Workers now average 435 square feet of space at the office and that area is greener than it used to be, but probably not much cleaner, according to a new study by the International Facility Management Association.
The rise in the amount of square footage per building occupant, the increase in energy efficiency in that office space and the decrease in the number of janitors maintaining it can be attributed to the economic downturn, IFMA says in its latest report of facility trends in North American workplaces.
There are fewer people at the office because of layoffs, and the square footage per building occupant has grown from an average of 396sf in 2007, to 415sf in 2008 and 435sf as of this year.
Because building operators are looking to save money, the average temperature in the workplace is about one degree Fahrenheit cooler or warmer depending on the season.
And while companies are spending about 25 cent per square foot more for janitorial costs in 2009 compared to last year, there are fewer maintenance people on the job because of the troubled economy. On average, there's one maintenance staff member for every 49,000 square feet of office space in 2009. The ratio was one crew member for every 47,000 square feet in 2006.
The cutbacks have resulted in a decline in daily trash removal and restroom cleaning, although less time-intensive tasks seem to still be on the daily duty roster, according to IFMA.
On the upside, only 11 percent of those surveyed say they manage facilities that are not certified as a green building or have no green elements. Twenty-eight percent say they work with properties that include one or more certified buildings. Sixty-one percent say their buildings contain green elements, but are not certified. More than four out of five businesses have recycling programs, and 62 percent use green cleaning supplies at their sites.
Use of sensors and building automation systems to manage energy use, changing the operating hours for HVAC systems and adjusting thermostat settings are among the measures facilities managers are taking to cut energy costs, yielding greater efficiency.
The study is based on data culled from 1,422 facilities comprising more than 600 million square feet of commercial space. Organizations queried range from Fortune 500 companies to the U.S. government and span 34 industries.
The IMFA released the report on its findings, "Operations and Maintenance Benchmarks, Research Report #32," this week. It is available from the organization's bookstore.
Image CC licensed by Wyscan.