Establishing a green office space is easier than you might think. Eco-friendly strategies create a healthy and transform the work environment and significantly boost productivity, efficiency, and sustainability. If done correctly, small changes in operations can protect the environment and trim expenses.

We spend a good part of our lives at our offices. As such, a large portion of our impact on the environment happens during our time at work. Hence, by following a few simple steps, we can do a lot to improve our carbon footprint and ecological impact, as well as our well-being at work.

Below are some ideas that can easily be implemented to help your office improve its sustainability.

Reduce Paper Use

Reducing the number of printers at your office and digitalizing most of the paperwork by using cloud storage services will reduce the amount of paper used for documentation. According to a 2014 study by Catalog Spree and PaperKarma, if the US alone cuts its office paper use by just 10% by moving to digital, it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1.45 million tons, the equivalent of taking 280,000 cars off the road for an entire year.

Reusable Products

Replace your pantry’s disposable utensils and products with reusable products. Instead of using the one-time cup for your coffee, you can use a mug that can be washed and cleaned for your next use, and the same goes for disposable cutleries. This is the most effortless switch to make.

Unplug

Remember to unplug your workstation before leaving your office. By doing this, you are cutting the standby power which is being consumed even if the devices are turned off.
In addition to that, turning off the lights when leaving the office or installing an automated system for lighting will surely save energy and reduce the office electricity bills and hence the amount of emissions produced to generate electricity.

Control Cooling

Consider using the most energy-efficient air cooling to reduce energy generation. One of the problems of living in a hot climate is the increased cooling demand. Employees must maintain the air conditioning system at all times by finding a balanced temperature. One large retail store lessened its impact on the environment by setting the AC at 75 degrees instead of 74, resulting in a 30,000 kilowatts reduction and saving 3,100$ every year. These minor adjustments can lead to a noticeable positive impact.

Indoor Plants

By bringing a desk plant, you improve the office’s indoor air quality, place some nature into it, and impose an eco-friendly environment. Plants produce more oxygen, offsetting any chemicals released into the air by office furniture, which improves the overall health of the people in the office and making a cleaner, happier space for the employees to work in.

Daylight

Relying more on natural light regularly saves energy and reduces costs. Cut your environment and financial losses by opening the blinds and letting the natural light pour into your office. According to a 2011 study at the University of Oregon, the quality of the view from a person’s desk and their exposure to natural light are interconnected with the amount of sick time they take. They found that people who received a decent amount of sunlight and had views of the outside took 6.5% less sick leave than others.

Green Cleaning

Cleaning products can be very toxic, negatively affecting health and the environment. Using the following green products will protect the people health and save the environment:

• Use micro-fiber cloths instead of paper towels
• Use natural fiber sponges instead of the commercial
• Use a multipurpose soap that can be used for office workspace and pantry
• Use cleaning products with no phosphates, chlorine, artificial fragrances, and artificial colors
• Use cleaning products with biodegradable or recyclable packaging
• Use cleaning products with organically grown ingredients

On that note, convert your cleaning products into their greener alternatives to prevent sickness and promote a greener environment.

Green Commute

Encourage your employees to carpool or commute using public transportation. Commuting to your office by using a private vehicle contributes to gas emissions that are unsafe for the environment. Therefore, promoting the employees to green commutes will reduce the office’s carbon footprint. In addition, it will also effectively reduce the amount of fuel consumed, reducing fuel expenses.
Investing in green actions will see you having healthy, productive employees, reduced electricity bills and office expenses, and reduced environmental impacts.

The WELL Building Standard focuses on seven concepts + innovations that consider the design and operations of a building and how they impact human health and well-being.

Alpin’s locally based team is the region’s leading authority on creating WELL Certified spaces that significantly enhance the performance of occupants and can also help you implement a wide range of design strategies based on WELL’s seven unique concepts. Imagine creating a positive work environment that boosts employee productivity by even a few percent. Just think what that will mean for your financial returns in the medium to long term.

Learn more about WELL Certification or reach out to us at contact@alpinme.com or give us a call at +971-2-234-6198