Whether you get your daily news from the newspapers or the internet, it’s hard to ignore the forest fires, rising sea levels, changing weather patterns and all the other signs of global warming that are becoming more and more common.
With every passing day, it’s becoming more apparent that we each need to make an effort to reduce the global carbon footprint. This is where a co-working space comes in. Shared office spaces play a big part in bridging the gap between the ecological and economical facets of working.
According to the Suburban economic survey, the growth of shared workspaces in India can reduce carbon emissions by 181,000 metric tonnes.
Coworking Spaces Vs Conventional Independent Offices
When it comes to an eco-friendly workspace, there are many advantages a shared office space has over conventional work environments.
- Shared Use Of Resources
Every office needs air conditioning as well as certain common appliances - copiers, scanners, printers, a refrigerator, kettles and coffee machines, etc. These assets are expensive to buy and have a fixed lifespan after which they need to be replaced.
While office copiers have an average lifespan of about 3 years, printers may need to be replaced after 3-5 years. You might need to replace equipment faster if it gets outdated as technology evolves.
Rather than each company individually buying these appliances for their offices, everyone in a coworking space uses a common printer, copier, etc. Not only is this cost-effective, but it also sends less equipment to the landfills (reducing the carbon footprint).
- Efficient Commute
Reduced commute distances and time are amongst the most talked about benefits of coworking. Rather than travel across the city to a centralized office, people can choose to work at a coworking centre near their residence. We all know about how this saves time, fuel and cost. There’s also an ecological effect to be considered.
Shorter distances can be covered on foot or it could encourage people to walk to work or bike to work instead of driving their cars. Either way, it reduces fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
A study in Switzerland showed that when people worked only from coworking spaces rather than commuting long distances, CO2 emissions could be reduced by as much as 10%.
- Energy Efficiency
You cannot partly air-condition an office or expect someone to be productive if one section of the office is lit up and the other is dark. Sometimes, in a start-up, you’ll find only 1or 2 people in the office while everyone else is out. But, all the lights and fans and air conditioning need to be working at full capacity. This isn’t cost-effective or energy efficient.
Working from home increases energy usage exponentially and hence cannot be considered sustainable either. On the other hand, a coworking space has many more people working in it and hence is much more energy-efficient.
- Lower Need For Plastics
When most start-ups furnish their offices, budget is a big constraint. Hence, they do the bare minimum. A tea and coffee station are a luxury that many cannot afford. Instead, they usually prefer to pay a ‘chai walla’ to deliver tea once or twice a day. This tea is usually delivered in plastic take-away cups.
On the other hand, coworking spaces have fully equipped kitchenettes with a tea and coffee machine. Members can bring their own cups from home and make their own tea in them. It’s a simple way to cut down on plastic consumption. Many coworking spaces are also working towards segregating their garbage into recyclable and non-recyclable waste to further reduce their carbon footprint.
To maximize these benefits, you should choose a coworking space that is working towards making the space itself also more sustainable.
- Taking An Initiative To Create Sustainable Shared Spaces
Small changes can go a long way in creating an eco-friendly coworking space. Today’s coworking spaces are paying attention to the materials being used within them as well as taking proactive steps to further fight climate change.
The use of plants as décor is one of the most common initiatives. Not only does having a natural green space improve the air quality, but it is also soothing to the eyes. Plants like ficus, dracaena, spider plants and ferns are commonly seen in eco-friendly office complexes.
Many office spaces are rethinking the way they light up their offices. In addition to choosing energy-efficient lighting solutions, there’s a move towards bigger windows and open floor designs to allow more natural light into the workspace.
Architects and Interior Designers are also moving toward using more sustainable materials for coworking spaces. For example, conventional tiled floors are being replaced with bamboo flooring and the walls are being painted with non-toxic paints.
Choosing The Ideal Coworking Space For Climate Change
Choosing a coworking space that makes an active effort to fight climate change is important not only for the company’s carbon footprint but also for brand value. Sustainability is growing to be an important differentiator for brands.