{"id":1397,"date":"2023-05-16T08:00:23","date_gmt":"2023-05-16T12:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eptura.wpengine.com\/?p=1397"},"modified":"2024-09-10T00:33:44","modified_gmt":"2024-09-10T04:33:44","slug":"optimize-esg-performance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eptura.com\/discover-more\/blog\/optimize-esg-performance\/","title":{"rendered":"Optimizing ESG performance with technology [Guide]"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every business is deeply intertwined with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns. ESG notably helps reduce carbon emissions \u2013 though it is much bigger than that.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Your ESG initiatives and performance greatly impact your business. Understand common challenges when meeting carbon dioxide (CO2) and ESG targets. Additionally, learn how flexible working patterns and better asset management software can help you cost-effectively meet ESG standards and how doing so also cuts employee recruitment and retention costs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Overcoming common challenges of cutting carbon emissions<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

When carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere, the natural greenhouse effect becomes supercharged, ultimately causing the global temperature to rise. With buildings accounting for 39% of global carbon emissions, there is an opportunity for more companies to slash their carbon footprints.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While companies understand the global priority to reduce their carbon footprints, they face common challenges. One of the biggest challenges is the high upfront cost of implementing sustainable practices. <\/span><\/p>\n

Specifically, businesses are concerned with long-term assets such as workplaces. Most companies haven\u2019t constructed<\/span> budgets to meet net-zero targets, as they were primarily focused on their standard lease renewal cycle.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Properly addressing climate change takes dedicated planning, coordination, and effort. Space planning<\/a> and asset management technology<\/a> help businesses save time managing these tasks.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How, exactly? We asked Eptura customers \u2013 the firsthand experts \u2013 how technology allows them to align their workplaces, people, and assets to CO2 targets:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), and lighting costs<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n

With hybrid work comes less occupancy on certain days. <\/span><\/p>\n

Eptura\u2019s single-platform solution<\/a> provides insight into the areas of the building not utilized, allowing you to cut down on HVAC and lighting in those corresponding areas. As well you can leverage data and reporting to consolidate space according to the expected attendance.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cleaning<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n

The scheduling of your professional cleaning crew can make a difference. For example, companies can save on maintenance costs by having their workplaces cleaned during the early part of the day or evening. This also avoids noise disruptions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Eptura\u2019s Asset technology<\/a> can specify and manage task allocations for cleaners based on actual usage. Doing so reduces cleaning hours and thus costs.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Water<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n

Space management<\/a> helps facility managers know where they can reduce water line pressure without causing an interruption. Additionally, technology can show companies where they can update tea and kitchen facilities to large, shared spaces to reduce distribution points across the building while still encouraging staff collaboration.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Equipment and maintenance<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n

Data-driven usage management can balance wear and tear on large capital equipment; including HVAC, elevators, etc. This preventive maintenance<\/a> helps you avoid large and expensive breakdowns.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fit-out scales and costs<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n

Through targeted analysis of space usage, you can reduce your tenancies to address actual usage needs \u2013 such as shifting to collaborative spaces as a replacement to single-person focus spaces.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Software as a service (SaaS)<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n

Implementing SaaS packages reduces the need for on-premises hardware, as well as its associated energy consumption, due to the software being delivered via the cloud.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cloud-based solutions<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n

When you migrate internal IT hardware to cloud-based solutions, you reduce the need to host internal servers, which can be very energy intensive. The migration to the cloud improves a company\u2019s footprint by increasing resource utilization and promoting the use of renewable energy.<\/span><\/p>\n

How the hybrid workplace changed total energy usage<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Businesses that shift to the hybrid work model have the potential to reduce their total energy usage. Why? With fewer people in the office daily \u2013 a reduced office footprint \u2013 less energy is required in the workplace.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, transitioning to hybrid work isn\u2019t without its challenges. Comprehensive data \u2013 acquired through space planning<\/a> and asset management technology<\/a> \u2013 helps companies manage this transition effectively.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is space planning and asset technology?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Eptura\u2019s Workplace technology<\/a> measures desk usage and occupancy levels. With this, you can identify possible ways to consolidate office space,<\/span> which ultimately saves energy.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, you can avoid rigid desk assignments, team or neighborhood designations, and large, underutilized areas. Focus on dynamic space planning and allocation. Consolidate staff activities into a single floor or designated area on days with lower office attendance. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"Companies<\/p>\n

Companies have implemented desk bookings and managed floor openings, similar to how hotels operate. As a result, they have significantly reduced their Commercial Real Estate Operating Expense Ratio (CRE OXR). ESG encourages cost reduction in operating and labor. It also helps you identify unused real estate that can be released.<\/p>\n

Data helps improve ESG standards in a cost-effective way<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Accurate data collection is critical for business leaders to improve ESG standards cost-effectively and successfully. By collecting and analyzing data across all aspects of your workplace \u2013 including energy consumption, water consumption, consumables, repairs, and maintenance \u2013 you can identify areas with room for improvement.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Data helps companies:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n