Sustainable offices are booming. It's not just an environmentally friendly practice; they also help boost corporate image and improve employee well-being, creativity, and productivity.
What does it mean to decorate the office sustainably?
It's about using recycled, natural, and efficient materials and elements. Sustainable office decor offers many environmental advantages because it reuses and repurposes materials. A sustainable office gives recycled materials a second life, saves costs, and improves the company's image with employees and clients. It's a win-win!
¿What can be done to make an office sustainable?
Use sustainable materials
Using sustainable materials in the office is essential. This involves considering the production or manufacturing of materials, their transport, and their potential for reuse or recycling.
One of the most sought-after materials for sustainable office design is melamine. This material is so similar to wood that it's difficult to tell the difference. It's also heat-resistant, resistant to harsh liquids, and antibacterial. Melamine has an elegant finish and withstands wear and tear over time. It's a perfect choice for the office.
Save energy
Heating and air conditioning are among the biggest expenses in offices. Maintaining a stable temperature is advisable, as each additional degree of cooling increases energy consumption by 7%.
Another important point is that devices left on standby, such as chargers, computers, printers, etc., consume a constant amount of power. For this reason, there are power strips that allow you to connect and disconnect all your devices. Timers are another good option for turning off equipment when the office is closed.
Energy-efficient lighting.
Start by making the most of natural light; it's much better for working and offers other benefits in terms of health and motivation. Try to always place your desks near a window.
Switch to LEDs or low-energy bulbs because they are efficient, consume less energy and are long-lasting.
Reduce paper usage
We use a lot of stationery in the office. Digitizing our documents will reduce our paper and ink consumption. If we do use paper, we can choose recycled paper and try to use both sides of each sheet. For every kilogram of paper you save, you'll reduce CO2 emissions by two and a half kilograms.
Small tricks that will gradually reduce your consumption:
- Program the printers for double-sided printing.
- Use recycled paper with chlorine-free compounds.
- Reuse sheets of paper with some printing errors to take notes.
Eco-friendly paints
Eco-friendly paint is now widely available in a wide range of colors. This type of paint is made with natural and biodegradable materials that are harmless to people and contain no chemicals.
Ecological paint does not contain harmful substances, such as biocides or plasticizers, and its environmental impact is much lower than that of synthetic products based on petroleum derivatives.
Energy saving certifications and eco-labels
When purchasing office technology, it's important to pay attention to its energy label. This should be a key factor in our decision, as it will save energy and protect the environment. Furthermore, in recent years, the demand for BREEAM and LEED certifications has increased for more sustainable buildings.
BREEAM and LEED are the two most prestigious international sustainable building certification systems and have been the benchmark in Spain for many years. Both ensure that buildings and cities are designed, constructed, and managed responsibly.
BREEAM is the world's leading sustainable building certification, adapted to Spanish regulations, language, and construction practices since 2010. This certification assesses impacts in ten categories, covering aspects as varied as energy, transportation, materials used, and occupant well-being. The BREEAM scale ranges from "fair" to "good," "very good," "excellent," and "outstanding."
LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) accredits the use of various strategies that certify buildings as sustainable and environmentally friendly. It establishes strict standards for the design, construction, and operation of a "green" building. One of the pillars of LEED certification is that buildings have zero greenhouse gas emissions.
Taken from the Ofitipo Blog
