Description
Operations and maintenance (O&M) practices can have a significant impact on occupant and user satisfaction as well as a building’s financial performance. Throughout its lifetime, a building’s O&M costs can well exceed the initial design and construction costs. Even the most carefully designed building will not provide a cost-effective, healthy environment unless a careful O&M strategy has been developed to ensure its longevity.
Urban Edge Guidelines
- Consider maintenance and operation issues during the design and planning of a building. Include at least one property manager and/or maintenance technician during the design phase of new projects to broaden feedback. This is especially relevant when designing building systems.
- Train Property managers, residents, and maintenance staff on sustainability principles and methods. Implement a preventative maintenance plan to keep building systems functioning as designed.
- Purchase cleaning products and supplies that are environmentally friendly and non-toxic. Select cleaning products that meet Green Seal or Massachusetts’ Environmentally Preferable Purchasing program (EPP) standards. Ensure that Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and information on cleaning and pest-control methods are included in the building’s housekeeping policies and procedures.
- Reduce waste through source reduction and recycling. Contact the City of Boston to establish an apartment recycling program.
- Use automated monitors and controls for energy, water, waste, temperature, moisture, and ventilation monitors and controls. Turn off lights, computers, and equipment when not in use. Also, use timers for the HVAC system and sensors to control lighting where applicable. Make sure that only staff with required training have access to controls.
Spotlight on Urban Edge
Green Cleaning Initiative
In August 2005, Urban Edge started working with Massachusetts Coalition for Occupation Safety and Health (MassCOSH) to implement a green cleaning initiative. We sought help in designing a program to develop a centralized purchasing system that would replace all our existing cleaning products with those that are healthier for the environment as well as custodial staff, residents, and other users of our buildings. Click here to learn more about this initiative.
Preventative Maintenance
Urban Edge has a preventative maintenance program consisting of monthly building and grounds inspections. This inspection covers the condition of the common area, basement, building exteriors, and roof.
Resident Outreach
Under the Green HUE project, we implemented several activities to inform residents about green procedures and policies. We distributed a poster to new residents at the new Egleston Crossing developments with instructions on caring for hardwood floors. We have also made revisions to the resident move-in guide to incorporate green issues, asthma prevention checkpoints, and recycling instructions.
 HARDWOOD FLOOR POSTER.pdf (77 KB)
Resources
General
TurnoverPractices.pdf (9 KB) |
