What Are The Benefits Of Sustainable Office Design ?
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Offices across the world are shifting towards sustainability as it creates a healthy environment for the workers. Sustainable or green office design has proved to improve the productivity of the employees and reduce the cost of electricity.
What is green office design:
Green buildings incorporate operational practices, design, and construction practices that effectively reduce their negative impact on the employees and also on the environment. The purpose is to reduce the overall ecological footprint of an office during and after the construction phase.
What are the benefits of a sustainable workplace:
The benefits of creating a sustainable office are widespread. Green offices have so many benefits across a range of areas. It reduces overall expenditure, increases workforce productivity, and makes staff management more efficient.
Here are a few other benefits of a sustainable office:
Improved productivity
Improved health of the employees
Improved job satisfaction
Reduced employee turnover ratio
According to experts, employees who are satisfied with their job and workplace remain loyal to the company. In this digital era, where millennials shift their jobs more frequently, providing them with a healthy and enjoyable working environment benefits the employer.
Developing a green office includes:
- Reducing waste and environmental degradation and using eco-friendly materials
- Minimizing air pollution as well as keeping the pollution of earth and water during and after the construction.
- Keeping the negative effect on the natural system and bio-diversity to a minimum
- Creating energy-efficient buildings
- Creating healthy and productive working spaces by using as many natural resources as possible.
All these are linked to the principles of creating sustainable buildings, which include protecting the environment, social and economical development.
How to design an office that doesn’t leave environmental footprints:
Reducing energy and water consumption in the office:
- You can use sensors to control lights in the areas that are not in constant use
- You can also install energy-efficient light bulbs
- Maximum use of natural light in the office
- Look for a rainwater storage option for the building
- Promote water-saving practices
Reducing waste during the construction process and building operations:
- Incorporating recycled and responsibly produced materials into office design
- Only order the necessary materials and dispose of the excess material responsibly
- Install an effective heating and cooling system in the office
- Proper use of insulation will also reduce the need for using artificial temperature controls. It will also reduce the overall energy cost.
- While designing the office, ensure that there is enough space for natural ventilation.
Use green power:
If possible, create generating renewable energy sources onsite using solar and wind power.
When it comes to materials and products that are used in the office, ensure that they can be reused and recycled in the future.
Non-toxic furniture material:
Some materials can contain gases that are produced in a closed environment over time. It can be harmful to human health. Ensure that you use materials that are non-toxic and environmentally friendly and cause no harm to human health.
Consider parking & transport to your office location:
Promote the use of public transport among your employees. If you are choosing a new office, make sure that it has easy access to public transportation options. You should also encourage employees to use other eco-friendly modes of transport such as bicycles and e-bikes.
Summary:
Sustainable architecture is essential in today’s time not only for the offices, but also for residential, commercial, and industrial properties. Several companies across the US and Canada have adopted this new way of providing a healthy and happy working environment to their employees.
