Incorporating environmentally friendly elements in commercial property build-outs is quickly gaining ground. With increased pressure on businesses to be morally correct and deliver in eco-friendly ways, companies are finding consumers and clients expect this to begin on the company premises. These changes, which include green living, energy efficiency, reducing your company’s carbon footprint, have the potential to positively impact the environment and increase your customer base as well. By completing your build-out in an eco-friendly manner, you become proactive in the eyes of clients, colleagues, and customers and result is your efforts reflect well on your business. Here are some ways to make our commercial property build-out environmentally friendly.
Use Eco-friendly Products
When you utilize green, eco-friendly products in your commercial properties transformation, you are setting the standard in embracing environmentally sound practice. Using recycled materials is a start, one that is easy to implement. Because breakrooms and bathrooms are always part of a commercial build-out, consider using recycled glass for countertops and tiles. These recycled products use considerably fewer natural resources in their manufacture. A number of high quality building materials today are recycled and can make your project uniquely eco-friendly. When considering products, ask about the manufacturing process used (i.e. water recycling used in some manufacturing significantly reduces water consumption and by purchasing their products, you support that practice). Also consider sustainability as well as demolition required (the greater the demolition the greater your contribution to the landfills). By asking the right questions, you can make sure your build-out remains eco-friendly.
Testing Air Pressure
Air pressure testing is a legal requirement today in order for new construction’s building regulation requirements, but it is a good idea for existing buildings as well. Air pressure testing allows you to discover the quality of the airflow, how much air escapes the building on a regular basis, and subsequently how much energy is being wasted in your building. Though every building has holes and gaps which allow air to escape, you want to ensure those areas are small so that excessive heat is not lost in the winter months. By reducing this air loss, you make your space more energy efficient and eco-friendly.
Increasing Energy Performance
Your commercial property’s energy performance certificate (EPC) provides a rating for your building on a scale from A to G. The closer your property is to A, the more energy efficient your property, making it more appealing to potential renters and leasers from the onset. If your property falls short, using the build-out to make it more energy efficient will only help for future leasing. If your rating is low, you can improve your property’s EPC grade by air pressure testing and the necessary improvements in reducing draughts, upgrading heating and cooling systems, and improving water systems. If you aren’t sure where to begin, contact a commercial energy assessor who can provide your performance rating and offer solutions on how to make improvements in your energy performance.
Making a Difference
As you plan your commercial build-out, you will want to work with a contractor who takes sustainability into account during the entire process from the selection of eco-friendly materials to the remodeling and installation process used. In addition, there are things you can do on a daily basis to be more environmentally conscious. Consider shutting down all electrical items not in use overnight and making sure the hand dryers and toilets in your restrooms are environmentally friendly. Every little thing you can do works toward making your commercial property build-out more environmentally friendly.
At Perillo Construction, Inc., our goal is to meet your goal, promising attention to detail, providing quality materials, exceptional craftsmanship, and delivering exceptional results for your eco-friendly build-out project.