Al Asmakh Facilities Management takes immense pride in becoming the first ever GSAS Certified Service Provider (Global Sustainability Assessment System) for Facilities Management in Qatar. It is one of the long running initiatives of AAFM that we contribute largely towards the community and the sustainability of the nation. We are pleased to have successfully complied with the requirement stipulated by the Gulf Organization for Research and Development (GORD) in achieving this accreditation.
GSAS by GORD is the first performance-based accreditation system in the Middle East and North African region. GSAS aims to create a built environment that adheres to sustainable standards, minimizes ecological impacts and reduces resource consumption whilst addressing the local needs and environmental conditions.
At Al Asmakh Facilities Management, our vision for a sustainable environment and the reduction of our carbon footprint has always been incorporated within the services we offer our clients, and following this certification, we now look forward to a renewed impetus and enhanced approach to our sustainability goals.
Al Asmakh Facilities Management – always committed to continuous improvement!
Energy and environment are directly related. It is impossible to produce or consume energy without a significant environmental impact. As we are already aware, these impacts aren’t of any good. Air pollution, Climate Change, Water Pollution and Thermal pollution are some of the impacts that are directly involved with energy.
Al Asmakh Facilities Management initiated an approach to include Energy Management & Audits that provide insights on energy consumption where it can be enhanced to every client of ours in order to help combat the excessive power consumption. This would drastically reduce the impact that we cause on environment as well as financially cut down burdens for our clients.
This #earthhour2021 is important for us, since we do not have a backup Plan(et), to help sustain the environment as a whole. To leave a home for the future.
In the recent past, we have taken part in many causes to support the environment such as Fight against plastic waste, Clean Sea, Save Water, Plant More Trees, etc. #Today we are taking a step ahead to show that we care about our #earth
The World Earth Hour is a gesture to turn every possible lights off from 8:30PM to 9:30 PM on the 27th of March every year.
This initiative plays a crucial role in raising awareness among the wider community, while showcasing the progress Qatar has made in the areas of sustainability and green buildings.
With this in mind, we at Al Asmakh Facilities Management decided to do our part by sharing a little piece of information that will create awareness within our community to help support Qatar’s sustainability greatly.
Water is the most important element for the preservation of life next to air. It is a finite commodity which, if not managed properly, will result in shortages in the near future.
There is no doubt that most of us take water for granted.
We have a habit of leaving our taps running. Whether it is when we brush our teeth or wash food, it’s all too easy to leave taps on and water running down the sink. For every minute that the tap is running, it uses as much as 12 litres of water.
Air Conditioning is one of the essentials in Qatar, especially during the summer. Eco-conscious individuals may wonder about the environmental impact of air conditioning and how to choose more sustainable options. But it is almost as impossible to stay without an AC.
By letting the room be cooled enough to turn off the AC unit often and by keeping it turned off when you leave home can largely impact in energy saving. Being considerate about energy consumption is going to benefit you financially too.
Many different things can negatively influence the environment, such as not using proper procedures when disposing of products. However, there are many benefits to using eco-friendly products that are not simply centered around the health and well-being of the Earth, but also the health and wellbeing of your family.
Choosing eco-friendly products is the least we can do to our environment as well as ourselves.
Cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions is a crucial element in fighting global warming and climate changes that may be a factor in catastrophic weather events.
Replacing only one light bulb with an Energy Star-rated light bulb in every house would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 9 billion pounds, or about the amount from 800,000 cars; the statistics show.
Plastic bags end up as litter that fouls the landscape and kills thousands of marine animals every year that mistake the floating bags for food. Plastic bags that get buried in landfills may take up to 1,000 years to break down, and in the process, they separate into smaller and smaller toxic particles that contaminate soil and water.
So, the next time the clerk at your favorite grocery store asks whether you prefer “paper or plastic” for your purchases, consider giving the truly eco-friendly response and saying, “neither.”
Like we mentioned earlier and there’s no harm in repeating, water is a limited yet the most valuable resource for life form.
You can help reduce the waste of this precious resource by making simple changes in your daily routine. An average shower uses about 5 gallons of water per minute. If you shorten your shower by 2 minutes, you can cut your water use by 10 gallons. You can further reduce your water consumption by turning the water off while soaping.
