Top Ten New Year’s Resolutions for a ‘Greener’ Workplace

For many New Year is the time for personal resolutions of varying degrees of difficulty, ranging from beginning a diet, to stopping smoking, or even just being nicer to friends and family. However, Mervin De le Torre, interior designer at leading UAE-based corporate interior solutions specialist BAFCO, explains why our resolutions needn’t be restricted to the home.

“Most of us spend so much of our lives in the office that we should consider choosing some resolutions for the workplace that can help the environment and even save our company some money along the way. As office specialists, we had a brainstorm among our team and have come up with ten of the best tips to consider as office resolutions for 2010,” says De le Torre.

1. IT’S COOL TO BE A LITTLE WARMER

Once you’ve adjusted your air conditioning to the temperature you prefer, turn it back up by just 2 or 3 degrees. You’ll hardly know the difference, but it will make a big difference to your consumption. This two degree difference can save the company over Dh 500* a year. Also remember to turn your AC off when you leave the office.

2. BE BRIGHT AND SAVE MONEY
Energy saving light bulbs are much more efficient than the traditional version and last up to ten times longer. Next time your company needs to replace a bulb, recommend they take the energy saving option. The average office can save a very worthwhile Dh 806* over the year by making this switch.

3. CHOOSE FLEXIBLE OFFICE FURNITURE
Always consider products with highly flexible options as offices tend to change and adapt to newer technology, manpower and market conditions. Demountable partitions, open plan workstations, glass partitions, heavy duty ergonomic chairs are a must for any modern office.

4. DON’T STANDBY – SWITCH OFF AND UNPLUG
If you leave your computer on standby overnight it uses almost as much electricity as it does when switched on. Remember to turn it off and unplug. You should also consider switching off monitors, printers, fax machines and copiers during lengthy breaks away from your desk.

5. ONLY USE ESSENTIAL LIGHTING
We enjoy plenty of sun here in the Middle East, so allow natural outdoor light to illuminate the office. Turn off non-essential and decorative lighting, particularly in unoccupied areas. Use ‘task’ lighting, such as angle-poise lamps, to directly illuminate specific work areas instead of brighter ‘area’ lighting.

6. GET YOUR RATINGS RIGHT - LOOK FOR ENERGY STAR
Most office appliances these days have an energy-efficiency rating. If buying, make the choice that’s the most energy efficient and always ask the supplier if they have this information. When purchasing PCs, monitors, printers, fax machines and copiers, consider Energy Star models that automatically power down after a period of inactivity. Also, use laptop computers wherever possible as they consume 90 per cent less energy than desktop computers.

7. GOING OUT? THEN TURN IT OFF!
Get into the simple habit of switching lights off whenever you leave a room.

8. DETECT OFFICE MOTION
Install motion detectors or dimmers to control lighting in frequently unoccupied areas, such as restrooms. It is also a simple job for an electrician to re-wire restroom fans to operate with the lights.

9. AUTOMATE LIGHTING SIGNAGES
Install time clocks or photoelectric cells to control exterior lighting, advertising sign lighting and some interior lighting.

10. KEEP COOL AND INSTALL BLINDS
It is not only enhance the design of your office but adding blinds, solar screens or shades to your office actually helps cool down the office.

Common Laptop or Netbook Positions to Avoid

The great thing about laptops and netbooks: You can use them anywhere. The downside: If you spend a lot of time in the wrong position, you’re in for a world of RSI pain.

The illustration above—from weblog Core77′s netbook case study—highlights ten common usage positions and the pain points you’re asking for down the road with each. (No one wants glowing red joints!) Interestingly, the most comfortable position, according to the study, is position #2 above: lying down with the device slightly elevated on the user’s thigh with bent knees. Now if only you could convince your boss that working from bed is a good idea.
Case Study: Freescale Netbook Design at SCAD, by Dave Malouf [Core77 via Gizmodo]

Some UAE Companies Will Rise from Recession and Surpass the Rest

Just when the economy’s really picking up and companies look towards building momentum again to hit the recovery rollercoaster running, then Dubai World seems to throw a proverbial spanner in the works. However, it has been vehemently argued from the very top of UAE government that any financial difficulties faced by departments of Dubai World are independent from any reported national ‘crisis’ of the country and should not be treated as such.

Even during the worst periods of the economic slump, across the city Dubai and the UAE didn’t appear to be hit quite as hard as the rest of the world. It’s plain to see that Dubai, with its strategic position and enviable infrastructure now in place, will come through these uncertain times in a typically quick and dynamic fashion.

We at BAFCO believe the world of interior design and office furniture is an excellent indicator of real confidence in an economy. Which company boss who thinks his business might be going under would seriously be considering fitting out their office with the very best products the market has to offer?

During the half of 2009, BAFCO was experiencing the same lack of new business as any other interior and furniture firm and sales were admittedly very poor – amongst the worst in nearly 20 years of operation. However, orders are now pouring in, with three times as many sales in Q3 as the total sales for the first half of the year.

We think the rocketing sales figures are largely down to general confidence among company owners in their future here in the UAE. It is these forward thinking companies that will make the most of economic recovery and any resulting boom period. These are the same companies who are currently active in the market, taking advantage of lower sales and rental prices, looking for bigger premises in better locations and spending some of their savings fitting out their new spaces to position themselves above their competitors, attract the best new employees and keep the cream of their incumbent teams – who they have held onto during the leanest times.

Some of the world’s top products have been launched during recessions and we at BAFCO believe that the UAE’s top companies will be the ones who invest now in order to rise from the recession and surpass their competitors.