Switched on: rise of the smart office
Alongside design, innovation is driving office reconfiguration to meet occupiers’ objectives and the goals of the modern workforce. In particular, occupiers are turning to proptech and data to monitor and manage the environmental impact of their premises. It’s part of a wider drive away from passive office occupancy towards more active management of existing offices.
What, if anything, are you doing or planning to do to reduce the environmental impact of your office over the next 12-18 months?
Use proptech
Employ a consultant/lawyer/accountant to advise on sustainability options
Switch to renewable electricity/install renewable energy sources on-site
Install an Environmental/Energy Management System or recertify one already in place
Liaise with our landlord to identify ways in which we can work together to reduce our office's environmental impact
Employ someone within/into the business to take responsibility for sustainability matters
Purchasing environmentally friendly office products
Reducing office waste/recycling
Use data to analyse our environmental impact /track energy usage in our office
Reducing energy consumption
Biophilic design
There is nothing we are doing or planning to do
Reducing environmental impact
When asked what their organisation is planning to do, or already doing, to reduce environmental impact during the next 12 to 18 months, 29% of occupiers cite the use of proptech.
Nearly a quarter of businesses (24%) will install an environmental/energy management system to improve efficiency, while almost as many (22%) say they use data to analyse their organisation’s environmental impact and track energy usage in their office.
Businesses are installing technology such as motion sensors to automatically adjust lighting and heating, depending on office occupancy at any time.
Data also features high on the agenda among occupiers seeking to move to new premises.
Some 28% believe provision of building performance and energy efficiency is crucial to choosing new office space.
In addition, 26% seek carbon-related building data before deciding on a new location.
What, if anything, do you consider to be the most important environmental criteria when choosing a new office space?
Effective waste management
Use of responsible building materials
Building performance / energy efficiency
Adaptability of space
Provision of carbon-related buildings data to tenants
Use of resources within the building (rainwater, renewable energy)
Proximity or inclusion of green space within the building
BREEAM or other building certification
Respect of biodiversity
There is nothing I consider the most important environmental criteria
In fact, data is becoming an integral part of occupiers’ discussions with landlords.
When asked to describe key areas where both parties collaborate, more than half (55%) of business decision-makers mentioned environmental issues such as data sharing, along with green lease clauses and improvements to mechanical and electrical factors within the building.
Two thirds (66%) of respondents have further demands. They want landlords to upgrade their building management system to better capture carbon data – another sign that environmental issues are front of mind for many organisations.
This doesn’t just relate to ESG targets and reporting in the boardroom: 71 % of businesses say they would be willing to contribute towards the cost of Electric Vehicle charging points as part of the drive to support employees who are keen to work from the office.
