White Papers
By Beatrice K Otto
- SUSTAINABLE OFFICE DESIGN & BUILDINGS
- WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
- WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR?
- AIR
- LIGHT
- ENERGY
- WATER
- MATERIALS
- GOVERNMENT RESPONSES
- OVERVIEW OF SUSTAINABILITY
- WHERE CAN I DIG DEEPER?
- GLOSSARY
WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR?
BASIC ELEMENTS
To design a more sustainable office, there are a few basic elements. If you are the client, then ask designers and contractors to deliver on this Wishlist, and look at the relevant sections in more detail.
| element | optimal | minimal |
| AIR | fresh air and thermal comfort, using natural ventilation | pollution, particulates and emissions, use of mechanical air conditioning |
| LIGHT | individual control of lighting levels for different tasks & evenly diffused natural light | glare and shadow contrasts, use of energy intensive artificial light |
| ENERGY | use of energy efficient measures or equipment, of energy saving mechanisms, devices and behaviour, and where possible renewable energy sources | use of energy, especially from non-renewable resources |
| WATER | use of rain or recycled water, and water saving devices | use of water |
| MATERIALS | use of renewable, recycled or recyclable, lightweight, durable and non-polluting materials | use of materials, particularly non-renewable, energy intensive, non-recyclable, toxic or polluting materials |
| FURNITURE | easily maintained, refurbished or reconfigured, using materials as above | use of high emission materials, from non-renewable resources or cannot be recycled |
Interlocking Elements
Bear in mind these are interlocking building blocks, with a great deal of mutual impact. An upholstery fabric big on 'outgassing' (noxious emissions) will affect air quality. More daylight will reduce the need for artificial light which will cut energy use and the demand for cooling. Some materials use or pollute a lot of water in their manufacture, and so on.
Some other things to consider:
Adaptability
DEFRA's refurbished Nobel House in London was designed to provide flexible workspace that can adapt to DEFRA's future needs.
www.defra.gov.uk
In addition, an ability to reconfigure office space to meet future needs as the business evolves will reduce the necessity of major refits if the business is reorganised. This can be achieved through:
- modular furniture
- raised floors so that furniture can be moved and workstations reconnected without a spaghetti mess of wiring
- modular cooling capacity to allow for changing levels of occupancy
- refurbishment - some companies allow you to change the upholstery, or table tops, for example, extending their useful life and allowing a 'makeover' without starting from scratch
- avoiding styles that will quickly date
Dim the Din
Noise can profoundly affect concentration and contentment and can be mitigated through:
- moving office equipment with its constant whirrs, hums, clicks and clunks, into a space away from people's desks by networking printing, fax and other facilities
- sound absorbing materials
- use of white sound to reduce background noise
Procter & Gamble's large open plan offices in Geneva are almost silent due to the isolation of office equipment and the use of white noise.
Sticks and Carrots
The government provides a range of incentives (and disincentives) to encourage business to become more sustainable. Examples are the Climate Change Levy and Landfill Tax (sticks) and The Enhanced Capital Allowances Scheme (carrot). The Carbon Trust provides an overview of incentives, including grants and other mechanisms, which amount to £1.3 billion a year.
WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE?
http://www.advancedbuildings.org/
This is a superb source of briefings on a range of sustainable building topics such as lighting and daylighting, finishes and furnishings, heating and cooling, water use and heating, building automation systems, energy efficiency, stormwater management, and air quality. A great place to start learning.
WHERE CAN I SURF MORE?
WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR?
GENERAL
NEXT AIR