Sustainable Practices in Facilities Management Assignment

Sustainable Practices in Facilities Management - Assignment Example Due to increasing environmental concerns worldwide, the governments are under pressure to intervene in the affairs of the society through statutory regulations for streamlining the operations of the general public, local authorities, businesses and other agencies in the backdrop of global warming. â€Å"There is enough for everybody’s need, but not enough for anybody’s greed† – Mahatma Gandhi. Nilsson (2008) states â€Å"In the past, the statement (Ibid) might have been overlooked as being a somewhat idealistic point of view, but in the light of climate change, the truth becomes very evident†.   Industrial and technological developments leading to air pollution caused by the automobiles, water pollution by industries, depleting water table and deforestation as well as imbalances in ecosystem due to extinction of species necessitates coordinated actions at all levels as the pace of development at the current rate with uninhibited use of precious na tural resources is not sustainable in the long run. The corporate community is expected to rise up to the occasion as they have been primarily responsible in the first place for this deplorable environmental phenomenon in the name of growth and industrial development. Carbon Intensity U.S. and China are the world’s two largest emitters, and reducing the Carbon intensity by these nations as well as the EU and fast developing countries such as India, Brazil and Russia holds the key for success by the world in climate change. However, the targets are mainly aimed at human induced Carbon-Di-Oxide (CO2) emissions only. However, in a comprehensive approach the need for land reuse, reforestation, biomass fuel cropping, recycling of waste and renewable energy and its perceived effects on ecosystem have also gained attention and lead the socially responsible people including corporate citizens to realize the need for their cooperation and participation, apart from the complex internat ional negotiations starting from Kyoto Protocol. Finamore (2009) states â€Å"a carbon intensity target will require each province and major enterprise to measure, report and reduce their CO2 emissions and energy consumption, year-on-year, acting as a driver for greater efficiency and renewable†. UK is committed to 80% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050 at the recent Copenhagen Climate Change Summit in December 2009.    A 2 Z Retail’s total carbon footprint Carbon footprint means the total amount of greenhouse gases produced by an organization (or individual) in its activities, expressed in terms of measurable units of carbon dioxide. The direct greenhouse gas emission by burning fossil fuels for various needs of energy and transportation is called as Primary Footprint. The Secondary Carbon Footprint is the total of the indirect emissions generated in relation to the manufacturing process involving use of several intermediary products, consumables and services. Total carbon footprint in relation to a company is the sum of all emissions of CO2 (carbon dioxide), including Primary and Secondary footprints in a given time frame, calculated usually for a year. The calculation is based on the consumption of different type of fuels by the different activities. For example, for each (UK) liter of Diesel consumed, 2.7 kg carbon dioxide (CO2) is emitted, and for each liter of heating oil, it works out to 3.0 kg. The activities such as travel by train or bus (public transportation) for a distance of 10 to 12 km or by