Sustainability is emerging as a top priority in the commercial property industry. As more and more businesses and investments recognize the need for safer, cost-effective, and more efficient workplaces, the need for a Circular Economy can no longer be wished away. Today, older buildings are giving way for safer, greener, and more sustainable buildings that help attract the interest and attention of younger tenants and investors. This blog looks at the key sustainability trends for 2022.
Product Transparency Regarding Adaptive Reuse
The emerging demand for sustainable development and efficient use of resources in the building and design industry has led to the adaptive reuse concept. Adaptive reuse is the method of repurposing buildings for potential new uses and functions other than those originally intended to meet present-day needs.
Providing material use and reuse information is now a key marketing tool to attract the millennial and Gen Z population that understands the value of working and living in spaces that promote both environmental health and well-being. Reuse promotes the lasting value of a building. It encourages efficient use of resources now, while adapting to future needs, thus remaining a valuable community asset.
Apart from preventing demolition and wastage, adaptive reuse allows buildings to become critical components of urban regeneration. Today, developers are now sharing information with tenants and investors on green products and practices integrated into their spaces that promote sustainability.
Sustainable Building Materials
Sustainably sourced materials that can last a long time or are recyclable take priority now. Innovative building technology allows developers to incorporate sustainable and healthy building materials such as reclaimed wood, bamboo, and cork. The advancement in technology has also led to sustainable systems that can be reused and reconfigured to enable businesses to enjoy unmatched levels of adaptivity and flexibility in their spaces.
The industry is incorporating structural materials that combine insulated concrete and recycled steel to allow for sustainable systems. A good example is smart building systems like programmable thermostats designed to work alongside materials to make buildings more energy-efficient.
Adaptive Design Technologies
Adaptive design in architecture refers to a framework that changes its structure, behavior, or resources based on current and future requests or demands. It is a multi-disciplinary approach focused on buildings powered by internal data and those designed to adapt to changing environmental needs. A key example is the adaptive design products such as the Gridd system from FreeAxez designed to easily adapt to the changing growth of your business to keep costs down. Gridd® is an access floor that makes changing your technology efficient, fast, and affordable. Unlike the traditional floors, Gridd is designed to meet today’s highly demanding business environment by allowing a building to adapt easily to crucial future technological changes, so it remains functional and operational at every stage of its life cycle.
Zero Energy Buildings
Zero energy buildings are properties whose total amount of energy utilized annually equals the amount of renewable energy generated on-site. This is one of the sustainability trends gaining a lot of interest and attention among modern tenants and investors today. It involves combining energy-efficient building construction, renewable energy, and energy-efficient appliances to effectively reduce carbon footprint and replace standard energy usage with regenerative systems such as wind power systems and solar systems.
Green Energy
Green energy is another of the popular sustainability trends in commercial space today. Clean energy such as solar energy is being incorporated to preserve resources, reduce carbon footprint and offset costs from traditional energy sources. The cost-effective nature of solar panels enables businesses to reduce operating costs, increase the value of their property and benefit from tax credits and bonus depreciation.
Prefabricated Construction
The recent shift to remote working, labor shortages and rise in material cost has seen an increase in the use of prefabricated materials. Offices utilize demountable partitions that support daylight, ventilation, and flexibility while minimizing waste from drywalls that contribute to landfills. Prefabrication enables the reduction of exposure to volatile organic compounds, such as fumes from paints during the application process and other air quality issues typical of traditional finishing.
Domestically Sourced and Manufactured Products
As the building and construction world shifts more focus to sustainable practices, domestically sourced and manufactured building products are gaining popularity over imported products. Locally sourced building materials are beneficial to the environment as they use less transportation, translating to reduced emissions.
The use of local materials also guarantees quality and safety because the USA-made products undergo stringent regulations and certifications before being released to the market. Educating your customers about locally sourced products underpins the commitment to sustainability.
Biophilic Design
There is a growing adoption of biophilic design in building and construction today. Biophilia involves the addition of plants and living walls to spaces to enhance the true relationship and connection between people and nature. The technique uses knowledge of views, climate, lighting, and botany within the indoor environment. Biophilic design has several benefits, including improved air quality, improved health, well-being, increased employee engagement, and reduced stress levels.
Stormwater Management
Best Management Practices (BMPs) is a green practice used to manage flooding, erosion, and water quality. BMPs involve the use of several techniques, including structural, vegetative, and managerial practices, to treat, prevent or reduce water pollution. It may also involve integrating plant life to help with water absorption and porous pavement technologies that help prevent roadway flooding.
Gridd Can Help You Meet Sustainability Goals
The events of the past year have driven home the importance of product longevity, tenant well-being, environment, and sustainable practices in living and working spaces. This means a growing number of your tenants and investors are looking for sustainable spaces that support health and well-being. Showing your company’s commitment to sustainable practices can be an important step in establishing a strong brand that connects right with the consumers.
You can boost your sustainability efforts with the help of Gridd Adaptive Cabling Distribution access floor system. Gridd’s revolutionary design is an access floor system that readily adapts to the growth of your business without a need for costly remodeling or reconstruction. The access floor system can be reconfigured several times cost-effectively to meet changing needs. Contact us today to learn more.
