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Caught in the middle: The role of the Facilities Manager in organisational energy use

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  • Goulden, Murray
  • Spence, Alexa

Abstract

This study analyses the role of the Facilities Manager [FM] as a key actor in organisational energy management. This builds on the idea that ‘middle’ agents in networks can be an important lever for socio-technical change. The study demonstrates the considerable impact the FM can have on workplace energy consumption, whilst identifying a number of factors that constrain their agency and capacity to act. These include demands to meet workforce expectations of comfort; a lack of support from senior management; and a shortage of resources. Underlying these challenges, the study identifies three different energy rationales – that is to say conceptual frameworks – which are deployed by different groups of organisational actors. The challenges of reconciling these at-times-contradictory rationales results in a picture of energy management which to the outsider can appear highly irrational. The paper concludes with a consideration of how policy makers can apply these insights to support energy reduction in workplaces.

Suggested Citation

  • Goulden, Murray & Spence, Alexa, 2015. "Caught in the middle: The role of the Facilities Manager in organisational energy use," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 280-287.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:85:y:2015:i:c:p:280-287
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2015.06.014
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    1. Harro van Lente & Marko Hekkert & Ruud Smits & Bas van Waveren, 2003. "Roles of Systemic Intermediaries in Transition Processes," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 7(03), pages 247-279.
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    1. Zierler, Rupert & Wehrmeyer, Walter & Murphy, Richard, 2017. "The energy efficiency behaviour of individuals in large organisations: A case study of a major UK infrastructure operator," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 38-49.
    2. Dimosthenis Kotsopoulos, 2022. "Organizational Energy Conservation Matters in the Anthropocene," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-30, November.
    3. Olsthoorn, Mark & Schleich, Joachim & Hirzel, Simon, 2017. "Adoption of Energy Efficiency Measures for Non-residential Buildings: Technological and Organizational Heterogeneity in the Trade, Commerce and Services Sector," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 240-254.
    4. Roth, Jonathan & Brown IV, Howard Alexander & Jain, Rishee K., 2020. "Harnessing smart meter data for a Multitiered Energy Management Performance Indicators (MEMPI) framework: A facility manager informed approach," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    5. Graeme Stuart & Leticia Ozawa-Meida, 2020. "Supporting Decentralised Energy Management through Smart Monitoring Systems in Public Authorities," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-20, October.
    6. Catherine Willan & Kathryn B. Janda & David Kenington, 2021. "Seeking the Pressure Points: Catalysing Low Carbon Changes from the Middle-Out in Offices and Schools," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-21, December.
    7. Ozawa-Meida, Leticia & Wilson, Caroline & Fleming, Paul & Stuart, Graeme & Holland, Carl, 2017. "Institutional, social and individual behavioural effects of energy feedback in public buildings across eleven European cities," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 222-233.
    8. Curtis, Jim & Walton, Andrea & Dodd, Michael, 2017. "Understanding the potential of facilities managers to be advocates for energy efficiency retrofits in mid-tier commercial office buildings," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 98-104.
    9. Saul Nkini & Erik Nuyts & Gabriel Kassenga & Ombeni Swai & Griet Verbeeck, 2024. "Towards More Green Buildings in Tanzania: Knowledge of Stakeholders on Green Building Design Features, Triggers and Pathways for Uptake," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-31, April.
    10. Akvile Cibinskiene & Daiva Dumciuviene & Meda Andrijauskiene, 2020. "Energy Consumption in Public Buildings: The Determinants of Occupants’ Behavior," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-23, July.
    11. Daly, Daniel & Carr, Chantel & Daly, Matthew & McGuirk, Pauline & Stanes, Elyse & Santala, Inka, 2023. "Extending urban energy transitions to the mid-tier: Insights into energy efficiency from the management of HVAC maintenance in ‘mid-tier’ office buildings," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    12. FITSILIS, Panos & Damasiotis, Vyron & Kyriatzis, Vasileios & Tsoutsa, Paraskevi, 2025. "Emerging Smart Cities Job Profiles and Competencies: A Framework for Digital and Green Transition," SocArXiv us7p4_v1, Center for Open Science.
    13. Royston, Sarah & Selby, Jan & Shove, Elizabeth, 2018. "Invisible energy policies: A new agenda for energy demand reduction," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 127-135.
    14. Yannai Kranzler & Yael Parag & Nadav Davidovitch, 2019. "Public Health from the Middle-Out: A New Analytical Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-16, December.
    15. van der Leer, Janneke & Femenias, Paula & Granath, Kaj, 2026. "Implementing minimum energy performance requirements ‘from the middle’: shifting levels of agency and capacity of housing developers in Sweden," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    16. Olga Pilipczuk, 2021. "Determinants of Managerial Competences Transformation in the Polish Energy Industry," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-27, October.
    17. Louise Sawyer & Simon Kemp & Patrick James & Michael Harper, 2021. "Assessment of a Nurse Led Energy Behavior Change Intervention in an NHS Community Hospital Ward," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-17, October.
    18. Olga Pilipczuk, 2020. "Sustainable Smart Cities and Energy Management: The Labor Market Perspective," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-24, November.

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