While environmentalism has gained a strong foothold in corporate boardrooms due to an a increased awareness of the benefit of good stewardship as a part of running a business, it can also make good economic sense. Integrating environmental concerns into your site selection process can help you to improve employee health, lower operating costs and increase productivity and sales.
Green Sites and Your Employees
Green sites frequently have a full range of health benefits that can positively impact your employees’ health. This can pay off in terms of reduced absenteeism, lower health insurance premiums and increased employee satisfaction. Some of the things that you can look for in a green site include: Many green buildings consist of environmentally friendly materials. Some of these materials, like green paints and carpets, have less outgassing. This leads to better indoor air quality inside workplaces and the potential for fewer sick days.
Green buildings usually take advantage of natural light to reduce lighting costs. This also adds to the decor of your office and tends to generate a more sprightly mood amongst employees.
One of the many ways for a building to earn LEED points is for it to support alternative transportation. Many green buildings have access to public transportation, bicycle racks and changing rooms and other alternatives to driving to work. All of these can help your team to move more and enjoy better health.
Green Sites and Occupancy Costs
The perception that green building is expensive is only partially true. Taking an existing building and comprehensively retrofitting it to the newest standards can be very expensive, as can adding solar panels in areas with limited sun. On the other hand, many green technologies like high-efficiency lighting carry a relatively small premium over less efficient fixtures. A new building can take advantage of green technologies for just a few percentage point increase in building cost.
Selecting sites with green buildings directly impacts your bottom line. You should enjoy lower energy consumption, potential access to tax credits and low repair and replacement costs since many green components last longer than their traditional counterparts.
Green Sites and Business Results
Having green sites can help to drive new types of customers and employees to your business. Generation Y is the most environmentally sensitive age cohort ever. By selecting sites that appeal to their sensibilities, you can gain their loyalty as they continue to grow their role in the economy.
Decreasing your company’s environmental impact can have other benefits as well. Many businesses now look to do business with vendors that have a green program. Selecting green sites and working overall to increase your sustainability efforts can potentially make it easier for you to beat your competitors and earn business from these demanding clients.
Good environmental stewardship is an integral part of doing business in the twenty-first century. Integrating it into your site selection process can bring more than intangible benefits. Selecting green sites can help to keep you in the black through lower occupancy costs and lower labor expenditures.
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