The amount of energy required to operate and maintain a building over its expected life is approximately four times greater than the total energy expended during its actual construction (including the manufacture and assembly of the building materials and components).
This represents a major monetary commitment, and reinforces the essential need for a well organized and cost effective maintenance routine incorporating preventive maintenance.
The primary goal of maintenance activity is to preserve a building in its initial state as long as possible, so that it effectively serves its intended function.
The main objectives of maintenance in buildings include:
ENERPLAN BUILDING CONSULTANTS develops very practical and cost controlled Maintenance Action Plans for use by the building owners in the upkeep and repair of their building and property.
ENERPLAN's programs are designed to slow down the rate of deterioration and avoid conditions leading to breakdowns (or premature deterioration) that necessitate immediate and expensive repairs. The Maintenance Action Plan is a valuable tool in establishing and operating an on-going maintenance system.
Regardless of the availability and quality of technical information pertaining to building maintenance, including repairs and replacements, financial resources must also be available in order for action to be taken. In essence, physical planning must be integrated with financial planning.
ENERPLAN BUILDING CONSULTANTS addresses this issue in a variety of ways, depending on the specific needs and circumstances of our Clients. For those Clients who operate with a Reserve Fund, we prepare a Reserve Fund Study and, by request, annual up-dates that promote preventive maintenance. We have also built into our software, a gradation factor that allows us to vary annual contribution rates. This enables us to further customize the Cash Flow Tables/Financial Planning for each Client, and, in many instances where Reserves are low, avoid lump sum contributions (i.e., special assessments or third party loans).