Sustainability is one of the biggest concerns we have for our planet’s future. Over the last two centuries, Earth’s temperature has risen by 1.8 degrees fahrenheit thanks to humanity’s overreliance on products and services that damage the environment.
British workers will spend an average 84,365 hours in the office over the course of their lives, so it’s no surprise that creating a sustainable office space is now a main goal for many businesses. As we spend so much time at work, there are many activities we do day-to-day that harm the environment that we don’t even realise. However, there are also ample opportunities for us to reduce our carbon footprint in the office.
Creating a sustainable office space doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. Small changes can make a big difference, and the more you adapt your working methods, the bigger the role you play in helping the environment.
What is a Sustainable Office Space?
A sustainable office space is one that doesn’t solely rely on operating methods that harm the ecosystem. A good example comes from the amount of paper a business uses. It’s estimated that 45% of printed material ends up in the bin by the end of the day, and many desk workers use sticky notes that can’t be recycled due to the adhesive strip.
Companies worldwide are looking to reduce their dependence on paper by digitising notes and documents, which is not only more practical and cost-effective but a great way to improve sustainability.
When you take a good look around your office, you start to notice how much the little things can add up. To create a more sustainable office space, we recommend sticking to the following tips:
Make Use of Windows
There’s a lot more to windows than meets the eye, and they can be very effective tools in making your office space more sustainable. Large windows let plenty of natural light flood into the office, which can save businesses from having to turn the lights on. Natural light also has the added benefit of improving your general mood at work and limits your dependence on artificial sources.
On cold days, the right window panes can also help with energy bills. Double and triple glazing are used to keep heat generated inside the building from escaping. This will keep your office warmer for longer, meaning you won’t have to put the heating on full blast for a significant amount of time.
When the day is hot, you could be tempted to turn on an air conditioning unit or a fan, but this isn’t necessary. Open your windows as wide as possible to let the indoor heat out and to encourage a gentle breeze to roll through your office.
Look Towards Alternative Power Sources
Green energy provides more than 20% of the UK’s electrical supply, and businesses are looking for the best ways to follow the trend. Solar panels are a great way to produce green energy, and a common 5kW sized solar panel could produce up to 850kWh per month.
The more panels you have, the more energy you can produce, which will reduce your dependency on the National Grid. If you produce more energy than your office needs, suppliers could buy the excess from you, creating an additional source of income for the business as well.
Determining which alternative power source is right for your business will depend on the office’s circumstances. Ideally, companies should be tracking the amount of water, gas and energy is being used in day-to-day operations to see what options are beneficial. If the company doesn’t own the building, there may also be complications in installing necessary equipment.
Every option is worth exploring though, as it’s important not to rule any possible solution out when creating a more sustainable office space.
Work From Home Where Possible
The Coronavirus pandemic changed the world in ways none of us expected. Despite the devastation it caused, one positive to come from Covid-19 was the dramatic reduction in pollution.
Working from home severely restricted our movements, but the daily commute to and from the office greatly benefitted the clean air levels. Large cities such as London, Manchester and Birmingham saw a huge decline in toxic nitrogen oxide (NO2) levels. The amount of NO2 produced in Birmingham was reduced by nearly 50% between February-March 2020, showing how cleaner the air would be if we travelled less.
Some office workers have found working from home to be a struggle. Make-shift desks and seemingly endless Zoom calls interrupted by children, pets and partners haven’t been easy to deal with. However, there is a way many of us can work from home in a space completely separate and dedicated to your job.
Rolling All Our Advice Together
Creating a sustainable office space doesn’t have to be difficult. Live Off Grid’s purpose built containers are perfect for helping increase the sustainability levels of your business.
We believe that everyone should have a space of their own where it’s possible to drown out annoying distractions and unnecessary sources of stress but in a way that doesn’t harm the environment. Our containers are designed so you can get the most out of every day.
20ft units provide home office workers with all the space they need to carry out their jobs in a relaxing and sustainable setting. We install large windows into every container to keep it bright and airy. Renewable energy is also important to us, which is why our units incorporate greener methods such as wind, solar or hydro-electric.
If you think you may need more room, we can build 40ft containers as well, giving you all the space you could possibly want.
Sustainable office spaces aren’t a distant reality. The green revolution is already taking place, and Live Off Grid wants to play a part in reducing the UK’s need for impractical and damaging business operations. By contacting us for more information, you’re taking the right steps in creating an environmentally friendly business model your company can be proud of.
