Cost control: How FMs can benefit from keeping an eye on expenditure

By Greenlite Group

13 Aug 2019

pavan-trikutam.jpg

As scrutiny of the bottom line becomes increasingly intense, facilities managers can play a pivotal role in helping companies to minimise costs related to building systems.

Picture the scenario: a meeting is called that will involve a company’s departmental and divisional heads, as well as financial executives and senior managers. The main topic: finding ways in which costs can be cut as operational expenses increase and the broader economic outlook remains uncertain. As a facilities manager, what are you going to say when it’s your turn to suggest possible savings?

This is one specific situation in which having a firm grasp of costs – both current and probable future – can be of significant advantage to an FM. Not only can it make it possible to contribute positively to budgetary discussions, it can also indicate that facilities are being well-managed in every respect – technological, practical and financial.

It therefore follows that the more astute FMs wish to have a complete understanding of where money is being spent, and why. This kind of knowledge allows them to identify areas where building systems can be used more efficiently – for example, to schedule downtime for lighting or air-conditioning on certain levels of a tower building when they are not in use.

For these reasons it makes sense to engage the services of a specialist who has always maintained a specific focus on the cost implications of their systems from the very start of the purchasing process – and at Greenlite we do mean ‘from the very start’. For example, we work with a number of financiers to help companies secure funding to assist in the acquisition of new systems, with payback periods calculated to ensure that unwelcome spikes in outgoings are avoided.

We then work to minimise the expense and time impact of the installation process. Once the fit-out has taken place we can schedule technology upgrades, system checks and other support and maintenance functions to ensure that costs are spread out over a long period of time. This is by no means a standard offer in the industry at this point, but it is precisely the kind of thing that FMS find useful in budgetary meetings!

As the desire to drive down costs and, in particular, reduce energy expenditure continues to intensify, the good news is that FMs now have the means to ensure their departments can more than pull their weight.

Enjoyed this? Read more from Greenlite Group

Latest news

1

Transformation takes off for aerospace engineers after Made Smarter supports investment Work at Airframe Designs

Transformation takes off for aerospace engineers after Made Smarter supports investment

12 Jun 2025

2

Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses new Parlick cheese brand gets listing at M&S Food Parlick range by Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses

Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses new Parlick cheese brand gets listing at M&S Food

12 Jun 2025

3

University of Cumbria and BAE Systems launch flagship scholarship BAE Systems scholarship

University of Cumbria and BAE Systems launch flagship scholarship

11 Jun 2025

4

College restaurant honoured with top culinary award from prestigious chefs’ guild Karen Lilley Front Of House Lecturer David McKown David Lyon Scholars Manager And Blackburn College Principal Dr Fazal Dad

College restaurant honoured with top culinary award from prestigious chefs’ guild

10 Jun 2025

5

Cosmetic manufacturer lets new unit on Frontier Park, Burnley Badgequo have agreed to let the site on Frontier Park

Cosmetic manufacturer lets new unit on Frontier Park, Burnley

10 Jun 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference
Net Zero Carbon Social 1200pxtrident 2
Networking
18 Jun 2025

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:00

LBV123 July/August Launch Event
Lancashire Business View magazine launch
Networking
16 Jul 2025

LBV123 July/August Launch Event

Burnley College Industry Hub, Burnley, BB120AN

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

Midnight Oil: The Entrepreneur’s Journey: Scaling Strategies with Brad Waldron
BU-June-Event-BRAD-1.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
18 Jun 2025 - 18 Jun 2025

Midnight Oil: The Entrepreneur’s Journey: Scaling Strategies with Brad Waldron

Blackpool Football Club, Bloomfield Rd, Seasiders Way, Blackpool, FY1 6JJ

08:30 - 11:30

Chamber Business Lunch – June
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
20 Jun 2025 - 20 Jun 2025

Chamber Business Lunch – June

Lancaster House Hotel, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4GL

11:00 - 13:30

90 day Business Planning Workshop
LBV Event Header.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
20 Jun 2025 - 20 Jun 2025

90 day Business Planning Workshop

Bolton Arena, Arena Approach, Horwich, BL6 6LB

09:00 - 16:30

Moonlight and Memories Walk 2025
MMW.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Fundraisers
21 Jun 2025 - 21 Jun 2025

Moonlight and Memories Walk 2025

St Catherine's Hospice, Preston, PR5 5XU

18:00 - 23:00

Emergency First Aid at Work – June 2025
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
23 Jun 2025 - 23 Jun 2025

Emergency First Aid at Work – June 2025

FGH Training 3rd Floor, Storey House, White Cross Business Park,, Lancaster, LA1 4XQ

09:00 - 16:00

Business Bike Club – July
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
01 Jul 2025 - 01 Jul 2025

Business Bike Club – July

Various, Lancaster, LA

08:00 - 09:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin