How to Make Your Office More Sustainable
Sustainability has been a topic of increasing importance in recent years, with individuals actively seeking to change their habits to contribute to the cause and businesses turning to eco-friendly alternatives.
As almost one-third of global energy consumption is caused by buildings and the construction industry alone, looking into more sustainable resources should be a point of focus for building owners.
And given the impact that regularly promoting eco-friendliness in the workplace can have on increasing overall environmental awareness and changing individuals’ mindset, working towards creating environmentally friendly offices should be a priority for business owners.
Below are some of the factors you should consider if your goal is to make your office more sustainable.
Sustainable design
When it comes to creating a sustainable office, the structure and design of a building can have a crucial impact on its potential to be eco-friendly.
Though the way a building makes use of resources such as energy, electricity and water is instrumental in determining whether it can support sustainability, its materials and design are even more important long-term, as they provide a solid foundation upon which eco-friendly practices can be built.
Sustainable design is the solution to creating a building that is naturally more sustainable.
Even more important is active sustainable design, which involves implementing sustainable infrastructure and electrical and mechanical systems.
Whilst coming up with a design is the easy part, there is much more to consider and changing a building is often far more complex.
From extensions to adapting a space, it is advised that businesses work with a professional, such as a building surveyor, to ensure that all works are done to the appropriate standard and legislation.
Considering the anatomy of a building
Designing a building to be sustainable or acquiring a building that’s been built with sustainability in mind is undoubtedly a vital first step.
Contacting experts for feasibility studies can be of aid, particularly where these include environmental assessments, which can advise on a building’s suitability to be eco-friendly.
If you’re looking to convert an existing building into an office, you should first seek advice on its structure, and whether it has the potential to be turned into a green working space.
Building materials can significantly contribute to how a building ranks on the sustainability spectrum and the likes of fire risk assessments must be considered during this process, too.
While eco-friendly materials will naturally support the cause, they may not always be a convenient, cost-effective choice, and a building surveyor can help you determine the very best materials and products to suit your needs.
The importance of insulation
In the context of sustainable building structures, insulation should be a main point of focus, helping businesses save on energy bills whilst cutting down on carbon emissions.
For instance, single glazed windows and a structure that’s not sufficiently airtight will contribute to air leakage, which may result in increased usage of heating and air conditioning, and in turn, energy waste.
Properly insulating structural elements such as walls, floors and roofs will significantly improve energy performance, helping you save on costs and contributing to reducing wasteful energy loss.
Relying on experts to assess the suitability of a space and advise on extensions or required insulation-focused works to harness its full green potential can help make sure you are getting the most out of your building.
With aspects such as Rights to Light and Party Wall to consider, a building surveyor is your best bet to ensure a smooth and seamless process.
Keeping energy efficiency in mind
Offices will typically rely on high volumes of electricity and energy to operate, and this is precisely how using renewable energy instead of fossil fuels can make a difference, efficiently reducing CO2 emissions and saving energy.
One of the best ways to make sure your workplace is energy efficient is to invest in a pre-acquisition survey, which can provide extensive information about the state of the building and invaluable advice to improve energy efficiency, helping you make evidence-based decisions.
The benefits of enlisting the help of professionals
As independent chartered building surveyors with a wealth of experience in the building and construction industry, here at Arc Building Consultancy, we offer a variety of services and solutions that focus on supporting the sustainability cause.
Regardless of your plans, we have a broad range of skills that can be applied to help map out the way forward and achieve the most cost-effective results for you.