Sustainability used to be a luxury. Today, it's a necessity, and one that doesn’t have to come with a premium price tag. Facility managers across industries are finding smart, cost-effective ways to meet their environmental goals.
While there are some simple ways to go green, like switching to green products and surface protection solutions, here’s how they’re pulling it off without blowing the budget.
Before making changes, smart facility managers measure everything. Often with the help of a CMMS. Energy audits and usage tracking uncover where the biggest (and cheapest) wins are hiding.
Affordable Tactics:
Real-World Example: At Appalachian State University, researchers installed a room‑usage calendar‑based HVAC scheduling tool on one building floor. By simply aligning HVAC operation with actual room use, they achieved a 40% total energy reduction and around 26% savings on weekdays.
The cost of implementation? Virtually $0, as it leveraged existing systems with smarter scheduling.
You don’t need to retrofit everything immediately. People are cheaper to change than hardware.
Quick Wins Through Behavior Changes:
Pro Tip: Run competitions between departments for the lowest energy usage. Reward with something fun but low-cost (like an extra-long lunch break).
When upgrades are needed, target the best ROI projects first. It’s not always about solar panels or green roofs.
Best Bang-for-Buck Retrofits:
Case in Point: Dalton State College replaced over 500 compact fluorescent lamps with energy-efficient LED fixtures, leading to an approximate $8,000 reduction in its annual electricity expenses, paying for itself in under a year. That figures out to a return on investment of roughly nine months.
There’s more green in going green than many realize. Utilities, cities, and even federal programs often subsidize eco-friendly upgrades.
Where to Look:
Hidden Gem: Some power companies will fund up to 50% of an energy audit and offer rebates that fully cover certain upgrades, especially for small businesses and schools.
Trash hauling is expensive. Reducing waste means reducing cost, and in some cases, creating revenue.
Cost-Effective Waste Strategies:
Real-World Case Studies: San Francisco's Mandatory Recycling and Composting Ordinance has successfully reduced landfill waste by implementing centralized waste stations and offering financial incentives for composting, resulting in a 77% diversion rate and daily processing of nearly 600 tons of organic waste.
Similarly, Republic Services' introduction of the "Thor" machine at its Otay Sustainability Park in Chula Vista enables efficient composting of mixed commercial waste, supporting California's goal to reduce organic waste disposal by 75% by 2025.
A small internal “green team” can drive initiatives, monitor progress, and keep sustainability visible—especially with the help of facilities management software to keep your tasks organized.
Tasks a Green Team Can Handle:
Cost: $0. ROI: Significant. People are more likely to follow through when change comes from peers, not just top-down mandates.
Facility managers who win at sustainability don’t wait for perfect conditions. They start small, build momentum, and layer in improvements over time.
Tactics for Staying on Track:
Sustainability isn’t about spending more. It’s about spending smarter. With a focus on data, behavior, simple retrofits, and hidden incentives, facility managers are proving that you can go green without going broke.
And in the process, they’re not just saving the planet—they’re saving their bottom lines.