How Do We Design A Eco-Conscious Green Work Place

With increasing concerns about the environment, people are re-evaluating every aspect of their lives. Did you know that every year, an estimated 2.2 billion tons of waste is dumped in our oceans? As per the Environmental Protection Agency, in 2013, Americans generated about 254 million tons of waste with about 34{0b7da518931e2dc7f5435818fa9adcc81ac764ac1dff918ce2cdfc05099e9974} recycling rate. The UK produces about 434 million tonnes of solid waste annually with a projected growth rate of around 3{0b7da518931e2dc7f5435818fa9adcc81ac764ac1dff918ce2cdfc05099e9974} per year.  The Brundtland report clearly outlined that sustainable development would only be achieved if society in general, and industry in particular, learned to produce more goods and services with less of the world’s resources and less pollution and waste. 

As we audit and assess every aspect of our lives and its impact on the environment, it becomes imperative that we start designing buildings and workplaces that are sustainable and eco-friendly. It is both design and construction that makes a building truly green. Green architecture aims to minimize the number of resources consumed in a building’s construction, use, and operation. It is the responsible way of designing buildings and physical environments. 

However, sometimes we might not have the choice. Often existing old buildings, that were not designed with sustainability principles in mind are reused and converted into office spaces. Even if the physical structure has not been designed with sustainability as its key goal, there is so much that we can do and change within our work environments to ensure that our organization is eco-conscious and minimizes waste, energy, and emissions.

Mission Statement

To develop a proactive and responsive approach to environmental sustainability, a strong mission statement is needed.  A mission statement focuses on the present while a vision statement focuses on the future. These vision statements are critical for communicating a company’s ethos and commitment to the environment to the customers and the stakeholders. Rather than a passive approach, this is a more proactive and co-operative stance where the organization lays out a strategy document for “going green”.There has been a dramatic increase in the ethical expectations of businesses over the past decade. Customers, clients as well as employees are consistently seeking out organizations that have transparency and show social responsibility.

A participatory approach takes the views of the employees as well as the stakeholders into account, ensuring that the message is coherent as well as resonating with the whole organization. It also ensures the commitment of all individuals to the company’s mission and vision.

Cisco’s mission statement states that “Cisco’s commitment to sustainability extends through all phases of our product’s life cycle, from design and manufacturing to support and end of life. Our considerations focus on reducing resource consumption in our development process and reducing resource and related emissions consumption by our products.”

Patagonia is one of the best examples where sustainability is entrenched firmly and simply in a company’s ethos with their mission statement as “Our Reason for Being: Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.”

Energy

Energy use in offices depends on the size and type of the building as well as the number of employees and the nature of use. In terms of saving energy, signs to encourage people to turn their computers and laptops off rather than leaving them on standby and minimizing the use of air-conditioning. More and more organizations are moving to cloud-based sharing and saving of documents and digital management of files rather than printing them unnecessarily.

Switching to LED lights is an easy way to reduce energy consumption. Modern LED lights are much more thermally efficient than traditional bulbs and can now produce between 50 and 100 lumens per watt in normal working conditions. Sensor technology can help save energy such as occupancy sensors that switch off the light when the room is empty reducing electricity by 30{0b7da518931e2dc7f5435818fa9adcc81ac764ac1dff918ce2cdfc05099e9974} and daylight sensors that can automatically adjust the artificial lighting according to the amount of natural light in a room reducing electricity use by up to 40{0b7da518931e2dc7f5435818fa9adcc81ac764ac1dff918ce2cdfc05099e9974}.

Smart meters and monitoring technology can collect data about energy consumption and help in understanding patterns of usage. Also, designing the layout so that natural light is optimized will reduce the need for artificial light and thereby reduce energy consumption substantially. Natural light controls our body’s circadian rhythms, digestion, and absorbing vitamin D, and is beneficial for our mental well-being. Simple things such as opening curtains and blinds, arranging desks near the periphery of the room where possible within 25 feet of the windows, and painting walls in light matte colors help to reflect and spread daylight within the rooms.

Carbon Footprint

Technology companies have come under increasing scrutiny over the carbon footprint of their operations, which account for almost 2{0b7da518931e2dc7f5435818fa9adcc81ac764ac1dff918ce2cdfc05099e9974} of global greenhouse gas emissions, shockingly comparable to the aviation industry. Businesses can check their carbon footprint for free here.

Workplaces can be powered the no-carbon way. Biomass plants are fueled by organic materials such as sustainable forestry, co-products such as sawmill residues and recycled waste wood. It is also a more secure power supply and can mostly be sourced locally thereby reducing carbon footprint. According to the Government’s Renewable Energy Strategy, it could meet up to 25{0b7da518931e2dc7f5435818fa9adcc81ac764ac1dff918ce2cdfc05099e9974} of the UK’s renewable energy needs by 2020. Solar panels are a renewable energy source using the natural power of the sun to generate electricity through photovoltaic panels, saving power consumption and reducing carbon emissions and footprint.  

An office also produces a large amount of waste, much of which can end up in the landfill. Every organization with a commitment to environmental sustainability requires a comprehensive recycling and reuse policy. Clearly labeled bins, reducing consumption of plastic goods, and having a regular waste monitoring and audit system in place will ensure that the waste stream is minimized.

Additionally, in large organizations, the carbon footprint is a result of the carbon emissions embedded in their procurement and supply chains. Adopting an integrated sustainable procurement approach can change this, such as purchasing only eco-label products, using local suppliers where possible, and using more fuel-efficient means of transport.