Do you know you spend 90% of your time indoors? And since all of us spend so much time indoors, sustainability becomes important to the indoor designs, especially offices.
And that’s why there has been an enormous push in it. Sustainability has become must do for staying competitive from being a good thing to do.
Many firms are going green with principles and practices. Certifications like LEED and WELL have gained immense popularity with the rise in the need of sustainability.
In fact, the generations like Millennials and generation Z are willing to pay more for the products that are sustainable. This passion has converted the green design into a vital factor to engage and attract.
And so, you will be able to notice many exciting and deep green trends embedding into the culture and design of the top enterprises. And we are listing some of them here.
Prefabricated Construction
Materials have become costly and the labor is short. And so companies are experiencing the enormous effect and hike in the use of prefabricated materials.
Offices are weighing the options of removable partitions for supporting ventilation, daylight, and flexibility. Thus, they are also reducing the quantity of waste and drywall they contribute to landfills.
The prefabrication system ships the finished products to the sites, thus, reducing the concerns of VOC and air quality.
Sharing The Knowledge Of Green
The world is hungry for knowledge. The society is fixated on what it eats. It spends a lot of time studying and understanding the ingredients and the labels of the items. And employees care about the investments of their company in the sustainability.
So, why not share with your employees and clients the details of eco-friendly product manufacturing. Tell them about the VOC levels, how the offices conserve water and how they harvest lighting through the design.
Biophilic Design Continues Rising
People and nature have a connection and science has proved it. Biophilia is much more than just adding plants to your space.
It comprises the true relationship between people with the elements of nature and natural materials like their patterns, textures, and rhythms.
It holds the knowledge of climate concerns, lighting and views indoors. Biophilic designs have a cognitive impact on the workplace.
Holistic Wellbeing
Green design encompasses not just the buildings but people as well. Employers are looking beyond the physical wellness. They are now looking to support the emotional and cognitive well-being of their employees as well.
Reports say that over 60% workdays are lost due to stress. And that’s why green designs are supporting the whole person.
Also, there is an increase in the social space, also called the third space. Here people can connect to each other and their team. Along with that, the quiet spaces for respite are also included for people to recharge themselves.
Recoiling The Information Overload
The society today is hyper-connected. We are engaged with the emails, phone, and technology constantly.
A report shows over 200% rise in the average time spent on the phone in the past six years. Every second, people are sending out over 204 million emails every second. Yes, every second. No wonder our brain is exhausted.
That’s the reason why offices are including mindfulness, thoughtfulness, quietness, and meditation into their design. Their spaces are designed and crafted from the materials that are meant to keep them calm, center them and support their best ideas.
Green Business Strategy
A research was conducted to study the indoor air quality of green and non-green offices. The study took into consideration the CO2 levels and the chemicals that directly affect the cognitive functions of the employees.
The strategically designed green offices scored 61% higher as compared to their non-green counterparts. Why is cognitive health important? Because these offices are paying more people to think and innovate.
Spending on the cognitive health of the employees is their investment that will yield good results in the form of improved production. And that’s why the number of quiet zones has gone up in these offices. Any employee can choose to work uninterrupted here. It improves their productivity.
The offices are also implementing the color theory on a vast basis, including the access to the daylight. It increases the cognitive functions of an employee in the office.
Sustainability In Community
We crave our small towns and believe in shopping locally even in this huge global world. We adopt this method because supporting our community and neighbors is more meaningful to us.
As a strategic and sustainable business practice, companies are investing in their local communities, making them better.
They turn a park or the school of their community green, buy the beverage and food for the office from a local store and promote volunteerism in the community. These trends are making the difference.
Smart Offices
From the luxury, technology has now become an expectation of the employees in their offices. And so, employers are adapting AI in their offices quickly. Just like the society is embracing them in their homes with Google Home and Alexa.
In the smart offices, the movements and use of space controls and adjusts the HVAC levels, lights, and energy. Now, the team doesn’t have to adjust the lighting for the video calls or boot up the technologies. Its because they have linked the conference room to the room that schedules the program and takes care of the necessities related to them.
The budgeting process has not yet studied the cost of the holistic lifecycle. And so, considering the up-front cost is going to be challenging.
Curating The Work Day
The companies are designing the app that can help their employees in finding the best spot to work. This suggestion is based on their personal preferences. It also suggests the workout routines and healthy recipes to each of them along with adjusting heat and light according to their preferences.
Evolving HR Policies
HR policies are evolving and adapting the people-centric models. They are creating incentives and support programs for the wellbeing of their employees and the community.
Offices have evolved differently from the way they used to be. They have become people-centric and so the work environment is changing for the good. Soon, the changes will be evident in the offices worldwide.