06 Jun 2022

Let your workplace help you achieve your business goals

Midway through 2022, businesses are facing an array of challenges as the world returns to normality in the wake of a global pandemic. From inflationary pressures, challenges in recruiting and retaining the best staff, to the increasing need to improve environmental credentials, there is great deal for management teams to contend with.

Every company has the ability to decide where it works and that choice is more relevant than ever before. From helping you to achieve your ESG objectives, making it easier to recruit and retain new staff, to ensuring your team is working in a happy and healthy environment, the location, quality and social values of workspaces have never been so important.

With the transformation of Portland House rapidly approaching completion, it is a great time to look at some of the things we are doing to reduce the environmental impact of the building and make it a cost-effective, sustainable and healthy place to work.

Lighting

Our work has included the installation of new LED lighting and motion sensors to minimise energy usage. Our LED lights cost up to 80% less to run than traditional halogen lights.

Another big advantage of our LED lighting is the type of light it omits, casting a more natural light to provide for a warmer working environment; did you know that a better light environment can increase work performance?

Flooring

We have installed flooring which is carbon neutral across the full product life cycle and verified by the Carbon Neutral Floors™ program. The Interface products have some of the lowest carbon impact in the industry and they offset unavoidable emissions purchasing carbon-offsets from projects in renewable energy, fuel switching and reforestation.

Paint

We have used a fantastic range of Earthborn products throughout the building to provide the best environment for occupiers. We have chosen paints and emulsions that are wipeable, breathable, hygroscopic, anti-static and low odour. The benefits of these include:

  • The breathability of Earthborn paints, in particular the moisture absorbing qualities of the paint helps even out the humidity in a room, making for a healthier, more comfortable living environment
  • The anti-static qualities means that less static electricity builds up, helping to reducing dust and allergens
  • The products are totally free from oils and are virtually VOC free

Doors

We have retained as many doors as possible and where new door sets have been installed, they are FSC® (Forestry Stewardship Council) certified. This means that all the wood is tracked from the forest to the store. Every link between the forest and the consumer is certified to make it clearly identifiable which wood is FSC certified, and which is not.

Sinks

We are proud to have installed Woodio sinks, the world’s first 100% waterproof solid wood composite, designed to replace ceramic and stone materials. Woodio products have a significantly lower carbon footprint, throughout the whole product lifecycle, than similar traditional ceramic bathroom fixtures. In fact, we are saving 55kg of carbon release per unit!

Biophilic installations 

Within the building’s common areas, reception and break out space, new biophilic installations will help improve air quality and remove toxins. A UK- based study entitled ‘The Relative Benefits of Green versus Lean office Space’ found that workers with an exposed level of contact with nature were 15% more productive, compared to those with minimal contact.

The workplace really is the heart of a company – an expression of a company’s purpose and vision. Make sure your workplace is sustainable, socially focussed and designed for employee wellbeing.

We are only a matter of weeks from announcing the completion of our transformation project so please get in touch and find out how we can help you achieve your goals at Portland House.