We recently released our annual State of Facilities in Higher Education report, and since its publication I've been reflecting on sustainability's rising importance within higher education. As the report shows, enrollment at master's and baccalaureate institutions has trended downward since 2013, while space growth trended upward until the COVID-19 pandemic. As schools grapple with these divergent stories, many campus leaders have been asking how best to manage their institutions in a sustainable way that guarantees their future longevity.
One of the most exciting ways we've seen schools handle these shifts has been to add a "No Net New Space" policy on campus. Such policies still encourage the construction of new state-of-the-art facilities to align with the institution's programmatic future. However, they also encourage campus leaders to first consider if they can renovate an older building to meet their needs and they promote conversations about what buildings are outdated for their institution. In many cases, these older buildings contain significant deferred maintenance and high costs of ownership. By offlining these spaces, universities can lower their total cost and reduce their utility consumption as newer buildings are more energy efficient.
Renovations and removals aren't the only ways to sustainably manage space. Considering the inflationary impact on utilities, energy efficiency upgrades within older buildings also reduce university costs. While capital project dollars are always competing for prioritization, modernizing boilers, chillers, end use HVAC equipment and building controls lowers utility expenditures while decreasing energy consumption and a campus's overall greenhouse gas emissions.
As schools grapple with the ongoing operational and space trends we discuss in the State of Facilities report, prioritizing sustainability is an important path forward for managing costs and continuing educational excellence.
- Duncan Ketel | Account Manager, Facility Planning — West Region
