Are you looking for ways to save money while also doing your part to help the environment?
Create a sustainable workplace.
But what are sustainable offices, exactly? What impact does one have on your company and the world at large? What steps can you take to make your workplace more environmentally friendly?
What is a Sustainable Office?
It’s surprisingly difficult to find a formal definition for “sustainable office.” Building practices that are better for the environment, such as large windows, greywater treatment, and roof-top green spaces, tend to dominate search results.
Sustainable offices, on the other hand, do not have to be brand new constructions. In fact, some of the most environmentally friendly offices are in buildings that are decades old. It’s not the building materials that matter; it’s what happens inside the walls that counts.
Implement a Recycling Program
Establishing a recycling program in your office is a common way to support mindfulness around sustainability.
Educate your employees on proper waste disposal from the kitchen to the workplace by posting clear signage on designated waste stations to help them distinguish between what belongs in the recycling, compost, and trash bins.
You can also look into having old computer parts and other items that are taking up space in your office safely removed and donated to a local organization that supports ethical electronics recycling.
Conserve Office Energy
Turning off the lights and electronic equipment around the office during off-hours helps to conserve energy resources while also saving your company money on your electric bill.
Ensure that your company’s policy on reducing energy consumption at their desks and throughout the office has been communicated to employees, and offer suggestions such as turning off computers at the end of the day and turning off lights when a meeting room is not in use.
Invest in Plants
Plants in the workplace can help to beautify your workspaces, improve the overall atmosphere, and reduce stress and anxiety among your employees. Indoor greenery can help to increase oxygen levels while also removing pollutants like carbon dioxide and formaldehyde. According to NASA research, indoor plants can reduce 87 percent of indoor air pollutants in just 24 hours.
Encourage the Use of Environmentally Friendly Transportation
During the work week, encourage your team members to use alternative modes of transportation to and from the office, such as walking or carpooling with coworkers. As a benefit, your company could provide transit subsidies to employees who commute to work.
Additionally, if your employees are not required to be in the office Monday through Friday, consider reducing their commute time during the week by allowing them to work from home on occasion.
Save Money by Working in a Coworking Space
In a coworking space, you can save money while also helping the environment. Startups, entrepreneurs, freelancers, small businesses, and even large corporations all work together in the same Business Center. They share costs, save money over a traditional lease, and reduce the environmental impact that they would have if they each had their own office space.
Flexible office environments provide everything you need to get the job done right, including technology, infrastructure, furniture, and amenities, allowing you to focus on your work rather than day-to-day operations. Your team can save money by working from a dedicated desk, a private office, or a suite of offices.
A coworking space membership is a fraction of the cost of running your own office. You can also change your membership from month to month. All of these factors, as well as a slew of others, combine to make coworking spaces the sustainable workplaces of the future.
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