Trees naturally pull in carbon (and water) from the atmosphere to feed themselves. It’s just a happy coincidence that, in doing so, that process produces oxygen, which is a necessity for lives to thrive.
The crucial takeaway is that trees absorb carbon and one of the biggest aspects of global warming is the rising amount of carbon dioxide trapped in our atmosphere.
Carbon dioxide is one of several greenhouse gases contributing to our rapid climate change. Since trees already absorb carbon, we need to plant even more to combat the effect it’s having on our planet.
The most effective way to reduce waste is to not create it in the first place. Making a new product requires a lot of materials and energy – raw materials must be extracted from the earth, and the product must be fabricated then transported to wherever it will be sold. As a result, reduction and reuse are the most effective ways you can save natural resources, protect the environment and save money.
Pollution from vehicles is a major threat to the environment. We all benefit from clean air. No matter who you are, there are actions you can take to help reduce the amount of pollution that comes from cars.
If you are only going a short distance, consider riding a bike or walking instead of driving. You can get exercise and enjoy the fresh air while getting where you need to go.
It is an important duty of every citizen to contribute to the environment and to build a sustainable living for the future generations. Let’s rebuild together what we have destroyed.
Energy & environmental enhancement and preservation are top priorities of Al Asmakh Facilities Management. Since Facilities Management is responsible for ensuring the functionality, comfort and safety of the built environment, uniquely positioned to leverage local operational efficiency initiatives to identify and act to improve the efficiency of energy use across facilities. Additionally this allows us to advise the property owners on how best to integrate people, processes and technology to achieve optimal efficiencies.
Which is why, our team has taken the initiative to report on the energy usage of the properties we manage every month. This enables us to see clearly the trend of usage, wastage and places for improvement. This is now implemented as a part of the monthly report we submit to our clients.
Apart from this, our Building Management Solutions team actively works on field studies before and after the installation of BMS in properties. The field study involves, collecting Electricity readings for the past years, examining the gaps, propose appropriate solution based on the needs of the facility, etc. Once implemented, the team continues to collect relevant data to compare the trends, where data have always been positive for the clients.
Some of the proposed solutions are outlined as follows:
Proactively manage energy-using equipment
The key to maintaining functionality, comfort, safety and efficiency of building systems is to ensure that equipment is well-managed and maintained through routine checks and preventive maintenance. Equipment checks can often go overlooked because attention is directed to more pressing issues. When maintenance is not addressed over a longer period, reduced equipment efficiencies or asset damage may result. Regular, planned preventive maintenance on energy-using equipment can help identify leaks, repairs or replacements.
Effectively use lighting and HVAC controls
We can reduce energy waste by effectively using control solutions to improve the efficiency of lighting and HVAC systems. No matter the technology, if lighting remains on in unoccupied areas or in rooms fully lit by natural daylight, energy is being wasted. One of the most common types of lighting controls are occupancy sensors, which turn lighting on automatically when they detect motion and off when the area is vacated. This is further evaluated in Building Management Solutions.
Retrofit existing building systems
There is significant opportunity in retrofitting older, existing buildings through the modification of building systems to be more energy efficient. The retrofitting process is most effective when companies limit the scope of their retrofit to a few broadly applicable measures and roll out a sustainable technology investment bundle across their portfolio. Other impactful retrofitting solutions include the replacement of doors and windows or installing insulation. Initial success of their retrofit program is reportedly upwards of a 30% reduction in overall energy usage. By improving building envelope, performance companies can lower their heating and cooling needs, wasting less energy and being more efficient at the same time.
Investing in Ourselves
Energy is a complex issue that touches every aspect of a building and presents many simultaneous challenges, including energy costs, occupant comfort, and energy reliability. By proactively managing equipment, effectively using control systems and supporting initiatives to retrofit older buildings, facility managers can have a significant impact on the energy efficiency of their building systems.
Using energy more efficiently is one of the easiest, most cost-effective ways to save money, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create jobs, and reduce the growing energy demand.
Citation:
TY – JOUR AU – Sapar, Majid AU – Lee, Siew PY – 2005/07/01 SP – 416 EP – 425 T1 – Establishment of energy management tools for facilities managers in the tropical region VL – 23 DO – 10.1108/02632770510602351 JO – Facilities ER –
