BEST PRACTICES TO REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT FOR AN OFFICE SPACE
Working for so many years in the corporate design (tenant improvements as they call it), it breaks my heart seeing how much waste each build out generates at the end of the life cycle . Yes, in California we have strict waste management regulations, but why not to strive to do more. As occupants, we can also adopt practices to reduce the environmental footprint. I have thought of 10 ways to do that. Some of these tips may be applied in dining, retail and home improvements.
credit to Jilbert Ebrahimi
Choose modular movable partitions vs stud walls for the interior space. For starters, it is considered a furniture and your company will get a tax rebate which will offset the cost of it. You will most likely need to rework your space to accommodate the growth of your company, and it is a lot easier to rearrange the space with the flexibility of this system and it will be much cheaper. The same principal works for the next tenant who will most likely have different space needs and may reuse the partitions. Bottom line, they are movable and do not need to be trashed after each move-out.
Opt out from the custom cabinets. I have rarely seen a tenant who reuses cabinets from a previous build out. You may ask why? Well, it may not be exact size, location or finishes that are preferred. My answer to that will be to choose the modular kitchen cabinets (for the sake of the price you may even choose IKEA). The faces of the cabinets can be easily changed. The cabinets can be easily relocated or swapped. You may add more or reduce the size. It is just that easy.
Do not have your carpet or LVT glued down. If you decide to go with a carpet finish, it will be better to use carpet tiles, since they can be easily replaced. If your carpet is installed with the glue dots, you may actually reuse it and give it a second life. If it is an LVT finish, opt for a floating installation method.
Reuse or resell furniture. Quality furniture is always in high demand even the used one. Ask your furniture dealer if there is a way to buy used chairs and desks. You will safe money and help the environment. You may even use your local craigslist to see your options. It is so much more sustainable to give the furniture the 2nd, 3rd or 4th life cycle.
Windows are a must for everyone. Do you know that our productivity and happiness are directly correlated to the daylight. When you put your offices at the window line and still have staff working with no daylight exposure in the core of your space, it is a slowly demotivates them. You are as successful as your weakest link.
6. Install a dish washer and opt out from using plastic or paper plates, cups and utensils. I know it is an extra inconvenient step in your daily life to put your dishes in a DW instead of trashing them after each snack or meal. But imagine how much less waste you will generate every day. More than 100 million plastic utensils are used every day.
7. Install reverse osmosis water filters. Why not to encourage your staff to drop the habit of using plastic bottles and instead use filtered water. More than 60 billion plastic bottles end up in landfills everyday.
8. Strategic planning and upkeep . When you are working with your designer or client, think creatively. What can be reused, recycled, reworked? Once the space is occupied, taking care of it is a key to longevity of the surrounding.
9. Set up your climate control to 72 F - 74 F room temperature. How often have you seen the place with a running AC when it is a comfortable temperature outside? I always wonder if it is a clueless habit or a personal climate control ego. The ozone layer is destroyed and we contribute to the global warming every time we run an AC. So be mindful and if the weather permits open your windows and let the fresh air in, do not be an AC climate egoist.
10. Cloth towels. I know this will sound strange and not hygienic. When I travelled to Netherlands, I was astonished that they use cloth towels even in public restrooms. Obviously it is on a roll for a sanitary use and to be rewashed. But how progressive it is.
If you are a client, talk to your design professional and how you would like to make a difference for yourself and your business practice. The moral of these tips is that we can all come up with creative ways to reduce our footprint. I would like to know if you have other strategies to share with all of us.