The idea of sustainability in the office environment has always been associated with what is displayed on the certificate. A more pertinent question is how sustainable the process is once the certification has been obtained. The questions here are: how efficiently is energy consumed, how is water managed, what is the quality of the air that employees breathe, and how effectively are resources managed?

For premium offices, sustainability is becoming more a matter of daily operations than simply a step towards achieving certification. Take energy efficiency. In the current office setting, smart building technologies can vary the amount of lighting, air conditioning and ventilation according to occupancy and use of space. An unused meeting room for the next two hours will not consume as much energy as one that is occupied.

Similarly, lighting systems that adjust according to natural light can help conserve energy without requiring employees to make any effort. These may seem like trivial measures, but they are effective only when implemented consistently in the workplace every day.

Water consumption

Water conservation operates in much the same way. Sensor-activated taps, water-efficient devices and systems that measure consumption levels can help reduce water wastage. What matters most is that such measures should not be viewed as one-off actions but as part of a continuous process.

Air quality is yet another example of how sustainability and employee well-being are becoming interconnected. By monitoring parameters such as carbon dioxide levels, particulate matter, humidity and ventilation, facility managers can address changes in air quality rather than treating it as an established feature of the building. The key advantage for employees is obvious: they get to work in an environment designed with their well-being in mind.

Importance of design

But it doesn’t end there. Design itself can play an important role. Biophilia is often limited to the presence of plants in office spaces. It can, however, affect employees in other ways.

Exposure to natural light, greenery, natural materials and views of nature can create an environment that is pleasant and welcoming. In premium offices, the quality of the employee experience is part of what makes the product.

The same applies to waste management. Proper waste segregation, reduced use of single-use products, recycling of electronic waste and more careful purchasing choices are examples of how sustainability can become part of daily workplace operations. None of these steps is radical in itself. Together, however, they can make an important contribution to a company’s sustainability.

Sustainability should now be viewed in the context of business success. Energy and water savings can make operations more efficient. Building controls can make inefficiencies easier to identify and allow building managers to respond more effectively.

Resilient infrastructure can aid business continuity. Workplaces that focus on indoor environmental quality, natural elements and the well-being of their occupants can provide a better environment for the people who use them.

This is also affecting how organisations assess their office investments. Instead of considering only location and size, companies are now looking at what a workplace can offer them: reliability, flexibility, employee experience, efficiency and resilience. Sustainability has become part of this equation.

Office of the future

Then there is the long-term aspect to consider. With occupiers’ requirements and environmental standards constantly changing, responsible construction and building management will remain relevant. In other words, sustainability is not just about meeting present-day requirements but also about being prepared for future expectations.

Consequently, the next generation of premium offices will offer much more than a certificate displayed at reception. The office of the future will not only have visible features but will also rely on less visible technologies, such as lighting systems that switch off when spaces are unoccupied and smart systems that optimise cooling, heating and resource use.

Sustainability is important. It is no longer just a certification or a requirement to meet; it is part of everyday workplace life. The best premium offices of the future will be those in which sustainability is not an additional feature but an integral part of how a building operates.

The writer is the managing director and CEO of Executive Centre.