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As organizations welcome the workforce back into physical offices, employers should seize the opportunity to build offices that are not only healthier, but also smarter, more user-friendly and more sustainable, writes Sabrina Venish, head of platform solutions at PlaceOS.
Australia’s built environment accounts for almost a quarter of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions and more than half of its electricity consumption. Building energy demand continues to grow, driven by greater ownership and use of energy-consuming appliances and rapid growth in building floor space worldwide.
Globally, buildings and construction together are responsible for nearly one-third of total global final energy consumption and nearly 15% of direct CO2 emissions, according to International Energy Buildings (IEA).
As hybrid work takes hold, so does the need to think about the design and management of buildings that are more sustainable.
The case for sustainability in the workplace
When considering sustainability, operators tend to look first at financial ROI, such as asset life cycle, space consolidation and utility reduction. What is less obvious is that sustainability is playing a bigger role than ever, due to drivers such as climate change and policy changes.
The growing implementation of building sustainability rating systems such as the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) Green Star Rating and the National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) has sharpened the wider focus on environmentally friendly buildings. They are better for the bottom line, better for employees and clients, and better for the planet.
Building automation brings a better user experience
The increasing digitization of buildings presents an opportunity for organizations to better achieve their sustainability goals while improving the employee experience. Building automation can help them manage emissions and operating costs while increasing property value and maintaining a more comfortable environment for tenants.
Automation provides volumes of data that can be used to support user experiences for tenants. Automation, connectivity and analytics can be used to ensure that all technology in a building is working as efficiently and effectively as possible. By connecting to every disparate technology system, we have all the data to solve sustainability challenges and deliver exceptional user experiences.
A human-centered design approach can provide an overall better experience for tenants seeking productive time in the office, such as optimizing HVAC to reduce utilities and better use space.
Overcoming barriers – it starts with workplace culture
Breaking down the silos of technology and focusing on the workplace experience is a key challenge for every organization. When you spend every day in and around the workplace (or now outside of it), you put yourself in a position to define the culture of your workplace, what requirements people have to meet, and what obstacles people encounter.
Further reading: Reinventing the workplace to meet employee expectations.
Workplace solutions have historically been built by IT and Facilities, HR to a lesser extent. That is changing. If all relevant stakeholders are involved in the scoping of the solution, including compliance (with sustainable building standards), the more coverage the end product will have in meeting user needs.
For example, automatically starting video conferencing equipment just before a meeting or controlling lights in workspaces, efficient and sustainable operation of HVAC systems and smart lighting by switching them on and off based on room occupancy, calendar schedules and organizational protocols are some of the features of smarter workspaces that saves money and the planet.
In addition, elevating the workplace experience contributes to the overall culture. HVAC and lighting systems can use data to inform staff settings so they can work as efficiently and effectively as possible, creating a pleasant environment for staff that is also focused on optimizing energy efficiency for sustainability and certification practices within the building and its tenants.
An opportunity not to be missed
As we continue to navigate and redefine the workplace, shaped by the events of the past two years, we have an unprecedented opportunity to make our buildings smarter, healthier and more sustainable. Now is the time for organizations to use building technology to promote a culture that promotes efficiency and sustainability while improving the work environment.
About the Author: Sabrina Venish is the Global Platform Solutions Leader for PlaceOS, a smart building integration platform. In this role, she combines her academic business knowledge, building technology background and love of learning about digital transformation to guide customers through their smart building journeys.
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