The best time to improve your office’s energy efficiency is during a refurbishment. By upgrading insulation, lighting, heating, ventilation and office equipment at the same time, you can reduce energy use, lower running costs and create a more comfortable workplace. Planning these improvements before work begins also makes it easier to build energy efficiency into the design rather than paying for changes later.
Key takeaways:
- Focus on heating, lighting and insulation, as these can have a major impact on energy use.
- Use smart controls, sensors and efficient equipment to avoid wasting energy.
- Choose durable, sustainable materials and consider the office’s long-term energy performance.
Why energy efficiency matters during an office refurbishment
An office refurbishment is an opportunity to improve more than just the appearance of a workplace. Changes to the building fabric, heating, lighting and equipment can make a significant difference to how much energy the office needs.
According to the Energy Saving Trust, space heating accounts for around 49% of energy use in a typical non-domestic building. This makes heating an important area to address during refurbishment.
The Energy Saving Trust also estimates that SMEs could make energy savings of up to 30% by making changes around their business.
Things you can do to make your office more eco friendly
According to this guide from Soul Spaces, there are a number of things you can do during a refurbishment to make your office as green as possible.
- Improve wall, roof and floor insulation to reduce heat loss.
- Replace old windows with modern, energy-efficient glazing where appropriate.
- Seal gaps around windows and doors to reduce draughts.
- Install LED lighting throughout the office.
- Use occupancy sensors so lights switch off when rooms are empty.
- Install daylight sensors to reduce artificial lighting when there is enough natural light.
- Make better use of natural daylight when planning the office layout.
- Install smart heating controls and programmable thermostats.
- Use separate heating zones so unused areas do not need to be heated.
- Choose an efficient heating system that suits the size and use of the building.
- Consider heat pumps where they are suitable for the building.
- Improve ventilation while avoiding unnecessary heat loss.
- Use efficient air conditioning and ensure it is correctly sized.
- Choose energy-efficient computers, monitors and other office equipment.
- Use smart power controls to prevent equipment being left on unnecessarily.
- Consider solar panels if the building and roof are suitable.
- Choose recycled, reclaimed or sustainably sourced materials where practical.
- Reuse existing furniture and fittings where possible.
- Select durable materials that will not need replacing frequently.
- Monitor energy use after the refurbishment to identify areas of waste.
Make office heating more efficient
Heating should be a major consideration when planning an office refurbishment. Better insulation and draught-proofing can reduce the amount of heat the building needs, while modern controls can make sure heating is only used when required.
Consider dividing the office into heating zones. Meeting rooms, storage areas and other spaces that are not occupied all day do not necessarily need to be heated in the same way as main work areas.
Regular maintenance is also important. An efficient heating system can still waste energy if filters, controls or other components are not properly maintained.
Upgrade office lighting
Lighting is another area where refurbishment can make a noticeable difference. Replace outdated lighting with efficient LED fittings and consider how the layout can make better use of natural light.
Controls are just as important as the fittings themselves. Occupancy and daylight sensors can prevent lights being left on in empty rooms. The Carbon Trust notes that lighting controls can reduce electricity use by 30–50% in some settings, including typical office environments.
Think about the whole building
Energy efficiency should not be treated as a collection of individual upgrades. Insulation, windows, heating, ventilation, lighting and equipment all affect one another.
For example, better insulation can reduce heating demand, while effective shading can help prevent overheating in summer. A well-planned refurbishment can therefore improve comfort while reducing the amount of energy needed to run the office.
Monitor your energy results once the office is up and running
Once the refurbishment is complete, keep track of energy use. Compare bills and meter readings with previous periods to see whether improvements are delivering the expected results.
An energy-efficient office is not just about installing new equipment. It is about designing the space carefully, choosing suitable systems and making sure they are used efficiently. By considering energy performance from the beginning of a refurbishment, businesses can create a greener, more comfortable office while reducing unnecessary running costs.
