Transforming our working environment as we return to the post-pandemic office

However, how we work and the environment we work in has changed drastically.

Employee health and well-being has been fast tracked to the top of many businesses’ agendas due to the impact of COVID-19 and lockdown, but what can employers really do to ease the stresses of returning to the office?

Recent research suggested that just 37% of UK employees reported having good emotional well-being in the workplace in 2021. Additionally; an estimated 70 million working days are lost each year to mental health problems in the UK, costing employers upwards of £2 billion per year.

As a result, businesses are looking at more innovative ways to use space and technology which will not only help them in their quest to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions, but also contribute to their employees’ health and well-being. Here we examine some of the ways this can be achieved.

Exposure to daylight can reduce stress

As we return to the office there is a much greater understanding of the role daylight plays in impacting our mood and output during the working day, but why is it so important?

Daylight is our main source of vitamin D, but what are the benefits of this and why do we need it? Vitamin D improves our circadian rhythm and sleep patterns, helps us focus, aids bone development and our body needs it to absorb calcium. However, a lack of it has been linked to causing conditions such as depression, obesity and multiple sclerosis.

An absence of daylight in our daily lives can make us feel down or anxious and studies show the significant impact Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) has on our mental wellbeing. It’s for reasons such as these that designers and building owners are looking to technology to help manage the impact of daylight.

You can of course install more glazing to maximise daylight, but you then need to combat the negative issues this causes, such as overheating and glare on screens. In contrast, innovative solutions such as adaptive solar shading can use sun tracking features that adjust the status of the shading according to the position of the sun in the sky at different points of the day. This ensures buildings and their occupants avoid intrusive and direct glare or heat but still receive optimum levels of daylight throughout the working day.

Automation is key

To create the optimal indoor environment designers must first address several key factors, including the geographical location of the building, it’s orientation and the environmental conditions of the area it’s being built in.

Why is this so important? Because understanding the transmission of light and warmth means levels of natural daylight can be maximised and controlled, whatever the time of day or season. This is where automation comes in. For example, at the start of a project we can even map the surrounding buildings and the shadows that they will cast on each facade. This means the shading can be programmed in such a way that when windows are in shadow the blinds remain open and when in direct sun they are closed, continuously optimising natural light where possible.

According to a study of window blind operation conducted by ESTIA, manual blinds move less than twice per week. Experts used a webcam to capture more than 500,000 images over a 12-month period and found that manually operated facades were twice as inefficient as a facade with motorised solar shading. A fully automated adaptive solar shading system could move an average of 40-50 times a week, which not only enhances performance but also comfort.

Automation is key to not only performance, but also creating a healthy indoor environment for those within the space as well as significantly reducing emissions and overall energy usage.

The case for automated solar shading

As it stands, currently less than 50% of EU buildings are fitted with solar shading and those that operate manually controlled systems fail to achieve optimum performance.

However, The Guidehouse study, research commissioned by the European Solar Shading Organisation, suggests automated solar shading has a significant role to play in reducing the overall energy usage of Europe’s building stock as well as and improving occupants well-being.

Its findings indicate there is an opportunity for building owners to use the move back to the office as a catalyst for change. Implementing new technologies such as solar shading can not only have a positive impact on building occupants but also on the bottom line.

Especially when we consider the fact that experts believe sales of air conditioning units in Europe will increase from 115 million in 2020 to 275 million by 2050. The Guidehouse study suggests that if more Air Conditioning units were switched to automated solar shading devices businesses across Europe could amass combined savings of as much as €285 billion by 2050.

How can Somfy help transform your office space?

At Somfy our adaptive solutions are specifically designed to control solar shading to enhance occupants’ comfort and well-being as well as improving the building’s overall energy performance.

We understand that each building and project is unique, so the need to adapt to occupants’ requirements is paramount. Our intelligent management systems provide flexible and scalable solutions whatever the scenario.

If you’re in the process of returning to the office and want to ensure your staff have the optimal environment to work in why not get in touch with our team today and find the best solutions for your project.

To find out more about the solutions and services Somfy offer visit:  https://www.somfy.co.uk/projects/