With any office refit, there are inevitably lots of things to consider. Sustainability is one of the things that’s definitely moving up the list.
Minimising our impact on the environment is becoming an increasingly hot topic, and the interiors industry is no exception. Many people, however, associate the latest trends in sustainability with expense. But a few simple choices can make a big difference without blowing the budget.
Here are some of our top tips:
Maximise natural light
A simple way to reduce your energy bills – and improve your employees’ wellbeing – is to find ways to maximise natural light throughout your building. One great way to do this is through the use of glass partitions. Rather than using solid walls which block light from windows, glass partitions can enable you to create different working areas without stopping light reaching inner spaces.
Sky lights and ceilings lanterns can also be effective ways of bringing more of the outside in!
Reduce energy usage
There are lots of ways to make a building more energy efficient. Where natural light doesn’t do the job, make sure you use low-energy LED lights and, where possible, link these to motion detectors so rooms or corridors aren’t lit when no one is using them.
A classic suspended ceiling can be a great way of helping insulate a space, thus reducing energy bills – and they work well with LED lights, perfect!
Design for flexibility of layouts and functions
How your business needs to use the space it has may change over time. Rather than creating a space with a fixed, rigid layout with solid walls, use partitions. Whether solid or glass, partitions can be easily dismantled and moved with minimal disruption and without the need to completely renovate again. They are cost-effective and produce minimal wastage as they allow for customisation at the point of installation, and in the future.
By creating a flexible space, you can avoid the need to start over again in a couple of years. You can also re-use materials to create new configurations, rather than having to invest in all new materials.
Choose materials carefully
When selecting the materials to use, think about longevity and maintenance. If you can stretch replacement intervals by choosing wisely, you reduce future waste. These choices don’t have to be highly innovative or new to the market. Glass, for example, is a great sustainable choice. It is also possible to use more traditional fit-out staples like dry lining in a more sustainable way – select better quality options that will last longer and offer better energy-efficiency rather than opting for the cheapest choice.
Work with local experts
When thinking about suppliers and your fit-out team, it makes sense to choose someone based within a couple of hours. This immediately reduces the number of miles travelled and, therefore, the overall carbon footprint of the project. We focus on projects in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex and London – all within easy reach of our HQ.
Working with experts who have plenty of experience in office refurbishments is also likely to avoid waste on your project from over-ordering. Our teams are well versed in using materials as efficiently as possible, saving you money, and meaning less ends up in landfill.
If sustainability is a key requirement for your next office refit, why not get in touch? We’re sure to have some ideas which will help you achieve your goals without breaking the bank.