It’s increasingly important for modern day businesses to factor in environmentally friendly practices and procedures in the day-to-day running of their business, and it’s just as important to consider the environment when refurbishing your office space.

Planning a sustainable office refurbishment can save you money, but most importantly it’s good for your reputation and your brand. It can help you attract discerning employees, suppliers and customers who are attracted to companies considering energy efficiency, recycling and sustainable resourcing in their office space.

Here are a few simple and cost-efficient ways you can go green with a sustainable office refurbishment that will save you money on your energy bills without compromising on practicality and design.

• Maximise your natural light. When planning your design, ensure you have large windows and doors wherever possible to maximise your office’s natural light. Not only does it improve the look and feel of the office, it also minimises the need for artificial light.
• Make sure your office is well ventilated. Installing good ventilation systems and opening windows reduces the need for air conditioning. If air conditioning is required, choose from one of the energy-efficient systems now available.
• Sustainable materials. Make sure your contractors are using sustainable and sustainably sourced building materials and finishes wherever possible.
• Solar panels. If it’s practical to install solar panels on the roof, this could generate the electricity to power your electrical systems and reduce your energy bill.
• Eco-friendly furniture – Choose environmentally friendly furniture that is sustainably sourced and recycled as well as recyclable. This way you’re considering the environment not just at the time of your refurbishment, but thinking ahead to being eco-friendly the next time you renovate.
• Include plenty of ‘greenery’. Office plants reduce carbon dioxide and are known to improve productivity and concentration.
• Low-energy LED lighting systems are more energy efficient and cost less.

Encouraging energy efficient working practices

As well as considering sustainability in the materials, resources and suppliers you choose for your office refurbishment, you should also consider how you can maximise the efficiency and productivity of your staff when designing your office space.

• Office layout. Consider how your staff work and interact with each other when you’re designing your office. Open plan working spaces allow for greater staff interaction and an easier flow of communication, but don’t forget to factor in quiet spaces for making telephone calls and holding meetings. Think about positioning workstations near natural light and opening windows, which not only improves energy efficiency, but also improves concentration and productivity.
• Get Smart. Emerging Smart technology is designed to improve the efficiency of how we work on a day-to-day basis. New innovations cover everything from online systems, incorporating the growing remote workforce, green office supplies and renewable energy solutions, so it’s worth taking the time to research the Smart office technology that could improve the productivity of your workforce.

Take the time to work through the possibilities for a sustainable office refurbishment with your contractor before you get your project under way. Through considering energy efficiency, recycling, low carbon emissions and efficient working practices, you could create an attractive and practical workspace to benefit your business and your workforce in the long term.