Why Sustainable Office Building Design Matters
Adopting sustainable practices helps businesses reduce their carbon emissions, meet regulatory compliance and demonstrate they are taking responsibility for their environmental impact. Businesses who ignore their responsibility risk not only fines and penalties, but also losing market share to competitors who embrace it.
If you’re looking to improve your organisation’s environmental performance then reviewing the design and fit-out your office is a good place to start. A well-designed, eco-friendly office can not only help you meet sustainability goals and reduce your carbon footprint, but also improve employee wellbeing, lower operational costs, and enhance brand reputation. In fact, numerous studies show that businesses which prioritise sustainability demonstrate positive impacts on profitability, resilience, and long-term growth.
Top Tips for Designing a Sustainable Office Building
If you’re thinking about how you can improve the sustainability of your workplace through office design, we’ve got you covered with practical, actionable tips. From energy-efficient lighting to biophilic design, here are some key elements you should consider when designing a sustainable office:
1. Energy-Efficient Lighting and HVAC
One of the most effective ways to make your office more sustainable is by upgrading your lighting and HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems.
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LED lighting: LED bulbs consume up to 75% less energy and last much longer than traditional lighting options. By opting for motion-sensor or daylight-responsive lighting, you can further reduce unnecessary energy consumption.
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Natural light: Design the office to maximise the use of natural light, reducing the need for artificial lighting during the day. Install large windows, skylights, or light wells, and use reflective surfaces or light-coloured walls to help distribute sunlight.
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HVAC: Installing energy-efficient HVAC systems and smart thermostats can optimise heating and cooling based on real-time usage, ensuring no energy is wasted on unoccupied spaces. Consider options that use renewable energy or have higher energy-efficiency ratings, reducing both your carbon footprint and energy bills.
2. Sustainable Furniture and Materials
Opt for furniture and joinery made from recycled, reclaimed, or certified sustainable materials to reduce the demand for new resources and minimise waste.
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Recycled or reclaimed furniture: Sourcing office furniture made from recycled or reclaimed materials not only reduces your environmental impact but also adds character and uniqueness to your space. Look for office furniture suppliers who prioritise sustainability in the production of their products – there are many out there!
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Low-VOC finishes: When selecting paints, adhesives and finishes, choose no-VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) options. These reduce harmful emissions and contribute to healthier indoor air quality.
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Modular and recycled furniture: Choose modular, durable furniture that can be easily reconfigured or adapted as the office layout evolves, reducing the need for frequent repurchases.
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Carpet tiles: Consider specifying modular carpet tiles made from recycled fibres. They can be easily fitted and replaced in sections, reducing waste and extending the life of your flooring.
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Sustainable joinery: For any built-in elements or bespoke joinery, specify materials like FSC or LEED certified wood, which ensures the timber is sourced from responsibly managed forests.
What is FSC certified wood?
FSC-certified wood is sourced from environmentally-friendly forests, ensuring the forest is not over-harvested, wildlife and natural habitats remain protected and workers are treated fairly. Find out more on the Forest Stewardship Council website.
What is LEED certified wood?
LEED certification is a globally recognised rating system for sustainable and eco-friendly building design and construction.
For wood to be LEED certified, it must meet sustainable criteria such as FSC-certification, local sourcing, and minimal environmental impact during production.
LEED-certified wood is used in projects as it contributes towards the building earning LEED certification.
3. Biophilic Design
Biophilic design is all about integrating natural elements into the workplace. This not only enhances sustainability but also boosts employee wellbeing and productivity. Research has shown that office spaces with natural light, greenery and natural materials can also reduce stress and increase focus.
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Indoor plants: Incorporating greenery into your office with plants and unique features like living green walls can help purify the air and regulate indoor humidity as well as reduce stress, and increase employee productivity. Plants such as ferns and peace lilies are great low-maintenance options.
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Natural materials: Use natural materials like wood, stone, and bamboo in your furniture and decor. Not only do they have a lower environmental impact, but they also contribute to a calming, nature-inspired aesthetic.
4. Efficient Space Utilisation
An efficient office design with multipurpose and customisable spaces can help you create a more sustainable workspace in a number of ways.
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Flexible workspaces: Designing for flexibility with multi-purpose areas like shared workstations, hot desks and breakout spaces can increase the efficiency of your floorplate and reduce the need for a larger office, lowering energy consumption and material use.
