Getting the most bang for your buck in office renovation and management practices

As green renovation becomes more mainstream, dizzying arrays of products and services have become available. It is laudable that more businesses are seeing the benefits of pursuing sustainable practices. However, for small budget renovations, or for office managers just looking to implement some cost-saving practices, the prospect can be daunting.

The question becomes: what kinds of changes provide the best dollar-value cost savings (in terms of up-front investment, or long-term maintenance)?

The USGBC offers a comprehensive rating system for the implementation of green strategies in renovation and maintenance (the LEED system), and offers a wealth of information on the subject, but the system may be too rigorous for some small projects.

Even for small projects, however, there are a few high-value areas for consideration:

Recycling

This seems obvious, but is an often overlooked topic. Besides the usual paper bins, look at recycling plastic (bottles, packing material, bags, etc.), aluminum cans, toner cartridges, and more. In the workplace, look for ways to be more “paperless”, and encourage employees in recycling and conservation efforts. Earthshare has a lot of good tips.

When renovating, recycling can have real impact on the bottom line. Identify fixtures, furniture, and construction components that could be saved/refurbished and reused for the renovation. The cost of salvage and refurbishing is generally greatly offset by the cost savings realized in not purchasing new components, and saves in disposal costs as well!

Even those items that might not be reusable in the current project may have value—investigate using a recycling specialist for demolition, or donate unused materials/fixtures to agencies like Habitat for Humanity for a tax credit. Items that are diverted from a landfill save disposal costs and help save the planet!

Energy Efficiency

Energy costs are generally the highest costs (next to personnel and real estate costs) in running a business. Even small changes here can have a great impact.

Consider replacing standard incandescent bulbs with energy-saving CFLs, and install sensor switches to automatically shut off lights when a space is not in use.

When renovating, look for ways to maximize use of natural lighting through windows, skylights, and solar tubes. Natural light not only improves employee morale and health, it also saves electricity! A little extra money up front can save a lot down the road on electricity and heating costs.

When purchasing equipment, search out Energy Star compliant items. Again, a little more money spent up front to buy more efficient appliances can yield big savings over time!

Water Efficiency

 Consider a water audit to analyze your water use and identify opportunities for improvement.  This review generally includes domestic, sanitary, and irrigation.  Check with your local utility to see if this is offered in your area as a free service.

In restrooms, consider replacing old fixtures with new, water efficient, low-flow toilets.  Replace traditional sink fixtures with motion-sensor faucets and high-efficiency hand dryers to reduce water use and paper towel waste, and make cleaning easier.

Transportation Efficiency

Encourage carpools and public transportation for your employees, and for business travel.   Consider investing in hybrid or alternative-fuel vehicles for company cars.

If practical, consider offering the ability to telecommute  to your employees.  Benefits can include increased productivity, a reduction in required office space, and reduction in your carbon footprint!