Workplace Design and Layout

WAYS TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
For Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

Climate Change

Climate change caused by greenhouse gases is one of the most serious challenges facing our community. Human actions–particularly burning fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) and land clearing–are generating more greenhouse gases. These additional greenhouse gases trap more heat and raise the earth’s surface temperature. This is called the enhanced greenhouse effect–it causes global warming and is changing our climate.

The impacts of climate change will have social, environmental and economic consequences that will affect all communities across the globe.

Why Small and Medium Enterprises

Greenhouse gas abatement is not just for the big end of town. Climate change will affect all of us and therefore it is to everyone’s benefit to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Most measures to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions will save you money in the long term, increasing profitability. Some measures will even help to improve productivity and the marketability of your business. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions should be seen as an opportunity to provide your business with a strong business advantage.

Workplace Design and Layout

Investing time and effort into developing an efficient design and layout for your workplace will pay off in the long term whether you are simply rearranging your workplace furniture or building a new workplace. A workplace which is designed with energy efficiency as a key criterion will enable your business to achieve a reduction in running costs, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Additional benefits of energy efficient workplaces are that they are generally more comfortable and easier and safer to work in, which will help increase staff morale and productivity levels.

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC)

By designing your workplace to take advantage of the winter sun and summer breezes, you may be able to reduce the load on your HVAC system. This will help you to reduce both your energy costs and the greenhouse gas emissions from your business.

Internal window coverings. In winter to increase natural heating, open shades and blinds during daylight hours. In summer to reduce over-heating, close blinds on windows exposed to direct sunlight.

External blinds. Installing exterior blinds can provide significant benefits. The use of suitable blinds will ensure that over-heating is reduced while adequate light and vision for staff and customers is maintained.

Location of thermostats. Install thermostats for HVAC systems in the main work area away from heat sources and draughts so that these do not corrupt readings and cause your HVAC system to function inefficiently. Ensure the thermostat is located in the area the HVAC serves as layout changes can lead to the thermostats becoming isolated from the area they serve.

Placement of equipment. Most electronic equipment gives off heat, therefore items such as printers, computers and photocopiers should not be placed underneath thermostats as the heat generated by these pieces of equipment will corrupt thermostat readings and cause your HVAC system to function inefficiently. Ensure sufficient ventilation is provided when placing equipment to disperse any heat it produces.

Windows. Windows with selective films can decrease the amount of summer heat entering the building and decrease air conditioning costs. When replacing windows, choose windows that are double-glazed to decrease HVAC costs and reduce external noise.

Colour and HVAC. Studies have found that the colour of a room will affect the perception of its temperature. Rooms painted in cool colours such as blues and greens are perceived to be cooler than their actual temperature whereas rooms painted in warm colours such as reds and oranges are often perceived to be around 3-60C above their actual temperature. Based on the colour of your workspace, staff and clients may feel the need to either increase or decrease the use of the HVAC system–a consideration to keep in mind when deciding on the colour of your workplace.

Product Process Design: Heating, Cooling and Transporting

Manufacturing enterprises which use significant energy in the processing of products may obtain considerable savings through good workplace design. A review of the manufacturing processes may involve asking the questions:

• When and where products are heated and cooled?
• Are products being repeatedly heated or cooled unnecessarily? Does one process unnecessarily increase the need to use energy in another?
• Could changes in the location of processes reduce this energy usage?
• Could heat waste from one process be used in another process if the processes were co-located?
• Where and when are products and materials being transported in the workplace?
• Could changes in layout enable products or materials to travel more efficiently? E.g. Reduce the need for pipes, ducts or conveyer belts to change directions or span large distances?

Consider reviewing your workplace design when relocating or if your energy costs are significant. Use professional expertise to ensure you have access to your industry’s best practice.

Lighting

Before commencing any work that will modify your lighting system consider all the occupational health and safety (OH&S) implications that any actions you take will have. Always ensure that all the actions that you take are consistent with the OH&S guidelines of your workplace.

Use natural light. Natural light is free and studies have found that use of the appropriate amount of natural light in the workplace can make people happier, healthier and more productive. Try to replace artificial lighting in your workplace by using natural light whenever possible. The use of natural light can sometimes also reduce air conditioning loads by minimising heat produced by artificial lighting.

Reduce glare. Shading of windows can reduce the amount of direct sunlight and heat that reaches workspaces, therefore reducing the impact of glare on computer screens and the summer heat load on the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC ) system. Use adjustable shading so windows can still be used to provide light on cooler or less glaring days. Also plant deciduous trees around sun-exposed glassed areas of your office to reduce heat gain in summer and increase gain in winter.

Task lighting. Concentrate the benefit of artificial lighting on the workspace by using task lighting and reduce the amount of wasted general space lighting.

Layout of workspace. Arrange work areas including desks, equipment or machinery so they are close to windows and skylights. Clean windows. Ensure that window areas are clean so as not to block out natural light.

Use lighting systems that incorporate dimming functions. Consider using either manual or automated dimming systems that allow artificial lights to be adjusted as natural light levels fluctuate.

Interior colours. White surfaces reflect 80 per cent of light while black surfaces reflect 5 per cent of light, therefore the colour of interior walls, ceilings and surfaces in a workplace will have an impact on the amount of lighting required. Rooms with dark walls will need more lighting than those with lighter walls. Seek advice from paint manufactures on the light reflectance value (LR V) of your chosen colour of paint as rooms painted with higher LR V colours will require less artificial lighting than those with low LR V colours.

Educate staff. Inform staff of the greenhouse gas emissions savings and savings in energy costs that can be made from using natural light over artificial light.

Building Design Considerations

Whether you are designing a brand new building for your business or retrofitting an existing one you should consider a number of design features. These should include location, building materials to be used, size and orientation of windows, use of skylights, insulation, shade devices, roofing material, ventilation, landscaping and appliances to be installed. Request that your design team identifies opportunities for your building to incorporate the use of energy efficient and greenhouse friendly technologies and use a layout that will help you save on energy costs. Even simple design solutions such as arranging your business so that printers, scanners and other equipment can be shared can significantly reduce energy costs and associated greenhouse gas emissions.

Additional Benefits

Improved productivity. Energy efficient lighting often produces a decrease in eyestrain and headaches associated with glare from inappropriate lighting. Improved comfort levels can increase staff productivity.

Increased comfort. Staff and clients report that energy efficient buildings are more comfortable to work in.

Equipment longevity. Using natural lighting when possible and reducing the load on HVAC systems extends the life of the equipment while lowering running costs.

Case Study

Edlyn Foods operates out of its manufacturing facility located at Tullamarine, Victoria, with key product groups include toppings and syrups, fruit juices, cordials and drink bases, vinegar, bakery premixes and dessert preparations.

- I nvesting in a new food factory Edlyn Foods has looked at the potential savings in designing an energy efficient building.