Greentech Lead America: Eighty-six percent of the total energy used at KBM Facility Solutions national headquarters in 2012 was produced by a solar power, the company said after releasing its corporate sustainability report for 2012.
Reduction in energy, water and waste consumption has been an ongoing focus for KBM’s green initiatives.
The company’s recent replacement of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system has achieved 42 percent efficiency gains and has also contributed to a five percent decline in natural gas consumption.
Its new high-efficiency cool roof reflects heat and sunlight, reducing internal temperatures during warm months by approximately 70 percent.
In 2012, KBM reduced its water use by 19 percent from the previous year. This decrease is consistent with reductions in previous years, despite the addition of 25 percent more employees to its workforce. Upcoming water reduction efforts include removing a large lawn area and replacing it with an “Arizona” garden with plants that will require 75 percent less water.
Last year, KBM recycled 21 tons of recyclable material and reduced its total waste consumption by six percent from 2010—the year KBM began measuring its waste consumption. It also implemented a new program to recycle outdated or unused electronic items for its customers, including computers, printers and fax machines.
Every KBM office has a social and environmental coordinator who supports managers with ongoing training, best practices and resources to achieve these goals. In 2012, KBM’s frontline employees completed a total of 6,848 hours of Green Certified training, or an average of 17 hours per employee.