Resources for Sustainable Office Interiors
When finishing and furnishing commercial office space, apply the following general principles:
- Reuse furniture and interior non-structural components when possible
- Recycle construction waste
- Use regionally manufactured and available materials
- Use rapidly renewable and low-emitting materials
Managing Construction and Demolition Waste
Ask your demolition contractor to provide separate roll-off containers for recyclable materials, such as metal and cardboard and ensure that the contractor employs recycling services for these items. Plan to reuse materials wherever possible. Depending on services in your area, common items that can be recycled or reused include:
- Appliances
- Bricks
- Carpet
- Ceiling tiles
- Concrete
- Drywall
- Glass
- Plastics
- Scrap metal
- Plumbing fixtures
- Clean Wood
- Doors, windows, flooring and other building materials
For more information about managing construction and demolition waste:
Choosing Products and Materials
Improve office indoor air quality by selecting materials that are low in volatile organic compounds (VOC's) and by ensuring that your HVAC system is efficient, clean and working properly. Follow these tips to ensure the health of your employees, as well as the environment:
- Choose ceiling tiles with a minimum of 70% total recycled content (TRC)
- Choose products that contain no added urea-formaldehyde resins
- Consider countertops made of recycled materials, such as concrete or plastic bottles
- Choose insulation with a minimum of 90% TRC and no
formaldehyde
- Choose carpet tiles over wall to wall carpeting to allow for less waste when replacing
- Consider glazed tile made from recycled glass or asphalt
- Select low flow plumbing fixtures
For more information about choosing products and materials:
