Bag the Benefits of a Green Office! - DENTON

What is a green office?

A green office space refers to a workplace which is considered sustainable and environmentally responsible. It takes into account the design, the construction and the operational practices. Complying with energy efficiency standards to reduce pollution, conserve energy, and create a healthy environment that often contains recycled materials.

In order to successfully design a green office, these are some of the factors that should be considered;

• Materials – What recycled materials can you use? Can you use a Local supplier?
  
  
• Furniture – How far are you transporting the goods? What materials are used?
  
  
• Biophilia – How can you bring the outside in?
  
  
• Energy Consumption – How can you reduce your energy consumption? Look at lighting, heating and ventilation.
  
  
• Waste Management – How can you reduce your reliance on landfills?
  
  
• Employee Travel – Do most people drive into work? What public transport is available to staff? Can you offer a bike to work scheme?
  
  

While it may seem a lot to consider, there are various short and long-term benefits to a Green office from staff retention to lower running costs.

Environmental Benefits 

• Reducing CO2 emissions: With an aim to half the emissions by 2030 and then get to net-zero by 2050, this is one of the key priorities for many businesses when considering an office fit-out in the UK. Reducing your CO2 emissions not only helps protect the planet, something which is the responsibility of us all, but leads to many of the other benefits listed below and can inspire other companies to follow suit.
  
  
• Reducing waste sent to landfills: The UK commercial and industrial sectors generated an estimated 43.9 million tonnes of waste in 2018. A huge amount when you consider how long the waste takes to decompose. Luckily DENTON is the perfect partner! We are ISO 14001 certified which means we produce a monthly report of waste breakdown and can suggest waste management companies that support your environmental policies.
  
  
• Reducing water consumption: Currently, 1 billion people worldwide do not have access to fresh water, however, this is expected to get much worse in the coming years. It’s estimated that by 2025, two-thirds of the population will face water shortages.

Check out our ESG policy for a in-depth look at how we aim to reduce our company’s carbon footprint, promote social responsibility, and champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Health Benefits

• Better air quality and less dust: improving the air quality of a workspace through natural light, plants, better ventilation and non-toxic cleaning products have a multitude of health benefits. In fact, companies that have implemented sustainable designs reported a massive drop in sick days taken by staff!
  
  
• Better humidity levels: sore eyes, itchy skin, dry skin and dry throats can all be symptoms of low humidity levels, which is why improving this can further reduce employee sick days. Designing your space with a humidity level of between 40% and 70% is recommended to help avoid these outcomes. One way we can achieve this is through the use of natural plants.
  
  
• Reduced stress levels: green office spaces, particularly those with Biophilia, have a positive effect on employees’ stress levels. Feeling more relaxed and calm, as well as having a lower pulse rate is a clear representation of a healthier workforce.
  
  
• Improved mental health of employees: as well as lower levels of stress, an eco-friendly environment incorporating plants can help to boost positive emotions and make us feel safe, both factors which contribute to our mental health. Outside spaces are hugely important to this and should be considered a priority when considering sustainable green office design.

Productivity Benefits

• Improved psychological engagement: both natural light and the inclusion of plants improve employee engagement and overall productivity. As mentioned above, staff are generally happier meaning they are more willing and able to successfully achieve their goals. Research by the University of Exeter has shown an increase in productivity of 15% in offices that introduced plants!
  
  
• Improved cognitive function: a study from 2015 found that the cognitive function test scores of participants doubled in locations of improved environmental quality. This means their ability to learn, think, remember details, problem solve and reason all improved by improving the sustainability of a space – so why wouldn’t a business want the same for their staff?
  
  
• Boost in creativity: an employee’s creativity can be affected by various factors in an office space, from noise to lighting, to air quality. A green office design considers and improves these factors, which ultimately boosts the creativity of your staff! Bringing plants into the space is one way to reduce noise levels, as well as air quality. It’s also been shown that the colour green itself inspires creativity, so if you’re in a creative industry – this is a must!

Business Benefits

• Lower energy costs: an environmental strategy is almost guaranteed to reduce energy costs considering energy consumption is one of the biggest factors in establishing a green office. Heating, lighting and air conditioning are just some of the areas to improve to see the biggest effects, and the bigger your business, the bigger the potential rewards!
  
  
• Attract and retain talent: recent data shows 86% of employees want their companies to care about the same issues they do. A green office is one of the easiest ways to demonstrate this as it is often one of the first impressions you give to potential employees and clients. A sustainable design shows them what you stand for, and why you care about them and the environment.
  
  
• Better investment opportunities: businesses are willing to pay more for premium sustainable spaces, and environmental and social responsibilities are becoming a key factor for investors when decision making. We encourage our clients to adopt a SKAor BREEAM rating method for their projects to accurately measure their sustainability impact and benchmark their performance against the rest of the industry.
  
  
• Prepared for future regulatory changes and costs: staying ahead of the curve and designing an eco-friendly office can help to future proof your business and avoid unexpected costs. The zero net emissions strategy is one example of where regulations may occur.
  
  
• Positive public relations: in recent years, sustainability has been labelled a mega-trend. Shouting about what your company does to stay environmentally friendly can entice customers and raise awareness of your brand. Consider sharing progress photos, your reasoning for choices and your finished green office design with your followers to inform them of your drive to reduce your negative impact on the planet.

So, how can a Sustainable Green Office be achieved?

The opportunities are endless here, and it is important to consider the function of your business, as well as how your employees use your space before making any decisions. The good news is that

Here are our top tips for achieving a sustainable and well-designed workplace:

• Biophilic design: direct and indirect nature and place and space conditions are all factors of Biophilic design within the building industry. Natural light, raw materials and vegetation promote wellbeing and lead to other benefits detailed above. Still, it goes further than adding a few plants or a living wall. You must also consider sound, airflow and circadian rhythms.
  
  
• Conduct an energy consumption audit: review and provide practical solutions for energy consumption while redesigning an office. This provides more control over ventilation, heating, lighting and air conditioning.
  
  
• Implement energy-saving technologies: smart lighting, heating and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) to make your building as energy efficient as possible.
  
  
• Utilise recycled, reused and local materials: this reduces your carbon footprint during construction of a building fit-out and is key when selecting furniture.
  
  
• Employ effective waste management: use a waste management service, although be careful to also consider their environmental impact! Be sure to consider recycling, and how you dispose of old office equipment and technologies.
  
  
• Speak to our experts and let us help!

For over 25 years, we’ve been helping landlords and tenants create the very best workspaces out there.

Our teams, north and south, have an unrivalled blend of technical and creative expertise — and we’re proud to offer a range of services covering every stage of the commercial interior fit-out process, from conception to completion to aftercare. In fact, why not have a gander at some of our recent projects?

Partner with the workspace design experts today and let us help you create your new green office. Drop us a message!