Upcoming water reduction efforts include removing a large lawn area and replacing it with an “Arizona” garden with plants that will require 75 percent less water.
Last year, KBM recycled 21 tons of recyclable material and reduced its total waste consumption by six percent from 2010—the year KBM began measuring its waste consumption. It also implemented a new program to recycle outdated or unused electronic items for its customers, including computers, printers and fax machines.
With an organizational structure that emphasizes sustainable practice, KBM makes every manager responsible for setting their own environmental goals. Every KBM office has a social and environmental coordinator who supports managers with ongoing training, best practices and resources to achieve these goals. In 2012, KBM’s frontline employees completed a total of 6,848 hours of Green Certified training, or an average of 17 hours per employee.
In addition to sustainability highlights, the report also includes minority development efforts. KBM was named “Supplier of the Year” by the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) and became the Class III “Supplier of the Year” by the San Diego Regional Minority Supplier Development Council. It also recently became certified by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).
“We are always looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprint and become a more socially responsible company in the community,” added Rene Tuchscher, chief operating officer, KBM. “From working with local suppliers and minority-owned business to improving the technology and efficiency of the systems used at our headquarters, we strive to reduce our impact each year.”
For a full copy of the report, please go to: http://www.kbmfs.com/sustainability-reports/ or e-mail avance@mulberrymc.com. To learn more about KBM Facility Solutions, visit www.kbmfs.com or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/KBM_FS.
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ABOUT KBM FACILITY SOLUTIONS
Headquartered in San Diego, KBM Facility Solutions is a national CIMS-certified provider of sustainable facility solutions, including janitorial and day porter services, floor and carpet care, facility maintenance, tenant improvements, and construction services to commercial, hospitality and retail clients. In 2010, KBM was recognized by the San Diego Business Journal as the 9th Fastest Growing Privately Held Company in San Diego. It was also nominated as a “Supplier of the Year” in 2012 by the National Minority Supplier Development Council.
