Seven points to ponder for a green office

Marcus Burtenshaw, director and head of commercial agency for Knight Frank Chartered (Thailand) said office tenants can include green criteria while selecting a building, regardless of their rental budget.

Here is a selection of "green" criteria that environmentally aware office users might use when evaluating office space:

Location

To determine which location is best for you, take a survey of your staff's homes and clients' locations. Are you in a location that minimises staff commute and sales-trip times?

Transport

Access to public transport options such as the BTS, MRT, BRT bus routes and express boats have obvious benefits for the environment and for business.

Building management

Most modern office buildings have a computer-controlled building-management system (BMS). BMS manages utilities and building settings.

Natural Light

Natural light can help office users save money and be more productive. Items to look for include solar-tinted glazing and exterior sun-shading.

Cooling Systems

Most of the electricity is consumed by buildings' cooling systems. Properties with chilled water systems with variable air-volume controls consume substantially less electricity than air-conditioning.

Proximity to open areas

Open areas enhance employee satisfaction, well-being and help to mitigate the effects of climate change in cities.

Decoration

Fitting out your office space is a key opportunity to specify low-energy fittings for your work place. For example, consider installing window blinds to further reduce glare.