International Facility Management Association EMEA
IFMA EMEA
Founded in 1980, we are the world's largest and most widely recognized association for facility management professionals, supporting over 20,000 members in more than 100 countries.
ID: 328780343199-67
Lobbying Activity
Response to Revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2010/31/EU
1 Apr 2022
Facility Management is an essential job function. As buildings across the EU work to reopen in a safe and sustainable way, effective facility management is a low cost immediate solution to reduce dependence on foreign energy sources and achieve designed-for-performance. With global energy prices soaring, and as the Commission looks to reduce Europe’s dependence on foreign sources of energy, IFMA welcomes the Commission’s proposal to revise the EPBD as a means to tackle emissions from buildings throughout their lifecycle, and make existing and new buildings more energy efficient and future-proof. Effective facility management provides an immediate opportunity not only to reduce energy use, but to inform building occupants across the Union on sustainable behaviors.
While design and construction of new facilities often receive large regulatory attention, it is the ongoing operation and renovation of existing buildings that ensure not only protection of the initial investment, but also help achieve and sustain major energy savings. Facility managers play a key role in the effort to increase the energy efficiency of the build environment and promote sustainable practices throughout the entire lifecycle of a building. Facility managers are well-positioned to assist architects, developers, builders, contractors and investors with data on energy performance and implement solutions to bridge the gaps between design and performance.
As the Commission works to identify immediate, low cost solutions to help buildings achieve and sustain designed-for-performance, the EPBD should maintain a whole building approach encompassing all professionals involved in the operation, maintenance and renovation of existing buildings and incentivize district and city authorities to utilize facility management as a tool to increase the energy efficiency of public buildings.
IFMA supports the incorporation of the life-cycle approach within the revised EPBD. Facility managers are ideally placed to evaluate and assess the life-cycle performance of a building’s energy efficiency and to make the necessary changes to achieve designed-for-performance.
IFMA welcomes the introduction of minimum energy performance standards for renovation purposes, provided they are linked to the whole lifecycle performance of buildings. The successful roll-out of minimum energy performance standards for existing buildings depends on effective implementation by facility managers, including investment in workforce training and certification for building personnel. IFMA, therefore, calls on the Commission to continue to recognise the importance of FM as a tool to achieve energy efficiency and support related workforce training for FM. With regard to public buildings, the EPBD should ensure that facility managers are formally consulted throughout the lifecycle of any given building, particularly during the inception phase when the renovation works are planned and prioritized to reduce building carbon.
FM’s have always relied on data to inform decision making through digital logbooks and FM information systems. IFMA welcomes the newly introduced Article 14 on Data exchange and believes the EPBD has the potential to enhance the accessibility and availability of building-related data. Therefore, the EPBD should continue to recognise the essential role of facility managers and leverage their expertise in implementing data driven strategies to improve building performance.
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