School facilities managers have unique premises to look after, with quality learning environments needing to be balanced with prudent cost management. Good facilities management in a school can improve the classroom setting for staff and pupils, increase running efficiency and enhance the public impression of the institution. Read on for some top tips for managing educational facilities.

Energy saving

Energy usage in a school is a large cost and so it’s always worth regularly reviewing your consumption to see if savings can be made. Small adaptations can make a large difference over time and can be the easiest updates to implement. Consider updating your HVAC system settings and zoning, installing energy efficient lighting and appliances.

Simple changes such as encouraging the turning off of electronics after usage can be worthwhile, especially when scaled up to whole IT suites or school-wide. Appointing ‘energy saving champions’ in school staff or pupils who help monitor such initiatives can be handy and a way to get the premises’ inhabitants involved.

Out of hours

With school facilities often providing valuable space for out of hours clubs and societies – for pupils and the wider public – it is easy for excessive energy to be used during this time. Monitor the use of energy from such groups, potentially drawing up some guidelines for how they use the premises and how to use energy judiciously. You could also try to contain such groups’ access to the wider school to prevent extra, unnecessary energy use outside of their required space.

Lighting

Lighting is an area where large savings can be made and where updating your technology can really make a difference. For example, updating traditional lights to LEDs can save up to 60% of lighting costs. Installing a motion detection system for your lighting is another way savings can be made as lights will automatically switch off when not being used. Furthermore, you can save money by switching off lighting on sunny days or when screens are being used – this will also reduce screen glare, thus helping to reduce eye strain.

Thorough cleaning

Thorough cleaning and upkeep is particularly important in the school environment. Not only will cleanliness cultivate an attractive, undistracting and well-maintained place of learning, it can also impact health. Illnesses and allergies can greatly impact learning and absenteeism and an unclean school will worsen both.

Professional cleaners should be employed to clean the school on a daily basis, ensuring that surfaces are disinfected – thus reducing germ spread – and spaces are completely dusted and vacuumed – reducing the presence of irritating allergens. A professional cleaner will also be able to utilise child-safe cleaning chemicals and offer comprehensive, cost effective janitorial supplies to further promote hygiene.

Proactive maintenance

Keeping equipment well-maintained – from your heating system to computers – can help extend their usable life. This is useful both in terms of saving you money on untimely replacements and repairs, and in keeping your equipment from pesky downtime which, in a school, could have an impact on the ability to teach. Have equipment cleaned and serviced regularly to keep it in good condition – at peak efficiency, your equipment will be running in the most cost effective manner, too.

From local nurseries and schools to large colleges and university buildings, JMS Cleaning Services can provide your premises with a meticulous, tailored cleaning service. With an experienced and well-trained team, knowledge of tried-and-tested cleaning techniques, and a range of professional cleaning equipment, we can keep your premises fresh, hygienic and inviting. Get in touch our friendly team today to discuss your needs – we’re happy to help clients throughout the North West, including Manchester, Crewe & Liverpool.

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Facilities managers are integral for the smooth running of commercial buildings and the efficiency of day-to-day business operations. When considering strategic planning, costs will be at the forefront of many decisions, especially in the current economic climate, and by being open to new ideas you can keep operations streamlined. From cutting energy costs to being savvy with your supplier selection, there are many options open to facilities managers for keeping your buildings economical. Here are some top tips for shrewd cost cutting.

1. Be open to new ideas

If you are looking to make savings for a building you’ve managed for a while, or are just searching for new ways to make improvements, some outside the box thinking may be required. Don’t be afraid to look into ideas that may seem more unusual and always stay on the lookout for ways to improve current systems. So long as you thoroughly evaluate the balance of initial investment versus long-term savings, creative strategies should be given due consideration.

2. Start small

Often, it can take big investment to make big savings. For example, retrofitting or replacing your HVAC system for a more energy efficient one. However, businesses often don’t have the cash to hand to make large changes, even if it will save money over the longer-term. In these instances, small, gradual changes can be a preferable choice, from a financial perspective, and can allow savings to be made instantly. Consider changing to more energy efficient LED lights, installing motion sensors for lighting, or reviewing HVAC usage. The savings from small changes could even be used to save for significant upgrades.

3. Cutting energy costs

Energy usage will always be an area worth examining to see if savings can be made. With sustainability and eco-friendliness being major concerns across industries, there are continuous developments and advancements in technology in this area which lead to improved efficiency and reduced energy consumption. Think more energy efficient light bulbs and hand dryers, cutting back on site lighting and turning off electronics at night, zoning your HVAC system effectively, and maybe installing eco flush toilets and motion sensor taps to reduce water consumption.

Installing solar panels on unused roof space can be another way to enhance sustainability and even make money from selling the energy back to the grid.

4. Review your suppliers and contracts

Look at your outgoings carefully, do your research, and see whether you could get better deals with other suppliers. Whether it is utilities, cleaning supplies or vending machine snacks, even small savings each month will build up over time, so don’t let the switching process put you off.

You can also try to negotiate a better deal with your current suppliers, particularly if you can incentivise the savings. For example, your current cleaners might be willing to give you a better rate for using their services across several offices or buildings, instead of just one.
 

5. Carry out preventive maintenance

It may be tempting to cancel or cut back on routine maintenance of equipment when looking for places to save on costs, but this is a bad idea. To ensure that your equipment and office environment stays as efficient and functional as possible, it is worth paying out small amounts for preventive maintenance rather than large amounts for substantial repairs.

Equipment maintenance will enable peak performance, increase apparatus lifespan, reduce downtime and maintain safety. Regular cleaning of your premises should also be kept up to ensure a presentable, professional and safe environment for staff and visitors. Routine cleans will ensure equipment stays fully operational and will increase the lifespan of fittings and fixtures, preventing replacements – such as carpet refits – from being needed for longer.

JMS Cleaning Services offer a superior cleaning service for commercial customers throughout the North West – including Manchester and Chester. Our practiced and thorough team have experience cleaning a wide variety of commercial premises, and will tailor our services to the size and requirements of your individual business. For more information about our services, or to discuss your business’s needs, get in touch with our helpful team today.

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