Going Green – How To Refurbish Your Business Using Sustainable Office Design?

Sustainability is more important than ever. According to Aldermore’s Green SME Index, over 2.3 million UK small businesses (42%) have started preparing for net zero.

Jarvale Construction Ltd is fully committed to achieving Net Zero and has a comprehensive strategy and plan to achieve this. We have actively assessed our business and established aims to reduce our carbon footprint. We review this on an annual basis to ensure we are on track.

Jarvale Construction Ltd PPN-0621-Carbon-Reduction-Plan.pdf

We also have an Integrated Sustainability Plan that addresses Climate, Community and Environmental issues.

Jarvale Integrated Sustainability Plan.pdf

However, many businesses may not know where to begin with refurbishing their offices in line with their sustainability goals. We have summarised what you need to know:

To sustainably refurbish your facility, start by defining your goals – we can help with this. Consider water and energy-saving features like LED lighting, better insulation, better windows and a smart HVAC system to reduce your business’s carbon footprint and lower your energy bills. Opt for reclaimed or eco-friendly materials and work with a construction company with a proven track record of sustainable projects.

Read on for five tips for sustainability, refurbishing your office, and the reasons why sustainable office design is so beneficial.

5 Tips for Sustainable Refurbishment

More and more businesses are focused on sustainability, especially when undertaking refurbishment work. Sustainable design benefits the environment and can lower your operational costs, increase productivity and boost your business’s reputation.

Here are five tips for creating a more sustainable office from the construction experts at Jarvale.

1. Determine Your Sustainability Goals

If you’re considering refurbishment, the first step should be determining your sustainability goals for the project. You should consider why you’re undertaking the refurbishment and how sustainable construction will help your business. For example, you might be keen to make your facility more energy-efficient by improving the insulation and installing a smart HVAC system and LED lighting. Alternatively, you might aim to achieve a specific sustainability accreditation, such as LEED, BREEAM or WELL.

Whatever your goals, discuss them with your commercial office construction partner so that they can be factored into your sustainable refurbishment. You should work with a construction company that has a comprehensive understanding of sustainable refurbishment practices so you can meet your sustainability goals.

2. Make Your Office More Energy Efficient

One of the most important elements of sustainable buildings is energy efficiency. Making your facility more energy efficient allows you to conserve natural resources and lowers your business’s energy bills over the long term. For example, LED lighting uses over 75% less energy than incandescent lighting.

Consider undertaking an energy audit of your office before your refurbishment to highlight the building’s key inefficiencies and allow you to benchmark your future energy performance.

Here are some energy-efficient elements you can incorporate into your sustainable office refurbishment:

• LED lighting
• Improved insulation
• Higher specification windows
• Light sensors
• Smart HVAC system
• Natural light sources
• Renewable energy sources, like solar panels/photovoltaics

3. Improve Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air quality in the workplace is crucial for an employee’s productivity, health and well-being. Sustainable office refurbishment should incorporate adequate ventilation systems (such as an HVAC system) and indoor plants to improve air quality. As fresh air circulates, harmful air particles like dust mites are filtered out, helping to make the air cleaner and healthier.

Selecting low-volatile organic compound (VOC) emitting materials is essential for improving air quality in your office. VOC’s are human-made chemicals that can be incredibly damaging to employees’ health over time. They can be emitted by a wide range of products, including furnishings, paints and lacquers, and building materials. Some sustainable building accreditations specify the use of low-VOC emitting materials. A sustainability-focused construction company will be aware of which materials are best avoided.

4. Implement Water-Saving Features

Water conservation is another key element of sustainable office design. Implementing water-saving systems and fixtures significantly lowers your office’s water consumption, helping save the environment and reduce your water bills.

Here are some water-saving elements you should consider in your office renovation:

• Dual-flush toilets
• Low-flow plumbing
• Automatic taps
• Rainwater collection
• Leak proofing

5. Choose Sustainably Sourced Materials

You should consider the products and materials you use in your refurbishment project and try to make sustainable choices. This includes your choice of office furniture, flooring, fabrics and finishes. Consider the carbon impact of sourcing furniture and try reusing existing items where possible. Reclaimed materials can also be a great way to make your office design more sustainable.

If you need to use new materials, try to source them locally. This will help to reduce the carbon footprint of your refurbished office and support the local economy.

Why Refurbish Your Facility in a Sustainable Way?

The obvious benefit of focusing on sustainability during your office refurbishment is to lower carbon emissions and reduce your business’s impact on the environment. However, there are several other benefits to consider, both for your business and your employees.

Attract Better Talent and Retain More Employees

A 2023 report found that nearly 40% of Millennials surveyed said they’ve chosen a job or company because of their sustainability goals. This shows that more and more employees are concerned about workplace sustainability and are using this as a factor in their job searches. Having clear sustainability goals and a sustainable office building can help your company attract the best talent and retain more of your best employees.

Improve Your Business’s Green Reputation

It’s not just employees who value sustainability; having a sustainable space can also improve your company’s reputation, helping to attract more business. Meeting sustainability accreditations can show your customers that you care about the environment and are committed to reducing your carbon footprint as an organisation.

Lower Your Operating Costs

Reusing existing furniture or using reclaimed materials will not only make your office more sustainable but will also lower your renovation costs. This allows you to invest more in energy-efficient solutions, such as LED lighting or renewable energy, such as solar panels, which will help lower your operating costs over the long term.

Make Your Building More Attractive to Tenants

If you’re looking to refurbish a building with the intention of letting it out to commercial tenants, you might think there is no point in focusing on sustainability. However, implementing energy-efficient features can be incredibly attractive to tenants as it will help lower their operational costs. Additionally, having a sustainable office space, especially if it has achieved a specific accreditation, will allow you to charge higher rents, maximising your return on investment.

Refurbish Your Office Sustainably With Jarvale

Our Refurbishment Services can help transform your existing building into a sustainable, functional and commercially viable space.

At Jarvale, we understand how important your facility is to your business and will work with you to meet your sustainability goals. Every refurbishment project is completed according to the construction schedule and within your specified budget. You can rely on our expert team to handle your sustainable refurbishment professionally.

We have completed refurbishment projects throughout South Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and the Midlands, converting existing commercial and public sector buildings into sustainable and decarbonised facilities. View our completed projects to see what we have accomplished.

If you’re looking to refurbish your office or commercial building, get in touch with our team today.

When refurbishing an office building, there is plenty of tax relief available, especially if you know how to approach your refurbishment project from a tax perspective. As an experienced Design and Build company, we often find that clients are unaware of the tax implications of an office refurbishment. It’s essential to work with your construction partner and finance team to make the most of the tax relief available to you.

Refurbish Your Office With Jarvale

If you are looking for an experienced construction partner for an office refurbishment project, the team at Jarvale can help. Office Refurbishment Service can transform your existing space into a functional and aesthetically pleasing work environment for your staff.

At Jarvale, every office refurbishment project is completed according to the construction schedule and within your specified budget. You can rely on our expert team to take a professional, cost-effective and future-ready approach to your office refurbishment.

We have completed commercial refurbishment and construction projects throughout South Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and the Midlands. With over 50 years of experience in undertaking comprehensive commercial construction projects, you can guarantee that your office refurbishment will be completed to the highest possible standard. View our completed projects to see what we have accomplished in the past.

If you’re looking to refurbish your office or commercial building, get in touch with our team today.