​ABSTRACT

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Accurate and reliable energy sub meter data is essential to optimize energy use in commercial buildings. However, unless the facility manager and members of the operations team have the motivation and skills to use the data, then significant improvement opportunities are lost.

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This presentation describes an innovative training program that was piloted with the building operations teams in six iconic commercial buildings in Sydney, Australia owned by The GPT Group. The training program was carefully customised and highly interactive to encourage each of the teams to identify and implement energy efficiency improvement projects. The program involved 4 x 2-hour workshops with each team with coaching and mentoring support provided in the 2 weeks between each workshop.

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Evaluation of the program has demonstrated that:

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• significant energy  savings have been achieved

• the operations teams have developed a better understanding of energy use in their buildings

• energy data is reviewed much more frequently than it was before the program.

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There is also a much higher level of collaboration between the facility managers, electrical and mechanical contractors that make up the operations teams. This has delivered a number of co-benefits for tenants and the building owners. 

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In this presentation the design, delivery and the outcomes of the pilot program are described and analyzed using the novel sociological concept of ‘boundary objects’. A ‘boundary objects’ perspective provides unique insight into the way in which knowledge on energy efficiency can be more effectively shared and transformed across the varied  disciplinary perspectives and experience of members of a building operations team to optimise energy use and overall building performance.

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DOWNLOADS​

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Download the presentation from the conference website

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Download a case study of the project published by the NSW Government

 

Download the suite of training materials from the Office of Environment & Heritage website