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Open-plan layouts with zoning: An open-plan layout reduces the need for excessive walls and partitions, while strategically zoning areas for quiet work, collaboration, and relaxation improves functionality without requiring more space.
5. Water Conservation
On average, water consumption within office buildings is 50 litres for each employee each day, so monitoring and reducing this where possible is important.
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Install low-flow fixtures: Incorporating water-saving taps, valves and toilets can significantly reduce water use without compromising functionality.
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Consider a hot-water tap: In offices where small amounts of boiling or hot water are needed frequently (for tea and coffee etc), hot water taps can be more energy-efficient than repeatedly boiling a kettle or using a traditional water heater, and will also reduce waste by only heating exactly the amount of water needed.
6. Waste Reduction
Businesses have a responsibility to keep waste within their office to a minimum by doing everything they reasonably can to prevent, reuse, recycle or recover waste.
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Recycling: Make recycling easy and convenient for all employees by providing clearly labelled, accessible recycling bins throughout the office for paper, plastics, metals, and electronic waste.
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Minimise paper use: Encourage digital documentation and communication to reduce paper consumption. If printing is necessary, use recycled paper and set printers to print double-sided by default.
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Composting: Set up a composting system for food scraps and organic waste, especially if your office has a kitchen or cafe.
7. Renewable Energy
The potential for energy savings in commercial buildings is high, due to the fact that most existing buildings, particularly in city centres, were constructed without energy efficiency as one of their top priorities. While as a tenant you may be limited in what you can do to change the energy supply, there are still options to consider.
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On-site renewable energy: If feasible, install solar panels on your office building. This can provide clean, renewable energy for the office, significantly reducing reliance on fossil fuels, lowering carbon emissions, and providing ROI over time.
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Green energy procurement: If on-site renewable energy isn’t an option, consider purchasing green energy from your utility provider. Many energy companies offer plans that include wind or solar power.
8. Certifications and Standards
A sustainability certificate can be used to verify that your business or office building is environmentally, socially and economically sustainable. They are not essential and can be expensive, so it’s worth considering your options in line with your specific company goals to evaluate if it is worth the investment.
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LEED, BREEAM or SKA Certification: Sustainability certifications like LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) or SKA, are frameworks which guide sustainable building practices and can help validate your environmental commitment.
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WELL: You could also consider pursuing the WELL Building Standard certification, which focuses on improving employee health and wellbeing through air quality, lighting, fitness, and mental health support in office design.
9. Responsible On-Site Delivery and Fit-Out Practices
In addition to the actual products and practices used within your office, implementing sustainably responsible on-site delivery and installation methods during the fit-out of your workspace will further minimise waste and reduce the environmental impact of your construction.
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Responsible contractors: Ensure you partner with a design and fit-out contractor who prioritises sustainability and has the skills and knowledge to help guide you through the process.
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Efficient logistics: Streamline the delivery process to minimise transport emissions by consolidating deliveries to reduce the number of trips made to the site.
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Local sourcing: Whenever possible, source materials and services from local suppliers to reduce transportation emissions and support the local economy.
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Waste management: Develop a robust plan for recycling and reusing materials during the fit-out phase, and ensure that any leftover materials are recycled or disposed of responsibly.
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Donating furniture: If you have any used furniture or materials leftover from the strip-out process, consider donating these to local causes, like charities or start-ups, reducing waste but also giving something back to the local community.
Benefits of Sustainable Office Design
Sustainable office design choices can not only ensure compliance with evolving environmental regulation and lower operational costs but deliver many additional benefits for your company as well. Improving the sustainability of your workplace can help ensure long-term profitability and competitiveness, from contributing towards a positive brand image and fostering a healthier workplace environment, to boosting employee morale and productivity, and attracting talent.
Ultimately, as sustainability increasingly becomes a central issue in business strategy, workplaces that are proactive in integrating sustainable practices will be better prepared for future challenges, from resource scarcity to changing consumer demands.
How We Can Help
At Consensus Workspace, we believe that creating a sustainable office design goes beyond just reducing your carbon footprint – it’s about creating workspaces that inspire, energise and improve the well-being of everyone who uses them.
Our team of experts is ready to help you transform your workspace into a more sustainable, healthier environment, whether you’re looking to implement energy-efficient systems, use reclaimed materials, or adopt biophilic design principles.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you design and deliver a sustainable office space that aligns with your business goals and environmental values.