We spend at least 8-9 hours a day in the office, and therefore, we must consider having a sustainable office. Normally for two reasons: because we are concerned about the environment, and because being more ecological and sustainable will help us reduce unnecessary expenses. Creating green offices not only contributes to the well-being of the planet but can also improve employee morale and brand perception.
The best thing to achieve a more sustainable office is not to forget, here either, the 4 Rs: Reduce, Recycle, Reuse and Recover. In recent years, we have been hearing the term climate change, and the fact is that, for every little bit that we each do, we can help improve the environment. Therefore, in this article, OglingInches will give you some tips to have a sustainable office design and eco-friendly office design.
Understanding - Sustainable decoration
Sustainable decoration is that which uses materials and products that respect the environment and people's health, to reduce the environmental impact and promote a more responsible and conscious lifestyle. In the office environment, sustainable decoration can help improve the quality of life of workers, reduce company costs and improve its brand image.
Benefits of Sustainable office design in the company's economy
If your biggest concern is profitability, then the answer is yes, sustainable decor can provide businesses with several economic benefits, including:
Cost reduction: Sustainable materials are usually more durable and require less maintenance than conventional materials. This can mean long-term savings for companies.
Improved productivity: Working in sustainable environments promotes productivity and motivation. This can translate into increased profitability for companies.
Reduction of occupational risks: Sustainable materials can help reduce occupational risks, such as allergies or poisoning. This can lead to savings in insurance costs and sick leave.
Waste reduction: The excessive production of this waste contributes to emitting greenhouse gases, polluting and reducing natural resources. Therefore, companies must adopt measures to reduce their waste production and, thus, minimize their environmental impact.
Basic eco-friendly ideas for the office that are easy to apply
- Use as much natural light as possible
- Offer reusable options where workers can take notes, such as a glass notepad for the desk
- Use natural materials, such as wood, to create workplaces
- Use laptops instead of desktops
- Switch to energy-efficient lighting, such as LED
Digitize the documentation
As far as we can remember, we have always had offices full of papers, documentation filed in closets or drawers, and piles of ink for the printer. If you want to have a sustainable office, choose to digitize all documentation! In this way, we will avoid excessive consumption of paper and ink, and above all, we will save a lot of space by having everything filed on the computer. It is necessary to mention that if we have access to all the documentation on our intranet, all employees will be able to access it and improve communication.
Put recycling areas
It's one of the most important points if you want to have an eco-friendly office design. And for this reason, we must ask our employees to collaborate with it. Install different types of trash cans in the kitchens so that employees can recycle between organic, plastic and glass. Put different recycling paper containers in various areas of the office. And, don't forget to also place recycling boxes for printer ink and pillar, if you use them.
Stable temperature
The office we go to is rare and the temperature is stable throughout the year. Normally, in summer we turn the air conditioning very high and wear a sweater, and in winter we turn the heating on high. It doesn't help to have a sustainable office design either. In summer, the recommended temperature is around 22-24º, and in winter, around 16-18º. Keep in mind that for each additional degree of cooling, it can mean an increase in energy consumption of up to 6-8%. It is very important to make periodic checks of both the heating equipment and the ACs. With effective maintenance, up to 5-7% energy can be saved.
Avoid unnecessary energy consumption
It is not something that we normally take into account, but the simple fact of having devices connected to the power, even if they are not used, represents a large waste of energy. This is what is called phantom consumption. Computers, printers, mobile chargers, switchboards... Anything that is constantly connected consumes energy. To avoid this unnecessary expense, you can install anti-standby power strips, or you can disconnect the power strip when you are not going to go home and turn it on again the next day.
Consume environmentally responsible products
Apart from recycling as much as possible, we can also choose to use sustainable products. As for stationery, use recycled paper, pens made from recycled material, and reusable ink cartridges. And, for example, each ton of recycled paper is equivalent to saving almost 270K liters of water.
Reduce light consumption
We have already talked on other occasions about lighting in the office, and it is a primary factor. First of all, take advantage of natural light as much as possible. It will help motivate your employees and increase productivity, but above all, we will save a lot of money. If you have to use artificial light, always opt for LED bulbs or low-consumption bulbs.
Put plants in the office
If you want to have a sustainable office, don't forget to put plants in different areas. Plants help regulate the environment and can even absorb radiation from electronic devices. And as a plus, they provide motivation and well-being to employees. And that's it for our tips for having a green office design and eco-friendly office design. We hope such tips will help you design an environmentally friendly office.
Conclusion
Don't forget to involve all employees. Inform them of the advantages of having a sustainable office, because not only will we gain energy savings, but they will also increase productivity and provide a very good image to clients. If you want to have a team capable of providing you with the best advice for your design and construction projects, the advantage of working with us at OglingInches is that we have years of experience in the implementation of offices, office design, and remodeling of corporate offices. spaces.
