According to Area office buildings contribute nearly 40% of global carbon emissions, which is why adopting a sustainable office design is paramount to combating the effects of climate change. But how can you design a sustainable office space? In this article, we’ll be explaining the importance of an eco-friendly office, together with how you can design a green office space for your employees to enjoy.
Why are sustainable offices important?
Sustainable offices have boomed, with more workplaces than ever before watching their carbon footprint and doing what they can to make sure their workplace is as eco-friendly as possible. But why is it important that we’re choosing sustainable office design over more conventional options? According to Area, a sustainable office fosters creativity, reduces stress and improves focus.
It also makes for a happier, healthier workforce, therefore meaning fewer sick days, as well as increases job satisfaction, therefore leading to higher employee retention rates. In addition, it also lowers carbon footprints, therefore minimising the effect on the planet and lessening the contribution to climate change.
How to design a green office space
There are many factors involved with making sure your office design is as eco-friendly as possible. From making small upgrades to an existing office to starting from scratch with the fit-out of a new one, here are a few ideas for creating a sustainable office that you can be proud of, thereby reducing the company’s carbon footprint.
Energy-efficient appliances
Energy-efficient appliances will not only lower your carbon footprint, but they will also save you money in the long run. Office appliances that are energy-efficient can range from anything to the dishwasher and fridge in the kitchen to the televisions on the wall, to the lightbulbs you’re using and the toilets fitted in the bathrooms. Making those simple swaps will see you making a difference to the planet in no time.
Having a recycling initiative
Recycling is a great way of reducing your carbon footprint in the office. Make sure there are dedicated recycling bins available that can house different materials. Have separate recycling bins for paper and cardboard, plastic and tins and lastly, glass. This may also depend on the waste management company collecting your recycling. They might tell you which materials to recycle together and which to keep separate. You should also consider implementing a food waste bin that sits in the office kitchen.
Using green cleaning products
A great way of reducing your carbon footprint as a company is to make sure that your cleaners are using eco-friendly products. Most people won’t think twice about the chemicals present in generic cleaning products, but these days, there are plenty of alternatives on the market that are non-toxic and chemical-free.
Reusing printed paper as scrap paper
According to Newman, the average office employee wastes around 6,800 sheets of paper every single year. Also, the average employee will forget to pick up more than 600 sheets of paper from the printer annually. Instead of wasting that paper, you should save it and use it as scrap paper.
Office employees will always find a use for scrap paper, whether it be scribbling down some quick notes while on the telephone, to letting employees know you’re on a lunch break. You will always find a use for scrap paper, especially if it’s already been printed on. Just use the blank side.
Proposing a hybrid working model
You might be wondering why a hybrid work model is good for the planet. Well, the fewer people who are travelling to work, the less traffic there is on the road, pumping out greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. In 2019, cars made up 60.6% of greenhouse gas emissions given off that year, according to the European Parliament. By making sure that more of your employees work from home, you’ll help reduce these greenhouse gas emissions.
Choosing an eco-friendly building
An eco-friendly building could include anything, from supplying electric car charging points to reusing grey water. Most eco-friendly buildings will also be built with these things in mind. They will likely be well-insulated, come equipped with LED lighting throughout, be fitted completely with energy-efficient appliances and more.
If you own the building, then it would be simple for you to make these upgrades yourself. If you’re moving offices, ask how the building is taking environmental factors into consideration as part of its overall design.
Offering car-sharing and cycling to work incentives
Transport was responsible for around a quarter of the EU’s total CO2 emissions in 2019, of which 71.7% came from road transportation alone, claims the European Parliament. The same source also states that transport is the only sector where greenhouse gas emissions have increased in the past three decades, rising 33.5% between 1990 and 2019.
This makes transportation a considerable contributor to climate change. As such, we need to do more to reduce the amount of traffic on the road. That can include car-share incentives at work. If your employees car share, then reward them for doing so. Offer free parking or a prize for employees who can car-share the longest, for example. The same should also go for cycling to work rather than driving to work.
FIT Interiors is pleased to provide customers throughout Nottingham with expert office fit-out and office refurbishment services. We can install washrooms, breakout spaces, suspended ceilings, office flooring and more. If you would like further information about our office fit-out services in Nottingham or our office refurbishment services, get in touch with a member of our friendly, knowledgeable team today – we’re always happy to hear from you.