Facility and Corporate Real Estate executives today are focused on two major initiatives: Cuttings Costs and Greening Facilities. Many business leaders in corporations, government and higher education are realizing these undertakings are not mutually exclusive: environmental sustainability programs deliver major cost reductions.

According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), buildings in the United States are responsible for nearly 40 percent of CO2 emissions, 40 percent of energy consumption and 13 percent of the nation’s water consumption. Corporate Real Estate hides huge potential for CO2 reduction in combination with cost reduction for organizations that automate the measurement and management of energy consumption.

Available as part of the core suite, Planon Green Intelligence, the energy management component of Green Workplace Economics, is an easy-to-use solution that offers facility executives a practical way to jumpstart environmental sustainability programs by transforming aggregated asset-level to property level data into actionable information. Planon can then generate corrective work orders to quickly diagnose and correct over consuming facilities assets. Planon Talk, Planon’s widely deployed integration application, also ensures full connectivity with existing building technology and energy measurement facilities giving organizations a fully integrated solution.

With Green Intelligence, facility executives gain a global view of their real estate portfolio and assets and gain the ability to automatically issue corrective or reactive action within one seamless solution. With Green IT for Facilities, organizations can:

• Cut costs through reduction of energy consumption
• Extend the efficiency and lifespan of Facilities assets through Planned Maintenance
• Reduce carbon footprint
• Manage energy supply, costs
• Comply with organizational and federal environmental mandates
• Track LEED certification status across an entire real estate portfolio

“As a global company with a vast European customer base, our focus at Planon is to bring the best sustainability practices to our U.S. customers from around the world,” said Pierre Guelen, Founder and CEO, Planon Group. “Green Intelligence for Facilities helps organizations move deeper than simple real estate portfolio level reporting to provide a solution that gives executives the information they need to take decisive action on assets that will net them substantial cost savings and a clear, measurable return on investment.”

“Every organization is in a position to be more environmentally responsible and can likely save cost at the same time,” said Carol Baroudi Research Director, Green IT, Aberdeen Group. “These are global concerns. U.S. companies can take lessons from Europe, which is ahead in the adoption curve, and already realizing benefits from sustainability initiatives. Legislation is coming and it certainly behooves organizations to get a handle on what they have and understand how they can start their journey now. The sooner they start, the sooner they save.”

(Source: Company Press Release, via Business Wire)

Some of these alert systems go beyond crime to include notifications of significant fire, utility, weather, and commuter issues.  Many support email as well as SMS messaging.  These can be invaluable resources to the corporate facilities manager, as much as security, HR, etc. 

So how do you find out if there is a mobile emergency alert system in your area?  For one, check out the Roam Secure customer list; the company (a subsidiary of Cooper Notification) reports over 230 local systems in operation.  If you see one in your area, follow the trail and get yourself subscribed as a local facilities/property professional.

In conjunction with corporate security, a savvy facilities manager should be actively campaigning local authorities to provide this type of community alert service, and integrating them within corporate emergency response / business continuity plans when available.  Similarly, many larger companies should consider establishing an internal emergency mobile alert system. 

Today, these concepts can be implemented with relative ease and minimal hardware; several of the leading systems for business/enterprise use are completely web-based (referred to as “Web Application Service Providers” or “ASPs”).  One such product is Instant Alert®, offered through Honeywell’s Building Systems division.  If you are shopping around for a provider, also consider Roam Secure from Cooper Notification (mentioned above), Send Word Now™, Rave Wireless, or Alertcast™ (from Actual Software).

In the “up-and-coming” category, recently-launched America’s Emergency Network (AEN) allows local officials to quickly broadcast emergency information via internet, mobile messaging, and dedicated television channels, all while using highly resilient and portable satellite equipment.  This would be another great innovation that companies should leverage.  AEN is already rolling-out through the Florida Office of Emergency Management.  

Based on demand, we may perform a side-by-side comparison/review of these systems.  In the meantime, keep your eyes peeled and fingers crossed that these will be coming soon to your local municipiality.  And either way, consider establishing an internal (company or institutional) system; don’t find out you need them when it’s too late!