In today’s world, sustainability has become a pressing topic of interest. Increasingly, employees are expecting green workplaces while many businesses are looking for more sustainable office environments to better meet their sustainability and corporate agendas.
Businesses are fast understanding the benefits of a sustainable fitout which include:
- Long-term cost savings on lighting and energy expenses
- Reduced consumption and waste of incidental materials such as water, power and paper
- A more engaged and focused workforce – research suggests that greener office environments may foster better cognitive ability amongst employees.
The argument for sustainable office design is certainly compelling. Depending on your budget, goals and corporate objectives, an experienced office designer will be able to plan a more eco-conscious design that suits your needs.
Sustainable practices that might be considered include:
- The use of LED lighting
- Lighting motion sensors to reduce the need for lights to be on when no one is in the space
- Materials with a high cycled content across carpets and soft furnishings
- The introduction of recycling stations for paper, plastics and cardboard
- Hydration stations to encourage staff to bring in reusable bottles for water rather than buying water
- Sustainable or energy efficient appliances and equipment
- Sustainable building materials such as cork, bamboo or recycled timbers and low VOC paints
LED Lighting
Flexible spaces and furniture
An effective office design will also factor in how the layout and spatial plan will influence the wellbeing and efficiency of staff. Sustainable office design techniques that will enhance the productivity and efficiency of your office include:
- Natural lighting solutions (including window spaces, skylights and the use of glass partitions)
- Concealed storage solutions (to minimise visual clutter)
- Recycled acoustic or sound proofing materials (to minimise noise pollution)
- Automated blind systems to control office temperature, sound and light
- Smart sensors to track air quality and humidity levels
- Showers and quality bathroom settings to encourage staff to cycle and walk to and from work
- Plants and live greenery to improve air quality, ambience and happiness in the workplace.
Greenery and natural light
If you’re interested in discovering how a sustainable office fitout could enhance your workforce, contact our design team here.