A Sustainable Commercial Building

The latest buzz words are ‘go green,’ ‘eco friendly buildings,’ ‘low impact,’ ‘bio climatic design’ or ‘high performance buildings.’A commercial building that has been well designed keeps in mind the following factors:

The location of the building with access to transport facilities is of prime importance keeping in mind the surroundings, sunlight and shade areas available.
A well designed and maintained garden not only looks great but enhances the environs.

The construction materials used should be natural eco friendly products that are non toxic, improve the quality of the air, and conserve energy.
The building should be designed with huge windows and skylights to optimize day lighting and to reduce heavy utility bills.
Concrete walls and floors of tiles, granite or marble keep the place cool and are easy to maintain.
A well structured roof top garden is eco friendly and also keeps the building cool. It also offers its users an ideal place to unwind and de-stress.
Furniture made from recycled wood, steel and glass, bamboo or sugar pulp, look elegant and can be inexpensive too. They look sleek, are durable, cost effective and viable requiring very little maintenance.
Use paints that contain low volatile organic compounds (VOC).
Energy saving fluorescent lighting, heating and cooling systems and light sensors, double glazed windows to keep the place warm in winter and window shades and awnings to keep the heat out in summer are also important. Rainwater tanks to store harvested rainwater for use in toilets and aerated faucets can be installed to save on water bills.
An efficient waste management and disposal system is a must for good healthy working environment. Recycling of used paper and stationery, and use of paper products made from recycled paper should be encouraged.
A wind turbine, solar panels, and a photovoltaic system on the roof produce energy to run generators for heating, lighting, and running the appliances.
The building should be provided with lots of open spaces like corridors and hallways where employees can spend their free time interacting with each other and relaxing.
A parking space for bikes, two wheelers, and cars with easy maneuverability should ideally be situated within the premises.
Indoor plants not only add to the aesthetics but also contribute to air quality.
A pollution free work atmosphere contributes to a productive and healthy environment.