Peer Review

Sustainable Facilities Tool

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Apr 13, 2020 by Teacher Education

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

The SFTool is a robust, practical and engaging resource for facility managers, purchasing agents, designers, tenants, and the general public to understand why sustainability matters and how to take practical steps to create healthier, more comfortable, high-performance workplaces. SFTool explains sustainable options and enables informed decision-making by making it easy to learn about sustainability topics, view planning strategies, explore virtual spaces, identify federal sustainability requirements, practice managing a building, read case studies and share knowledge.

Type of Material:

Simulation

Recommended Uses:

The Sustainable Facilities Tool is intended for not only facility managers, purchasing agents, designers, tenants, or those who care about efficient, healthy buildings and environmentally-responsible purchasing. The tool prepares the user to take action by providing a one-stop shop for information, activites and more under the topic headings: LEARN, PLAN, EXPLORE, PROCURE, ASSESS, & SHARE. It would be appropriate for in-class or homework, individual or small group use.

Technical Requirements:

Browser based website

Identify Major Learning Goals:

Inform professionals as well as the general public on a variety of topics related to buiding or renovating structures and grounds in ways that are sustainable and cost-effective
Provide a plethora of resources for people specifically involved in facilities management, as well as others who want to understand more about how to plan for sustainability
Assist learners in understanding related laws, regulations and practices associated with building and renovating various sized buildings for sustainability
Facilitate the application of the material with a well-designed simulation

Target Student Population:

College General Ed, College Lower Division, College Upper Division, Graduate School, Professional

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

Helpful to have some understanding of facilities planning, though a novice would still have much to learn from the resource

Content Quality

Rating:

Strengths:

Comprehensive set of resources available that are well-organized and easy to navigate
Resource attends to current trends, issues and laws as well as future implications, along with specific case studies and examples from around the country
Simulation allows user to experiment with various designs aligned with sustainability principles and requirements

Concerns:

The tool is of high quality.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:

Strengths:

Learner using this site will find they can easily narrow down to exactly what they need to learn whether they are beginners or advanced professionals. This tool could be used throughout the training of sustainablility professional or someone who wants to incorporate sustainability for a specific purpose.

User Guides are provided for each potential role so that the user can zero in on the exact skills and abilities required for understanding sustainability from a particular perspective. Each role is broken down into areas which essentially are the equivalent of Goals and each includes a list of objectives. The four roles and three areas included are as follows:

Facility Managers

I. Building & Grounds Management
II. Space Management
III. Procurement Management

Project Managers

I. Managing Project Requirements
II. Meeting Project Goals
III. Accounting for Project Impacts

Procurement Professionals

I. Value-Based Purchasing
II. Regulation and FAR Compliance
III. Purchasing Activity

Leasing Specialist

I Fulfill Environmental Criteria
II. Property Management
III. Community

Learners have the opportunity to manipulate actual visuals that makes this site an interactive and engaging tool that could be used for a variety of assignment types.

Concerns:

New sustainability learners might get distracted by the interesting information at the site and find themselves off task.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:

Strengths:

The site is very easy to navigate because each section is consistent within itself. For example, the Planning section includes Overall Strategies, Project Types & Planning for the Future and the Procure section is broken down into Products or Services, so the user can easily narrow down to exactly where they are in the planning process or what they need to buy.

Contact information is provided, the site is updated regularly and everything works as it should.

Concerns:

None

Other Issues and Comments:: This Sustainablity Tool is FREE and because it is very comprehensive and useful for a wide variety of levels and learners, it could easily be used in place of a textbook. It is clear that the materials are regularly updated, and that those responsible for maintaining the site want to information about existing resources related to sustainability, as well as specific training sessions that are available
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