Space planning & ergonomics

Introduce shared workspace
Introduce hot desking – where people don’t have a fixed desk but share resources when they are in the office - to reduce your overall footprint and save property costs.

Create flexible spaces
Adapt rarely used space such as canteens or meeting rooms into flexible areas that can become office space. This will reduce your overall need for space, thus reducing your energy bills.

Optimise the office layout
Review the total needs of your office and how best to use the space available for the tasks, people and their roles. Good space planning will result in savings.

Introduce flexible meeting
Lots of large meeting rooms maybe unnecessary. Use different height meeting options – standing tables, small benches with stools etc . This will keep your meetings short, sharp and effective and reduces the need for visitor seating and large rooms.

Go digital
Use digital media, rather than paper storage. By opting for specialist inserts in cabinets you can reduce the volume of paper storage required and the overall floor-plan you need. It will save both property costs and residuals costs..

Annexe the Archive
Put archive storage in areas that are seldom used. An archive storage area may only be visited infrequently and does not need to be lit or heated to the same degree as the common working areas

Keep heating systems clear
Do not plan furniture in front of heat sources. Blocking radiators or grills will make the heating / ventilation systems inefficient and have to work harder – wasting energy and costing more.

Keep windows free
Avoid tall furniture at windows and glass partitions. Windows let in natural energy in the form of sunlight and heat. Solutions are now available to store heat radiation from windows, thus reducing your heating costs.

Use Carpets to good effect
Carpets create a warm and comfortable feeling as well as adding acoustic benefits. In rooms with solid floors approx 10-12% more of the heat is lost through the floor

Use the stairs.
Use the lift less. OK this may be obvious, but good exercise contributes to good ergonomic practice and of course using the lift less means less energy use.