Is your office environmentally sustainable?
Improving your office design so that it is more eco-friendly benefits you, not only in terms of reducing your energy costs but also by enhancing the wellbeing and productivity of your employees. A sustainable office space, whether it is a small medical or accounting office or a larger legal or corporate space uses less energy, has improved air quality, and is more comfortable and pleasant to work in.
Implementing changes, including sustainable office design, is an effective way to:
- Reduce energy usage and costs
- Reduce waste materials
- Minimise water usage
- Enjoy cleaner air
- Facilitate a more positive work environment
- Increase productivity and outcomes
An eco-friendly office operates to benefit the environment. But this is only one part of the equation. A sustainable office represents a wider scope and sets the focus on the office design for the future – its standards go beyond “green” practices and considers futureproofing for better long-term results in terms of protecting the environment and improving your workplace.
Tips for an Environmentally Sustainable Office
- Emphasise natural light. Install glass office partitions to maximise natural light, open up the space, and create a natural, clean aesthetic. Make use of available windows when configuring your layout.
- Insulate the area where possible to achieve maximum energy performance and minimise costs. Install solar window film, if possible, to keep the heat out in summer.
- Choose eco-friendly furnishings – e.g., modular furniture that can be reconfigured. Choose sustainable furnishing materials such as bamboo, sustainable timber, cork, recycled plastic, composite wood, and other locally made natural products. This extends to natural flooring products as well where possible during your office fit-out.
- Eliminate non-recyclable waste from your office kitchen/tearoom. Choose recycled products for paper towels, toilet paper, and tissues. Reduce plastic wastage and use compostable cups or encourage employees to bring their own reusable water bottles/coffee mugs/plates/cutlery from home.
- Replace incandescent bulbs with LED light bulbs. Install motion-activated lighting where appropriate.
- Limit the use of air conditioning wherever possible. Install and maintain an energy-efficient cooling and heating system. Where possible, make use of natural airflow via open windows in preference to air conditioning.
- Optimise ventilation.
- Use energy-efficient appliances – from your computers to the refrigerator. Use laptops in preference to desktop computers.
- Aerators installed onto taps are a great way to reduce water usage and control water flow.
- Digitalise as much as possible to cut paper waste.
- Install a recycling station and recycle as much as possible – including old light bulbs, batteries, electronics, etc.
- Add indoor plants to help improve air quality and the overall aesthetic to boost the moods of employees.
- Use non-toxic, organic cleaning products.
- If possible, go solar.
Ready for a Sustainable Office?
Get in touch with us at CMLS Commercial Interiors today for an obligation-free quote! We are leading office interior designers near you and we work with clients from Sydney to Parramatta and Penrith and surrounding suburbs. From concept and design to the right office partitioning and those small touches that pack a big punch, our talented office fit-out specialists will exceed your expectations.
We look forward to meeting you.
