Everything That Sprouts is Green
What does coworking have to do with climate change, flooding, heat waves, and stronger hurricanes?
It’s all about sustainability. The definition of sustainability will be different depending on who you ask. The United Nations defines it as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” The investment community defines it as “the ability to maintain or support a process continuously over time.” The business community, as defined in an article in the Harvard Business School Online distinguishes it as “…doing business without negatively impacting the environment, community, or society as a whole.”
Whether you are looking at it from a political, economic, or philosophical perspective, sustainability is all about doing something now to protect the future. Most people believe that sustainability can only be achieved by denying themselves something or paying an exorbitant cost.
But there is another way. It may be a small difference, but over time it adds up. CoWorking provides many of the characteristics of sustainability that you need to make a difference. For example:
- Resource Sharing: Coworking spaces promote resource sharing among the members. Instead of each individual or small company supporting their own office with duplicated resources like printers, copiers, and kitchen facilities, these resources are shared among all the members, reducing the overall resource consumption.
- Space Optimization: Coworking spaces are designed with efficiency in mind. The arrangement and design of these spaces are optimized for maximum space utilization, therefore minimizing wasted square footage and reducing the overall environmental footprint.
- Energy Efficiency: As with most businesses, coworking spaces are conscious of energy consumption. They often install energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems. With the design and layout of most coworking spaces, there is less need for individual temperature control, resulting in reduced energy usage.
- Reduced Commuting: Many coworking spaces are strategically located to minimize commuting for their members. This reduces the environmental impact of daily commutes and contributes to lower carbon emission.
- Waste Reduction: By having a central recycling station, it is ensured that recyclable materials are properly handled, thus reducing the amount of waste going to landfills.
- Community Sustainability Initiatives: Coworking spaces often foster and support a sense of community, which can extend to sustainability initiatives, such as organizing community drives for electronics waste recycling and other environmentally supportive programs.
- Flexibility Reduces Overhead: Coworking spaces provide flexibility for businesses, allowing them to scale and re-scale their workspaces according to their needs. This reduces the demand for larger, dedicated office spaces that may be underutilized, ultimately reducing overall energy consumption and resource usage.
By taking advantage of everything that a coworking arrangement can offer, companies, large and small, are able to save money on overhead and present a greener consciousness to their employees and customers.
To learn more about how Sprout CoWorking can green your organization, and provide the savings and incentives that come with a lower carbon footprint, book a tour today https://sproutcoworking.com/book-tour/