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Eco-Friendly Design Elements for Office Buildings

Author: Rahul Sharma
by Rahul Sharma
Posted: Jun 20, 2019

There is a common misconception that sustainable interior design for offices lacks aesthetic value. However, eco-friendly architecture and design have come a long way. These days, you will find that the 'eco-friendly' trend is quite typical in new office buildings and commercial spaces. It is now more common to see successful examples of environment-friendly building practices and interior design elements than before.

Designing with efficiency in mind

One of the primary drivers for the development of eco-friendly design is achieving energy-efficiency in the workplace. Commercial buildings and establishments consume a significant amount of energy daily, and also produce the most waste. Designers and architects that aim for sustainability often focus on innovating HVAC and plumbing systems. For example, passive cooling techniques are being incorporated in high-rise buildings to minimise the need for air conditioning. Most offices today also use eco-friendly lighting solutions, and some even feature in-house recycling to limit the amount of waste produced.

Creating green spaces indoors

Another favourite interior design element used in eco-friendly buildings is the incorporation of green spaces. These spaces refer to indoor gardens, green walls, and livings walls. It is a genius solution because indoor office spaces usually have poor air quality and plants naturally filter impurities from the air. In addition to the aesthetic appeal, green spaces help maintain good air quality and contribute to the well-being of employees.

Modular living walls are available from commercial suppliers like cityairtech.com where you can choose from a variety of designs, planting medium, and installation technology. The advantage of modular living walls is that the system typically uses a non-soil medium and self-irrigation. Living walls are also relatively easy to maintain. Depending on the plant species you choose, these living walls are self-sustaining and require very little care.

Some companies are going the extra mile by turning all available space into viable gardens. By planting vegetables, herbs, and fruit-bearing trees, these buildings can augment the needs of employees and reduce dependence on outside sources for food.

Promoting the use of sustainable materials

The construction industry has long been credited for massive degradation of natural resources. Lumber, cement, and other materials used to build all come from non-renewable sources. These days, however, architects and engineers are finding new ways to incorporate recycled materials in constructing new buildings.

Similarly, interior design elements such as furniture are also getting a 'sustainability' makeover. Furniture designers are continuously pushing for the use of renewable materials like bamboo. Most wood used in building office furniture comes from sustainable farms. Recycled metal, wood, and plastic are also being used to create beautiful furnishings used in commercial and industrial spaces.

Renewable energy sources

Perhaps one of the most drastic and expensive sustainable practices to incorporate in designing a fully sustainable commercial space is harnessing renewable energy sources. But the cost and challenge of adoption do not deter building designers and architects from finding innovative ways to promote the use of solar panels. Apart from producing power, solar panels are also used for passive heating.

About the Author

Rahul is a renowned author and social media enthusiast.

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Author: Rahul Sharma

Rahul Sharma

Member since: Mar 24, 2019
Published articles: 40

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