Implementing sustainable design and practices into the workplace has many benefits. Offices and/or manufacturing facilities that use “green” strategies and materials to lower harmful impacts enjoy feelings of pride coupled with real financial and ecological savings. When the company applies best practices in their workplace it increases the focus for the rest of the stakeholders they work with and serve. 

From the construction of the office itself to the furnishings, equipment, and the way business is performed, there are many key choices that can be made, such as:

LEED-Certified Workplaces: The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification shows that an office or facility has achieved a high level of sustainability.  LEED-certified spaces are designed to be energy-efficient, have reduced water consumption, and utilize sustainable building materials, among so many other factors such as density, FAR, visitors, location/transportation, parking, other site elements, life cycle, environmental quality, etc. If your workplace isn’t LEED-certified, you can still gain valuable info from the various certified spaces. For example, you could advocate a switch to energy-efficient lighting or low-flow faucets and toilets. 

Remote Work/Co-Working: Perhaps the least harmful office is none at all? By working remotely there is no commute, or really any physical overhead expense (aside from digital solutions like cloud computing, etc.). If workers needed to meet in person and are local they could choose a co-working space that has LEED aspects or utilizes eco/sustainable practices. This remote practice includes reducing or eliminating flights for business travel, thereby saving all related expenses and outputs such as taxi, hotel, etc., or using best practices when traveling. Utilizing public transit, bicycles, carpools, etc. is another key strategy, and if you must have an office locating it with these in mind is a good practice.   

Efficient Design and Materials: Even if you didn’t work with the architect or designer initially there are ways to improve the place where workers spend their time. From the material choices used in construction per LEED best practices (such as eco insulation, permeable concrete, passive heating/cooling, etc.) to the “Three R’s” of Recycle-Reduce-Reuse in office furnishings (even custom “Upcycled” materials), to the laptops and data processes workers use (Check out the Framework laptops, use cloud data storage and go Paperless), to choosing renewable energy sources for the office itself from the electrical provider or upgrades to the facility perhaps like energy star electrical appliances (and power down when leaving). Additionally, management can even negotiate with landlords on energy efficient upgrades. By selecting energy-efficient materials, companies can reduce their Scope 1 emissions. To take it a step further, companies should also address their Scope 2 and 3 emissions. Learn more about the difference here.

Increasingly offices have “zero scaping” or ecologically sustainable landscaping, water re-use, green roofs, or even a hydroponic system that grows fresh produce right in the break room. Why go out for lunch? 

Tracking and Reporting: Taking stock of the energy, water, paper, use and other outflows such as food waste help establish baselines for budgeting and solutions. Perhaps a vending machine isn’t the best solution for snacks? Water coolers and plastic cups might become reusable bottles of filtered tap water. Waste from food brought in can be composted. All cleaning products can be “clean”, potted plants can help with air quality and morale. These are just some of the items that may be tracked with metrics shared out to prove commitment and expand mindset to the broader community or enhance brand image responsibly. Thanks to this public info disclosure more buildings are becoming rated with a carbon footprint as public information (people know who the worst offenders are so power down when leaving!). To get a full picture of a company’s environmental impact, tracking should not only include direct, “Scope 1” impacts, but also more “indirect” Scope 2 and 3 emissions.

Opt-In to The 1y4e Journey: Our program helps participants to learn best practices throughout the seasons of one year through “gamification” and the incentive of planting trees. Leadership is needed by taking action individually and in groups such as your workplace community. Check out the free program here and encourage your coworkers to do the same, together the employees can share the experience of creating a Sustainable Action Plan, supporting a Nonprofit, and participating in a Community Effort, and then share out the metrics of their points earned to trees planted/reforested.