FM as the Linchpin of ESG: Carbon Footprint Analysis and Benchmarking

Ir Dr Joseph H.K. LAI

Associate Head (Teaching) and Associate Professor, Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Abstract

Climate change is not merely an environmental problem but also one of the biggest challenges to the international community. Central to this problem is global warming, which arises from a variety of man-made activities in the built environment, especially the emissions of greenhouse gases (commonly known as carbon emission) from the operation of facilities in buildings. Facility managers (FMs), therefore, have a pivotal role to play in ensuring efficient operation of the facilities, thereby minimizing building energy use and carbon emission. This speech will be centred on some empirical research findings about carbon emissions from real-life buildings. The research processes undertaken, the procedures taken to quantify the carbon emissions, the analyses made on the carbon footprints, and the methods used to establish carbon benchmarking charts will be presented. Besides the common problems encountered in this kind of empirical research studies, how the findings can benefit FMs and organizations in working towards the goal of sustainability will also be covered.

Biography

With a first-class honours degree in building services engineering, a master’s degree in environmental management, a PhD in facility management (FM) and over a decade of professional practice, Dr. Joseph Lai combines professional and academic roles as a scholar in FM teaching and research. Dr. Lai is Associate Head of the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The honours Dr. Lai received include Teaching Excellence Award, Faculty Teaching Excellence Award, Dean’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Academic Programme Development, and Distinguished Educator Award of the International Facility Management Association. Dr. Lai is Co-Editor of the Facilities journal and Associate Editor of the Smart and Sustainable Built Environment journal. Besides playing key roles in professional institutions and serving on the committees of public bodies, Dr. Lai has been active in accrediting courses and delivering seminars, training courses and consultancy projects.