- There are multiple benefits for undertaking a comprehensive inventory (or ‘audit’) of the systems related to Sustainability in a public building or campus environment. In addition to identifying the necessary data required to evaluate energy and water usage, it is also important to consider the following operational aspects in order to accurately benchmark current building performance and identify areas of improvement:
- Waste, landfill diversion & recycling
- Purchasing procedures
- Fleet and POV transportation modes
- Environmental Operations and Maintenance (‘O & M’) policies
- Employee engagement and training programs.
When it is presented as an open and collaborative process, a facility-wide sustainability audit often results in an improvement in employee engagement in understanding the purpose behind setting benchmarks for making improvements in sustainability and operational efficiency.
The first step in the inventory process involves research into current operational practices which includes identifying what areas have been successful and which can likely be leveraged to encourage further innovation and improvements. It is very important for the department leaders to see evidence of the benefits of sustainability improvements because it provides a clearer understanding of the purpose behind the organization’s overall sustainability goals. operational systems and how they interrelate.
An independent Sustainability Inventory that is facilitated (not imposed) by a third-party can often produce results that are particularly insightful because it brings in an unbiased/ unfiltered perspective. An independent facilitator has more freedom to ask probing questions that can often uncover efficiencies and disconnects that exist in and between the various departments that may otherwise get overlooked by the internal staff who are not always looking for solutions outside of their department.
Low Barrier Homeless Navigation Centers
The Low Barrier Navigation Center model, which began in San Francisco, California (Information Here) and has since been replicated in several western states is a congregate living facility which provides assigned shelter beds or micro-apartments for a period of 1-6 months with a variety of on-site supportive services and which typically haves a limited number of rules or barriers to entry