6 min. read
Today we celebrate Earth Day, but at SitelogIQ, our team is focused on driving impact that extends beyond a singular day. At SitelogIQ, our mission is to make buildings better, by helping our customers lower their carbon footprint, improve energy efficiency, maintain healthier air quality, and save on their utility bill.
Creating green space is not only beneficial for the environment but also for long-term sustainability, employee well-being, and cost savings. In addition, a green workspace can also help with employee recruitment and retention as an IBM survey found that 67% of the respondents reporting that they are more willing to apply for, and 68% more willing to accept positions from environmentally sustainable companies.
67% of IBM survey respondents reported that they are more willing to apply for, and 68% more willing to accept positions from environmentally sustainable companies.
From K-12 schools and hospitals to office buildings and auto dealerships, all spaces can benefit from incorporating green practices. In honor of Earth Day, we’re sharing tips and key benefits and creating a greener space that improves the lives of your team, facility occupants, and the communities you serve.
Tips for Creating a Green Environment
1. Reduce Paper Products
A simple way to begin moving towards a greener space is to reduce your use of paper. By digitalizing your documents and printing mindfully, you can help cut down of unnecessary waste. Consider using digital documents, e-signatures, and online collaboration tools, and when you need to print, utilize double-sided and black and white ink settings to cut down on waste.
2. Implement a Recycling Program
Placing recycling bins throughout your building is a great step to creating a greener space but there’s more you can do to encourage your coworkers to recycle. Educating your employees on what can and can’t be recycled, where recycled products go, and setting up recycling stations with bins for various types of recyclable materials can help foster best practices. Also consider sharing the positive impact of their efforts, such as the tons of waste recycled annually to help inspire participation and boost morale.
In addition, encouraging your workforce to use reusable mugs, water bottles, and utensils can also help cut down on waste. For companies, offering these items to employees as a part of an onboarding package or recognition or holiday gift can help them more easily implement this practice.
3. Improve Energy Efficiency
According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), green buildings use 25% less energy than traditional buildings. As we’ve shared a few ways to begin creating a green space today, there are multiple solutions you can implement to improve energy efficiency and promote sustainability.
Green buildings use 25% less energy than traditional buildings.
Powering down computers, monitors, and other electronics at the end of the day is a simple to implement best practices. A few additional long-term sustainability solutions to consider might also include HVAC systems, LED lighting and occupancy sensors, efficient water fixtures, smart irrigation systems, and smart thermostats. These solutions not only help lower your operational costs and reduce greenhouse gas, but also allow you to create healthier and comfortable spaces to support employee well-being.
Benefits of Green Spaces
1. Cost Savings
One key benefit for utilizing energy-saving practices into your workplace is operational costs savings. In fact, the USBGC notes that green buildings have been shown to reduce their operating costs by 8% to 9% annually. As mentioned above, installing LED lighting, efficient HVAC systems, water-saving fixtures, and smart thermostats can significantly reduce utility bills. This allows building owners to invest their budget dollars into their mission and occupants/employees.
Green buildings have been shown to reduce their operating costs by 8% to 9% annually.
2. Improved Employee & Occupant Health and Well-being
Indoor air quality can greatly impact your occupants’ health and well-being as proper ventilation can help protect against exposure to airborne illnesses or pathogens. Schools, commercial and industrial buildings, hospitals, higher education institutions, restaurants, local government facilities, housing units, and retail locations need additional care because of their high population and risk of pathogens. By installing efficient HVAC systems, you can help decrease adverse health effects, reducing absenteeism and enhance employee well-being.
3. Environmental and Social Responsibility
Creating a green workplace can help your business or organization demonstrate its commitment to protecting our planet. By implementing the tips shared above, you can lower your carbon footprint and be a steward in your community for sustainability and resiliency. In addition, green workplaces can help create a positive reputation and attract candidates and investors, and are viewed favorably by customers and stakeholders.
Your Partner in Energy Efficiency
At SitelogIQ, we specialize in bringing comfort, functionality, and sustainability to the spaces where we learn, live, heal, work, play, and shop through facility improvement and energy efficiency solutions. We partner with our customers to gain a thorough understanding of their facility needs and develop and implement programs to help them meet organizational goals and lower their carbon footprint.
We’ve worked hard behind the scenes to develop a tool to make this process easier and more conducive for our customers to truly understand their facilities and develop a process for making them better. With our technology-enabled solutions platform, mySiteIQ, we can develop a personalized and interactive dashboard that allows you to easily track your energy consumption and achieve your energy, operational, or sustainability goals. If you would like help assessing ways to reduce energy and utility costs, contact us today!