In the hectic day-to-day of a facility manager, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" can seem like the best strategy to keep things moving. However, this seemingly pragmatic approach could be taking a substantial toll on your facility’s bottom line, both in terms of finances and safety. Outdated equipment such as lighting, HVAC systems, boiler chillers, or RTUS can turn into wasted energy pits; American commercial buildings waste 30% of their energy, losing billions in capital annually. LED systems, for example, use at least 75% less energy and last up to 25 times longer than incandescent lighting.
If any of these systems unexpectedly break, managers must scramble to find emergency labor or replacements, risking a day or more of revenue and the safety of its customers and employees. There are too many ways for things to go wrong: a hospital without working lights can’t perform a surgery, a REIT that owns building assets may lose tenants from recurring mechanical problems, or customers might avoid businesses without reliable A/C and other amenities.
In short, the current reactive maintenance practice isn’t working for facility managers, and companies are losing easy opportunities to save. Preventative and predictive strategies can pave the way for substantial savings and a safer, more efficient facility management landscape.