A new paper has confirmed the massive advantages low energy, sustainable offices deliver.
It explains; ‘Office design affects the health and wellbeing of occupants in many ways and so it is a smart business move to create green buildings that are healthy.’
The report, part of the World Green Business Council’s Better Places for People campaign, is big news for the healthy buildings sector. It should boost both interest in and the delivery of sustainable buildings and lighting controls, to catalyse the kinder workplaces of tomorrow.
WHY A SUSTAINABLE, CONTROLLABLE BUILDING IS KEY
The paper details just how appealing the savings from sustainable low energy office design are. For example, Skanska UK saved £28,000 in absenteeism costs, and reduced the green payback period of an office move from 11 to 8 years by achieving 3.5 times fewer building-related sick days alongside increased employee comfort and satisfaction.
These wins, delivered by the shift to a greener office, are tangible. Staff are the most valuable resource in most organisations, typically accounting for 90% of business operating costs. Even a 1% improvement in productivity, delivered by more sustainable design, offers major impacts on the bottom line and competitiveness of any business.
But of course, a complete office move isn’t the only path to improvement. Retrofitting existing buildings with smart lighting and intelligent building management systems will also pay dividends.
“Many of the principles of sustainable, healthy design are not new. It is about good quality design and putting people at the heart of the building,” says John Alker, Campaign and Policy Director at the UK-GBC, the UK arm of the World Green Business Council.
“Perhaps most intriguingly, technology is putting power in the hands of building users, providing real performance data in real time, at lower prices and in a format that everyone can understand.”
BECOMING A GREEN BUILDINGS LEADER
“I strongly believe companies that reliably demonstrate leadership on health and wellbeing, as a key component of wider sustainability, will derive significant commercial benefit – tenants will attract and retain their best employees; investors and developers will realise higher property values,” says Alker.
BGES offers a number of technologies that can assist in today’s transition to more sustainable buildings, including lighting controls and building energy management systems. “We’re delighted at the news in the report,” comments Gareth Barber, Managing Director, BGES.
“We know how crucially the right, sustainable building controls benefit the bottom line of your business, and make workplaces more human centric. We are keen to help and advise any firms looking to make their buildings more sustainable, and more human too.”
BGES is an ‘open systems house’ building controls specialist, with extensive experience as a Niagra Systems, Tridium, Honeywell and Delta Controls integrator. Contact us for advice on how intelligent building controls can improve your working environment.