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Sustainable Office Design - Unlocking Performance & Productivity
By Beatrice K Otto
ENERGY
REDUCE THE USE
About 90% of the greenhouse gas emissions of standard commercial buildings come from the consumption of energy during their use. This is where the big savings are in terms of reducing their full life cycle energy use and emissions.
Energy Efficient Equipment
From light bulbs to printers. For example, ceiling or whole building fans can provide a temperature reduction as high as 9°F while using 10% of the electricity needed for air conditioning.
“Energy efficiency improvements that use the best available technologies and practices and integrated, whole-building design approaches, can, on average, reduce consumption by 43%”
U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 2007
Energy Saving Equipment
Occupancy sensors that switch off lights in empty rooms, photosensors that dim artificial lighting if not needed, and dimming systems and individual controls can all reduce energy use. In addition monitoring devices for heating and cooling systems can make a big difference to energy performance.
“A 90% efficient co-generation system at the Chicago Convention Center saved $1 million a year in energy costs and cut carbon dioxide emissions in half.”
Joseph Romm, Cool Companies
Energy Saving Culture
Instill an energy saving culture so that people don't leave computers on all night. Standby mode can use more power than actual operation over the lifetime of a piece of equipment. The OECD has calculated that standby mode accounts for 5-10% of domestic electricity consumption.
Energy Demand
Maximising natural light and ventilation to reduce the need for artificial lighting and cooling can lead to a huge reduction in energy use, particularly if combined with energy efficient systems.
Reduce the need for heating through insulation, though more is not necessarily better. Research has shown that cavity wall insulation more than 50mm thick, and roof insulation more than 250mm thick (as required by UK regulations) doesn't yield notable decreases in fuel or emissions.
Embodied Energy
Embodied energy is the energy that went into making or transporting something. Aim to source materials, fixtures, furniture or equipment designed to reduce energy use in manufacture, or even offering carbon neutral options. Try to avoid sourcing things that have travelled four times around the world, or at least account for that when weighing up their relative impacts.
Renewables
Consider the installation of renewable energy sources such as solar panels or vertical wind turbines. The headquarters of Condé Nast in New York produces nearly 10% of its electricity from photovoltaic and hydrogen fuel cells. But do this after you have had a long hard look at energy efficiency and have at very least picked the low-hanging fruit.
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
Encourage the use of public transport, bike, or car pooling for travel to and from the office, or investigate carbon offsets for your business activities. DEFRA's Nobel House office provides bicycle space for 10% of occupants. Alternatively, invest in equipment that reduces the need for air travel, such as video conferencing.
Fun with Factoids
To stabilise carbon concentrations at around 550 parts per million by 2050 will mean using half the energy per dollar of output compared to 2002, an improvement in economic efficiency of 1.5% per year, 20% higher than has been achieved over the last 30 years. Pathways to 2050: Energy & Climate Change , WBCSD, 2005
NEXT AIR
Next steps
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