Exploring ways of increasing energy efficiency
Increasing a company’s sustainability is not necessarily an expensive or cumbersome undertaking: sustainability goes hand in hand with the changing face of today’s work environment. Here are some areas you may like to consider to improve the operational and energy efficiency of our clients’ businesses. Investing in the right property is vital to ensuring the productivity and profitability of a company. A good property must be able to adapt to the changing needs of the company and its employees, and it must be affordable. A staggering 75 per cent of buildings in the UK are pre-1960 and energy-inefficient. Whilst older buildings may be more expensive to run and a potentially poor investment from both an environmental and an economic perspective, the cost of adaptation may be lower and have a lower carbon foot print than demolition and rebuilding. Where possible, choose buildings that are accessible by public transport and other amenities. Well-located buildings will significantly reduce the amount of time employees spend stuck in traffic, thereby helping to attract and retain staff as well as improving productivity. Identifying an effective use of space is essential both in terms of ensuring low energy consumption and reducing running costs. Determining space usage is the key driver. Improving the use of office space, for example in an open-plan layout, can cut costs and reduce energy use if appropriate energy saving measures are included within the design. Similarly, environmental measures such as reducing paper usage and recycling, and having an integrated IT and electronic storage system can lead to less space for paper storage which has to be heated and lit. For more information about our creative approach to office planning solutions and office regeneration, please contact Andrew Pegg at Midas.
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