What is a Sustainable Office?
A sustainable office refers to an office space whereby sustainability is considered and becomes part of the working environment. Coming up with ways for an office to run without leaving a big impact is incredibly important, and ensuring that the actions and things we do are not compromising the quality of an environment or comprising future generations is a big part of creating a sustainable work environment. There are many different things that we can do to change how our own office space works and incorporating sustainable practices and initiatives into offices that look to protect the environment, the economy and the social interaction within an office space is all part of this movement! As offices return to full capacity, ensuring that these changes are implemented now can help to create new norms and standards in the way that spaces are run.
Is it Possible to Create a More Sustainable Office Environment?
Yes, it is possible to create a more sustainable office environment and there are many different things that both employers and employees can do to create a greener and more sustainable office! Through the actions that we take, the office supplies that we buy and the incentives that are put in place that stimulate a more sustainable way of living, offices can become happier and more ecological! Working to reduce the waste that offices create can help to make a more sustainable office environment, leaving employees happy and more aware of the things that they are using and doing when it comes to sustainability.
How Can You Create a More Sustainable Office Environment?
The following are just a few sustainable ideas for the office that can help to create a green and more sustainable office environment.
Turn Off Electronics, Lighting, And Heat Every Evening
Keeping electronic devices switched on when no one is in the office has no benefit to anyone and it uses up a ton of power. By ensuring that an office space is completely switched off after everyone leaves, with lights and devices completely powered down, office spaces can save a ton of electricity. Many office buildings leave on either the heat or air conditioning so that when the first person arrives in the morning they are not hot or cold, but this uses a massive amount of electricity and should be avoided at all costs. Many new devices have come out that can time the power and when certain things are switched on and off, and this may help to ensure that issues like this are not a problem! This can help to ensure that your workplace is a sustainable office environment!
Along with ensuring that lights, devices and heating systems are switched off, offices can also ensure that they are going greener by using sustainable office lighting. This lighting can often save money as these lighting fixtures use far less electricity, ensuring that they have less impact on the environment!
Bring a Desk Plant
Desk plants are great ways to both increase the sustainability of an office and also bring a lively and fresh atmosphere to an office space. It has been proven through numerous studies that office workers are often happier in spaces where there are plants! This can both increase productivity and help workers to remain happier when in the office!
Use Reusable Products
As offices often use a variety of different products, there are many office supplies that are needed to keep an office space running. As many different office supplies are needed, purchasing and ensuring that workers are using reusable supplies can both decrease the amount of money spent on these items and help to create a greener and more sustainable workspace! Reusable products are often far nicer than one-time use items and office workers are likely to enjoy using them far more! This contributes to making a happier and more environmentally-friendly workspace! For those unavoidable one-time use products, be sure that you are purchasing items that can go through recycling!
Use Green Cleaning Products
Using products with harsh chemicals is extremely bad for the environment, and after having used them to clean desks and chairs, they are often released into water systems, contaminating the water and lowering the quality. It is also important to note that the cleaning products used are touched and inhaled by workers every day, and if they contain harsh chemicals, this could lead to workers becoming sick. To ensure that your staff remain healthy and that you are doing your bit to protect the environment, be sure to use green cleaning products! This is just one of the sustainable office solutions that can really change the way that your employees, and you, function within an office space!
Encourage a Green Commute
Many brands and businesses have taken to creating incentives for those who have a greener commute! The way that employees get to work can have a massive impact on the environment and creating incentives for those who take this into account and choose a more sustainable route to work is a great way to help create a more sustainable office environment. While many may choose to carpool or even use public transport, some may take to biking or walking to the office! This will create happier and healthier employees, increasing the morale and work ethic!
Why Should We Create a More Sustainable Office Environment?
By initiating and including more sustainable office practices into a work environment, you can not only help to decrease the environmental impacts that your workspace has but you can also ensure that you have a happier and healthier workforce!
What are The Benefits of a Sustainable Office Environment?
There are a number of different sustainable office tips that can help to improve the environment you work in, whether you are an employee, manager or even owner of a business! Creating sustainable office systems not only helps to reduce the impact that an office has on the environment but can also save you money and create a happier and healthier workforce! There are many benefits and reasons why implementing and incentivising sustainable practices is a brilliant idea for any office and it is important that office spaces work towards creating the most sustainable environment possible!
