13/12/2024
With an ever-increasing emphasis on sustainable practices, both at home and at work, the importance of workplace design cannot be overstated. With ambitious targets set by the UN to improve air quality, reduce waste, and lower global emissions, it is more important than ever to make responsible choices.
To help businesses reduce their carbon footprint and improve energy efficiency, considering the environmental impact of a workplace in the design phase is essential.
We've written before about the importance of creating a sustainable workplace. We've also outlined some simple tips on how to improve energy efficiency in the office, so we're no strangers to discussions around sustainability in the workplace.
From a design perspective, making it easy for businesses to educate employees, and providing an environment that allows businesses to drive sales, provide a service, and be as efficient as possible while helping meet sustainability targets, is the end goal.
But creating an eco-friendly office is so much more than simply installing recycling bins and turning down the thermostat. To create a sustainable office, the consideration must start at the earliest phase of design.
Join us as we look at the best ways to transform the workplace into an eco-friendly environment.
When planning a new office space, or when refurbishing and fitting out an existing workplace, making environmentally conscious decisions throughout the process is more important than ever. With rapidly advancing technology, and changing sustainability targets, considering the environmental impact of a workplace in the design phase is key.
But how can you do this, whilst still providing a space that caters to the requirements of the workforce, without compromising on style and functionality?
Here at Zip Water, we understand the importance of providing the best environment for your employees. We're experts in workplace hydration, but more than this, we're passionate about design and sustainability. These are our top tips on how to build an eco-friendly office space.
It sounds simple, and might even go without saying, but sunlight is an incredibly powerful resource to take advantage of when planning a more sustainable office space.
Using natural light to your advantage by installing large, double-glazed windows to let sunlight stream in – including adjustable blinds to avoid glare, of course – will not only save energy consumption by reducing the need for lights, but also helps improve employee wellbeing at the same time. (Not to mention, the natural light will also keep those office plants happy and healthy)
At the same time, the installation of solar panels can have a huge impact on energy bills for businesses, reduce the building's carbon footprint, and tick ESG boxes at the same time. With the advances in technology over the last few years, there are many different options for installing solar panels, from size to position.
We've already touched on the use of solar energy in workplaces, but there are many other energy sources away from fossil fuels. From wind power, to heat pumps, and geothermal sources, there are options for every space to help reduce reliance on traditional power sources.
Aside from the various government initiatives to help businesses explore new options for energy, offering different options for energy is also a real win for forward thinking businesses who want to reduce their environmental impact.
But once that energy has been generated, it's important to make it work hard! Offering a solution away from fossil fuels is only really sustainable if the energy is being used as efficiently as possible. With this in mind, insulation is king. Not only do well-insulated spaces require less energy to heat, they maintain warmth for longer, meaning less pressure on the office thermostat -- and a better experience for employees.
When designing a workspace, air quality is absolutely essential. The Health and Safety Executive provides a clear outline on what this includes, and why this is important. As well as being required by law, good ventilation and air quality is associated with better overall health and higher levels of productivity.
An easy option to ventilate an office is opening windows, which can be a solution for businesses, however in the depths of winter, this is not good for conserving energy. Therefore it's important to provide other options for improving air quality, like mechanical ventilation.
It is important to note that air conditioning by itself does not provide fresh air, but rather controls the humidity and temperature. Even with air conditioning, recirculating air without proper ventilation contributes to poor air quality, which, as we've seen, can have a detrimental effect on health, and employee morale.
Combining this with mechanical ventilation will help to remove indoor air pollutants, without wasting energy.
With a rapidly changing technological landscape, there are more and more ways to save energy than ever. From installing more energy efficient appliances, to choosing products made from recycled materials, office spaces can benefit from advanced technologies more than ever before.
Considering how technology can help when building a more sustainable office is also vital for ESG goals and sustainability credentials.
For example, if you're looking for a drinking water solution, Zip HydroTap offers instant filtered chilled, boiling, and sparkling water at the touch of a button, and boasts a wide range of energy saving features. A HydroTap in an office can boost productivity in employees by providing better quality hydration.
Did you know that other boiling water taps keep the outside touchpoints cool by circulating cold water around the tap? While this means you're never touching a hot tap, it uses a lot of energy to both heat the water for hot drinks but also pump cool water around the tap to avoid the risk of burning your hand. HydroTap however, uses a unique air-cooled system, meaning that it is 100% water efficient.
At the same time, other features like the energy saving mode keep energy costs down while the product is not in use. And the best part? This will happen automatically in times of low use, for the ultimate convenience.
Research shows that a huge 40% of plastic waste is packaging waste. And we know that even when our products are a sustainable option – in fact, a HydroTap is 66% more energy efficient than a kettle – it's important that the whole process is as sustainable as possible. Our packaging is 100% recyclable and made from sustainable materials.
We make it easy to reduce carbon emissions and reduce a business's carbon footprint, without adding any work for you, or your clients. We'll also work with you to recycle your HydroTap at the point of upgrading, to help sustainability efforts.
Although the design phase may seem a far cry from the day-to-day goings on in the workplace, when considering the design of a more sustainable office, it's essential that you consider the end-user at every step.
Energy efficiency and renewable materials go a long way to creating a more sustainable office, but helping employees make choices that will have a more positive impact on the planet is the best way to help make an office space more environmentally friendly, longer term.
Even things like providing ample bike racks to encourage more eco-friendly commuting options will help encourage employees to make more sustainable choices, every day.
Creating an environment where employees can all do their bit to be more sustainable is something that will benefit clients and offices alike. Providing bins that sort waste, from food waste to paper waste might feel inconsequential, but will make a huge difference if used correctly, and will help with waste reduction for months and years to come.
Even suggesting eco-friendly office supplies, and choosing LED lights for more energy-efficient lighting, will make your office space more sustainable, use less energy, and help workers make more sustainable choices every day.
It may feel like the design element is only a small part of how to make your office more sustainable, but this is far from the case. The role that design can play in reducing energy consumption is incredibly important.
Granted, once a business moves in, you can't control whether people use recycled paper towels, or whether they are recycling their plastic waste, but the purpose of designing for a sustainable future is to make it easy for businesses to reduce their carbon footprint.
For more information on how Zip can help save energy, improve ESG, and provide a better solution to businesses, get in touch today.
zipwater.co.uk
© 2024 Zip Industries
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