Unit FM4.19: Understanding sustainability and environmental issues and their impact on facilities management

Unit FM4.19: Understanding sustainability and environmental issues and their impact on facilities management

Learning outcomes

1. Understand sustainability and corporate responsibility

1.1 Explain the terms sustainability and corporate responsibility (including the wider relationship between the organisation, its stakeholders and the community)

1.2 Explain the legislation that is associated with sustainability and environmental issues (supporting the explanation with examples of specific legislation (e.g. waste management) and of relevant broader legislation and agreements (e.g. building regulations, town & country planning, Kyoto)

1.3 Explain the role and responsibility that a Facilities Manager has in supporting a corporate responsibility policy (supporting the explanation with examples of relationships (e.g. with employees, suppliers, neighbours, local community etc.) and of specific responsibilities (e.g. for ISO 14001, environmental management systems, Carbon Trust certification)

2. Understand the impact of facilities management on the environment

2.1 Explain the range of impacts of facilities management activities on the environment (supporting the explanation with examples (e.g. potential impacts on greenhouse gases, pollution, resource depletion, biodiversity) rather than trying to provide an exhaustive list)

2.2 Explain how the Facilities Manager can mitigate, reduce or manage the impact of their activities on the environment (supporting the explanation with example/s from the learner’s own experience and/or case studies)

2.3 Explain the environmental advantages and disadvantages inherent within the various resources utilised by Facilities Managers (supporting the explanation with example/s from the learner’s own experience and/or case studies and including how the same activity can have a positive and a negative impact)

2.4 Explain new and on-going developments in environmental management and explain how these may affect Facilities Managers (using to up-to date reference sources and examples rather than trying to develop an exhaustive list)

3. Understand how to manage waste and its safe disposal

3.1 Explain the principles of waste minimisation (by reference to the 3R’s – reduce, reuse, recycle)

3.2 Describe methods and systems used to manage waste (using example/s from the learner’s own experience and/or case studies)

3.3 Identify the relevant legislation in relation to handling, transporting, treating and disposing of waste (by reference to the same example/s as for the previous assessment criterion)

4. Understand how to improve environmental awareness and responsibility

4.1 Explain how the Facilities Manager can influence uses of natural resources, consumption and emissions control to improve the environment (supporting the explanation with example/s from the learner’s own experience and/or case studies (e.g. monitoring consumption, promoting better use of space and assets, encouraging use of video conferencing), rather than trying to develop an exhaustive list)

4.2 Explain how the Facilities Manager can increase awareness and involvement of staff, contractors and suppliers in relation to environmental policies and sustainability (supporting the explanation with example/s from the learner’s own experience and/or case studies (e.g. environmental committee, publicising initiatives, targets and results, including in senior management and supplier review agenda), rather than trying to develop an exhaustive list)