How To Create a Green Office Space
With the pandemic “behind us,” some employees have made remote working their permanent gig, while others have nestled into more of a hybrid situation. This has led to fewer companies and businesses requiring vast, spacious office buildings in which to house their staff everyday.
Moving and downsizing opened up an opportunity for these companies to remodel and rethink designing the office space. More people working remotely has meant creating a space for ourselves in which to work home. Both of these scenarios has allowed us to start considering how we can create more environmentally conscious workspaces.
Whether you’re the boss, or you now work from home, if crafting a green office space is on your agenda, we’ve got some tips that will help you get started!
What is a Sustainable Office?
In order to create a sustainable workspace, it isn’t necessary to achieve green certifications such as BREEAM or LEED certification. A sustainable workplace is simply one that minimizes negative impacts on the environment and those who use, or are indirectly affected by, the space. Eco-friendly offices will opt for renewable energy sources, have zero-waste goals, and optimize the working experience for those in the space.
Thinking about making your entire business more sustainable? Read our article “A Dozen Ways to Make Your Small Business More Sustainable and Eco-Friendly” here.
Office sustainability ideas
If you’re hoping to go green at the office, there are many ways you can achieve your eco-friendly dream! From small changes and swaps to entire overhauls, choose what works for you and make it a goal to implement one new green office idea every week, month, or year.
Incorporate Biophilic design elements
Let’s start with some aesthetic green interior design ideas. Biophilic design is a 2024 office design trend that incorporates natural elements and materials into the construction and decor of a workplace. Natural light, plants, and ample views of the outdoors can help make a space feel more peaceful and inviting. These are emotions you want your employees and potential clients to feel when they enter a space.
Choosing wood and natural stone for construction materials, and copying patterns found in nature in your design can help bring the outdoors inside. Natural shapes, water features, or living walls can add an element of relaxation to an office. Plants will not only add to the feeling of being outdoors, but will garner indoor air quality improvement as well.
Implement Energy-efficient office design
The largest factor in creating an environmentally conscious workspace is to incorporate energy savings and renewable energy solutions. This ranges from using natural and LED lighting, lowering brightness on device screens, to switching everything off when not in use and overnight. Alone, these may seem like small savings, but over time and with consistency, a lot of energy can be saved this way.
Programming the thermostat at the office appropriately and choosing energy efficient office equipment can also add up to major savings. If you truly want to create a carbon-neutral office, you may investigate switching to solar, geothermal, or other renewable power models.
Choose Eco-conscious office supplies
There are certainly more eco-friendly electronics hitting the market these days, so when it comes time to replace the ones at the office, consider making the investment. The same can be said about other supplies like paper, office post it notes, pens, scissors, and everything in between. Choosing products made from recycled materials and devoid of plastic can help you create a more sustainable workspace. We’ve rounded up some of the best green office supplies for you in this article.
Make Sustainable furniture choices
Sustainable office design calls for making furniture choices that align with your eco-friendly values. If you don’t mind an eclectic style, secondhand furniture is an excellent way to furnish your green office space. Thrifted pieces are a terrific green home office idea, since the only person that needs to like the style is you! An added bonus is that purchasing these pieces used will save you money as well.
If your space calls for congruency, you may need to buy new. In this case, opt for high-quality and long-lasting natural materials like bamboo, wood, or metal. Furniture that is made from recycled fabrics and materials is a good choice, or opting for FSC-certified will ensure that the wood was sustainably grown and sourced. The cost may be higher for sustainable furniture, but the longer lifespan of the products will make up for the increased price tag.
Go Digital or paperless
There are so many ways to avoid paper in the office these days that it seems silly not to. Use devices like reusable notebooks and tablets with a stylus for note taking. Display key points using a projector or by sharing electronic documents during meetings rather than printing copies for every attendee. Provide paperless receipts, forms, and other paperwork for clients rather than folders full of documents.
If you must print, consider purchasing recycled paper and refillable ink cartridges. A few strategies to help you use less paper overall is to reduce font size, print double sided, and reuse paper when possible.
Responsible Recycling and waste management
We all know by now that recycling isn’t the answer. However, when those difficult-to-avoid plastics, paper, and other recyclables sneak into the office, it’s important that they don’t end up in the trash bin. Ensure that you have enough recycling receptacles in convenient places to encourage proper sorting and disposal, and that your office building is set up for frequent pick ups from your city services.
Another effective way to reduce waste in your green office space is to start a composting system. Whether your city offers food waste pick up, has a drop off center, or you want to use your office-created compost in a company garden, investigate how you might implement composting in the workplace. Yes, there are ways you can compost indoors – see our article “How to Compost Like a Pro” for more information.
Practice Water conservation measures
Green building practices should always consider water conservation. There are two major components when it comes to conserving water in your sustainable workplace. The first is fairly straightforward – using less water overall. Efficient appliances like low-flow toilets and faucets and water-saving dishwashers will help drastically reduce water consumption in your green office.
The other, just as important, aspect of water conservation is being conscious of what we introduce into the waterways at the workplace. Using natural, biodegradable cleaners, soaps, and detergents is key to avoid rinsing chemicals down the drain. Properly disposing of old electronics, devices, and other noxious materials like paints is also important, as toxins from these items will leech into waterways if thrown in the landfill.
What are the benefits of a greener office?
Designing and maintaining a sustainable workplace has many benefits – for the planet, the people in the office, and for the company’s pocketbook.
At first glance, office greening may seem to cost more. But when we consider energy and water savings and the longevity of more sustainable supplies, lighting, and furniture, one of the benefits of a more eco-friendly workplace is cost savings.
If that’s not enough to encourage you to create a green office space for yourself or those who work for you, studies have shown that employees that work in a sustainable space are happier and 16% more productive than the average worker. Also, when we incorporate plants to filter the air, and natural materials and cleaning products are used, we create a more healthy workplace, too.
Plus, if you’re a company that deals with the public, in sales or otherwise, having a reputation as a brand that cares for the environment can be good for your reputation. With growing concerns over climate change and plastic pollution to name a few, more people are seeking out sustainable companies to support.
Final thoughts about creating a green office space
Whether you’re in it for the planet, your pocketbook, or the productivity and happiness of employees, aiming to create a more sustainable office should be a no-brainer. Start with small, manageable changes and work your way towards a more green and healthy workspace. Just as every journey must begin with one step, so too should yours toward a green office space.
