The Importance of Getting Sustainable Office Certifications

What are Sustainable Office Certifications?

Sustainable office certification is a commitment to responsible resource management and healthy indoor environments. It provides a structured framework for assessing and improving a building's environmental performance across multiple domains.

These green certifications cover key areas such as energy efficiency, aiming to reduce consumption through smarter lighting, heating, and cooling systems. They also delve into waste management, promoting robust recycling programs and minimising landfill contributions.

Indoor air quality is another essential component that ensures a healthy and productive environment for occupants by prioritising ventilation and low-VOC (volatile organic compound) materials. Water conservation is also a necessity, with an emphasis on efficient fixtures and responsible water usage.

Lastly, the choice of materials is scrutinised, favouring sustainably sourced, recycled, or rapidly renewable options with a lower environmental impact.

Types of Sustainable Office Certifications in Australia

Below are some of Australia's most prominent sustainable office certifications to consider for your workspace.

Green Star Rating System

Green Star is Australia's most widely recognised and respected rating system for sustainable buildings, developed by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA). Green Star assesses buildings' environmental impact across nine categories, including:

• Management
• Indoor environment quality
• Energy
• Transport
• Water
• Materials
• Land use and ecology
• Emissions
• Innovation

Green Star certification applies to various building types, from new to existing fit-outs. For flexible offices, achieving a Green Star rating, such as Green Star Performance for existing buildings or Green Star Interiors for fit-outs, signals a commitment to environmental stewardship and offers significant market recognition.

NABERS (National Australian Built Environment Rating System)

NABERS is a highly influential and widely used system for measuring and comparing the environmental performance of Australian buildings. Based on the actual operational performance, it provides a simple, star-based rating (from 0 to 6 stars) for energy, water, waste, and indoor environment.

A strong NABERS rating is essential for flexible office spaces to demonstrate efficiency and transparency. It's particularly useful for showcasing ongoing performance improvements and appealing to tenants prioritising tangible energy and water savings. Many flexible office providers proactively display their NABERS ratings as a sign of pride and a clear efficiency indicator.

WELL Building Standard

While Green Star and NABERS primarily focus on environmental performance, the WELL Building Standard takes a human-centric approach, focusing on how buildings impact the health and well-being of their occupants. It assesses seven core concepts:

• Air
• Water
• Nourishment
• Light
• Fitness
• Comfort
• Mind

For flexible offices, where employee well-being is increasingly a priority for tenants, achieving WELL certification can be a powerful differentiator. It signals a commitment to providing an office space that actively supports physical and mental health, which appeals to businesses wanting to enhance their employees' experience and productivity.

B Corp Certification

B Corp certification is worth considering for flexible office operators as a broader statement of their commitment to social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. A B Corp-certified business is legally required to consider the impact of its decisions on its workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment.

If your flexible office business achieves B Corp status, it sends a strong message to environmentally and socially conscious tenants that your entire operation is aligned with sustainable and ethical principles, making your workspace even more appealing.

LEED Certification

Known as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, LEED is a globally recognised US certification often pursued in Australia. It provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings. It evaluates various aspects like sustainable site development, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality.

For flexible offices, achieving LEED certification represents a strong commitment to international sustainability standards and appeals to multinational tenants or those familiar with the LEED system. It can also complement local certifications like Green Star and NABERS, providing a comprehensive sustainability strategy.

Why are Sustainable Office Certifications Important for Offices?

Sustainability is mandatory for all commercial spaces, including flexible offices. Getting certified has positive effects on the environment, the economy, and the well-being of office workers. Below, we’ve covered some benefits of getting sustainable office certifications.

Environmental Benefits

Certified sustainable offices reduce carbon emissions by using less energy. This saves natural resources like water and raw materials. Lowering our environmental impact is very important for a country like Australia, which is greatly affected by climate change.

Economic Benefits

Sustainable practices save money on energy and water bills. Also, green buildings often have higher property values and can be rented for more. The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) says Green Star-certified buildings do better financially than those without certification.

Social Benefits

Sustainable offices create healthier and happier workplaces. Good air quality, natural light, and comfortable temperatures can lead to fewer sick days and better employee well-being, which increases morale and productivity. Companies in certified green buildings also improve their public image by showing they care about social responsibility. This can help them attract and keep talented employees, especially younger people who value working for ethical organisations.

Specific Benefits for Flexible Offices

While all offices benefit from being sustainable, flexible workspaces have some unique advantages when they get sustainably certified. Check some of them below.

Easier Sustainability for Everyone
When a flexible office gets certified, it sets a clear sustainability framework that all tenants can easily follow. This eliminates the need for individual businesses to develop complex plans and promotes a shared commitment to environmental responsibility across the entire workspace.

Attracts Eco-Friendly Businesses
Many businesses, from small startups to large corporations, look for flexible office spaces that align with their sustainability goals. A certified flexible office provides immediate assurance that these values are being met, making it a highly attractive proposition.

Stands Out from the Competition

A sustainable certification can make your space stand out from the crowd. It’s a tangible, verifiable claim that sets you apart, allowing you to market your office as flexible, convenient, responsible and future-proof. This also leads to higher occupancy rates and premium pricing, offering a strong return on investment.

How to Achieve Sustainable Office Certification?

Getting your office a sustainability certificate might seem like a big task, but it’s just a step-by-step process that can bring great results. We’ve listed some simple steps below for you to follow.

1. Do Your Homework

Firstly, understand the different certifications available and choose the one that best aligns with your flexible office's goals, existing infrastructure, and tenant demographic. After this, consider a certification that offers the most relevant benefits and market recognition for your specific context.

2. Check Things Out

Next comes the assessment phase, which involves a detailed audit of your current office space, identifying areas of environmental impact and potential for improvement. This might include assessing energy consumption, water usage, waste management practices, material selections, and indoor air quality. For flexible offices, this stage also involves understanding how shared resources are managed and identifying opportunities for greater efficiency.

3. Make Changes

After the assessment, the implementation phase begins, which involves making the necessary changes to meet the certification's criteria. This covers upgrading energy-efficient lighting and appliances, installing water-saving fixtures, implementing comprehensive recycling and composting programs, choosing sustainable building materials and improving ventilation systems.

In flexible offices, tenant engagement through education, clear guidelines, and encouragement of energy-saving are required for the success of these initiatives.

4. Get Audited

Finally, the audit and certification stage involves an independent third-party assessment to verify that all criteria have been met. Upon successful completion, your flexible office will be awarded the desired certification.

Looking for ways to set up a sustainable workspace? The experts at OH have compiled a list of 10 sustainable office design ideas that you should read immediately!

Ready to Work in a Sustainable Certified Workspace? We’ve Got You Covered!

Sustainable office certifications are necessary for flexible workspaces in Australia's evolving business environment. They provide environmental benefits, cost savings, and healthier work environments.

Though getting a sustainability certificate for your office might seem like a considerable investment initially, you’ll likely need to pay consultants, upgrade your building, and adjust your daily operations. However, these initial costs often lead to significant savings in the long run through lower energy and water bills.

Plus, green-certified buildings often become more valuable and attractive to renters. This increased appeal can lead to a strong return on your initial investment. It's also worth looking into government programs that offer financial support for businesses making sustainable upgrades.

Are you looking forward to renting a sustainably certified workspace? Office Hub partners with global providers offering flexible solutions with Green Star, WELL, B-Corp, and LEED certifications across Australia. All you have to do is visit our website or contact our 24/7 assistance, free of cost!