When considering office furnishings, let’s first remember a few things.
Energy to power office buildings and personal energy for employees are both essential so we don’t come to a grinding halt.
Where does the energy in the office come from? That may seem obvious when the electricity is on. How about your windows?
A British start-up named Water Filled Glass is doing just that—using water-filled glass to heat and cool buildings. Their window technology uses a thin layer of water between glass panes that absorbs heat from sunlight or other sources like heat leaving a room.
The warm water pumps through pipes to cooler areas of the building or is directed into thermal storage.
It’s an innovative solution that turns everyday materials we’re familiar with and turns them into sustainable energy.
How about your people? Humans are more complex than glass.
It’s always important to design and plan your office to energize your team and reduce fatigue factors that result in conditions like brain fog or absenteeism.
Energy for your office building is important, as is energy for your company’s employees.
What will energize your team? Another way of looking at the same issue is using resources to keep your employees engaged in their work.
Start with Ergonomics
You know what happens when you have office furnishings such as a wobbly desk or a chair that doesn’t fit quite right and hurts your lower back? You’re distracted and you expend extra energy trying to stay comfortable and overcome your physical obstacles.
Ergonomics benefit workers because the equipment and surroundings are fitted to their needs and people can work more efficiently instead of expending excess energy.
Photo: Loftwall Rooms Wall System
Assess your work environment and see how the right types of quality ergonomic chairs and workstations will serve your team.
Photo: Friant Amenity Task Seating
Photo: Humanscale Diffrient Smart Chair
Photo: SitOnIt Seating Focus Chair
The SitOnIt Seating Focus Chair has wide seat cushions and padded arms that “provides a new standard to ergonomics.”
Photo: Nucraft Alev Table
Workstations are essential and fit in any office setting.
Want a sleek and unencumbered look? The ODS Artiv Desk has a minimalistic appearance and fits into any style office, including the style known as the Scandinavian office. The ODS Artiv Desk is designed for excellent wire management. Wires are routed along the structure below the desktops using wire trays that are hooked to the aluminum beam.
Ergonomics also includes details like lighting and sound.
Maximize Sunlight
Sunlight is a big deal because getting enough of it helps people stay alert during the day so they sleep more deeply at night. Get as much light flowing through the office as possible by using translucent dividers in place of solid walls. If natural light is limited, or if your office is on a middle floor, then use the more efficient LED ergonomic lighting solutions instead of fluorescent.
Reduce eye strain with LED lights. They convert up to 95 percent of their energy and only about 5 percent is considered “wasted.” The lifespan of LED lighting can be more than double the lifespan of fluorescent lights and LED doesn’t contain potentially harmful gasses.
Looking for lighting solutions?
The best task lighting solutions are ones that direct the right amount of light where you need it most so you don’t have to squint.
Photo: Workrite Fundamentals 2 Desktop Lighting
The Humanscale Horizon 2.0 Desktop Light and the Workrite Fundamentals 2 Desktop Light are glare free and are made for long life spans.
Channel Sound
Sound is a major disrupter for people trying to concentrate and it’s one of the most common criticisms of the open office floor plans. Walls of private offices were taken down so workers could collaborate. But the problem was neighboring conversations and chatter from private phone calls and keyboards clicking away irritated employees trying to concentrate.
Earbuds and headphones were used to block out the outside world and people who were in close proximity became strangers to each other.
Photo: Loftwall Arbor Wall Panel
Accessories like sound panels and green walls help absorb sound waves. But another strategy is letting workers do their work in semi-private areas if they want or settle in lounge areas for informal meetings.
Promote Mobility
Using modular lounge furniture is a way of promoting mobility. Stretches at desks and getting up every 90 minutes to 2 hours for quick walks keeps blood circulating and is a natural way to keep a person’s energy levels up.
Why?
As WebMD explains, “Oxygen-rich blood surges through your body to your heart, muscles, and brain.” Blood provides the nutrition a body needs.
Here’s an idea. Make sure people stay hydrated. It’s another way to keep their energy up. Encourage them to get up regularly and take a long stroll to the breakroom to get water so they don’t get thirsty.
Office Furnishings for an Energy Boost
Well-planned office spaces that have the right furnishings take deliberate planning. Consult with 2010 Office Furniture on developing a space that’s right for you, whether you’re refreshing an existing office space or designing one that’s entirely new.
2010 Office Furniture’s clients are among the most distinguished corporations, universities, and small businesses in Los Angeles County, Orange County and the Inland Empire.
Contact the team at 2010 Office and share your project needs.
Read Also: Create an Office Wellness Plan for Optimal Thinking
Main Photo: ERG International Carlton Stools
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: ERG International, Friant, Humanscale, Loftwall, Nucraft, SitOnIt Seating and Workrite