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Private Office

Private offices support individual or small team working environments. Enhance occupant productivity with active ergonomics. Design flexible systems to accommodate changes in employee, equipment, and storage needs over time. Optimize daylighting strategies for the entire office space by placing private offices near the core of the building, leave exterior windows for open office areas. Open offices at the periphery should have glass interior doors and walls to improve daylight penetration and access to views from interior spaces. View Planning Strategies

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  • Advanced Power Strip (APS)

  • Advanced Power Strip (APS)

    • Manage plug loads by utilizing advanced power strips (APSs) and plug load control strategies applicable to the space's specific equipment and use.
    • Educate occupants on the importance of plug load management, and assist them in understanding the technologies and strategies being implemented.
    • Explore SFTool's Plug Load content to discover what you can do to limit the unnecessary energy use of plug loads.

    Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Computer Equipment

  • Computer Equipment

    • Provide ENERGY STAR rated equipment wherever possible.
    • If possible, allow for multiple private offices to share printers, faxes, or copiers.
    • Provide for office-wide policy about computers going into sleep mode after a certain amount of time.

    Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • HVAC

  • HVAC

    • Install occupant control thermostats that have prescribed temperature range limits to promote occupant comfort.
    • Ensure the air supplied by the HVAC system is properly conditioned - providing comfortable temperature ranges, removing moisture and air contaminants such as odors, dust, and carbon dioxide. Proximity to an exterior wall should be evaluated to minimize ductwork.
    • Ensure the minimum level, or higher, of outside air is circulated within occupied spaces to increase indoor air quality.

    Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Furniture / Furnishings

  • Furniture / Furnishings

    Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Recycling

  • Recycling

    • Ensure recycling containers are labeled consistently, with pictures, to help occupants sort materials in the appropriate containers. Coordinate with the recycling hauler to develop the appropriate signage (tenants in leased facilities should coordinate with the landlord or facility manager).
    • Provide ongoing education and training to occupants and janitorial staff about the recycling hauler’s requirements, what items are acceptable and unacceptable for recycling, proper disposal methods, and the importance of eliminating contamination.
    • Target paper and cardboard which typically make up the greatest percentage (by weight) of the total solid waste stream.

    Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Lighting

  • Lighting

    • Use daylight sensor controls that turn off electric lighting in response to natural light levels to reduce energy consumption. When used in combination with occupant sensors, a sustainable lighting control program can have significant benefits.
    • Use sustainable lighting practices such as occupant sensors to decrease utility costs.
    • Limit the use of accent lighting to specific artwork, menu boards, and educational items to reduce energy consumption.

    Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Flooring

  • Flooring

    • Dry vacuum regularly and follow with a wet vacuum water extraction machine when necessary to protect indoor air quality.
    • Evaluate sustainable attributes such as high recycled content and low VOC's to determine the most appropriate sustainable product for the space. Remember that adhesives may be required for flooring, and these may add VOC's even if the finish flooring does not.
    • Prevent stains by cleaning up spills promptly, starting with cold water and blotting cloths.

    Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Walls

  • Walls

    • Consider replacing part of the standard wall with interior glazing to allow natural light to penetrate into the interior space.
    • Consider demountable walls or partitions that can be moved and altered to create different types of spaces to meet the needs of the occupants.

    Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Ceiling

  • Ceiling

    • Use acoustical ceiling tiles with high Noise Reduction Coefficients (NRC) to reduce noise pollution and allow for ease of access to the plenum space for maintenance.
    • Use light-colored ceiling tiles to reflect daylight to allow natural light to effectively move throughout the space.
    • Evaluate sustainable attributes such as regional manufacturing, recycled content, and low VOC to determine the most appropriate materials to use for a sustainable ceiling.

    Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Windows and Daylighting

  • Windows and Daylighting

    • Consider installing frosted or fritted glass or window blinds to allow daylight to enter the office space while still maintaining privacy.
    • Design work space options to reduce levels of job stress by providing access to daylight, views of nature, flexible areas, and workspace amenities.
    • Design work space options to include access to daylight to synchronize circadian rhythms.

    Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Windows and Daylighting

  • Windows and Daylighting

    • Consider installing frosted or fritted glass or window blinds to allow daylight to enter the office space while still maintaining privacy.
    • Design work space options to reduce levels of job stress by providing access to daylight, views of nature, flexible areas, and workspace amenities.
    • Design work space options to include access to daylight to synchronize circadian rhythms.

    Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Flooring

  • Flooring

    • Dry vacuum regularly and follow with a wet vacuum water extraction machine when necessary to protect indoor air quality.
    • Evaluate sustainable attributes such as high recycled content and low VOC's to determine the most appropriate sustainable product for the space. Remember that adhesives may be required for flooring, and these may add VOC's even if the finish flooring does not.
    • Prevent stains by cleaning up spills promptly, starting with cold water and blotting cloths.

    Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Door System

  • Door System

    • Consider doors that are made of recycled content or are recyclable at the end of their lives.
    • Wood doors can be certified to prove the material was harvested in a responsible way.
    • Consider door finishes such as paints and stains that are low in VOC content.

    Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Furniture / Furnishings

  • Furniture / Furnishings

    Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Ceiling

  • Ceiling

    • Use acoustical ceiling tiles with high Noise Reduction Coefficients (NRC) to reduce noise pollution and allow for ease of access to the plenum space for maintenance.
    • Use light-colored ceiling tiles to reflect daylight to allow natural light to effectively move throughout the space.
    • Evaluate sustainable attributes such as regional manufacturing, recycled content, and low VOC to determine the most appropriate materials to use for a sustainable ceiling.

    Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Walls

  • Walls

    • Consider replacing part of the standard wall with interior glazing to allow natural light to penetrate into the interior space.
    • Consider demountable walls or partitions that can be moved and altered to create different types of spaces to meet the needs of the occupants.

    Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Computer Equipment

  • Computer Equipment

    • Provide ENERGY STAR rated equipment wherever possible.
    • If possible, allow for multiple private offices to share printers, faxes, or copiers.
    • Provide for office-wide policy about computers going into sleep mode after a certain amount of time.

    Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Computer Equipment

  • Computer Equipment

    • Provide ENERGY STAR rated equipment wherever possible.
    • If possible, allow for multiple private offices to share printers, faxes, or copiers.
    • Provide for office-wide policy about computers going into sleep mode after a certain amount of time.

    Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Lighting

  • Lighting

    • Use daylight sensor controls that turn off electric lighting in response to natural light levels to reduce energy consumption. When used in combination with occupant sensors, a sustainable lighting control program can have significant benefits.
    • Use sustainable lighting practices such as occupant sensors to decrease utility costs.
    • Limit the use of accent lighting to specific artwork, menu boards, and educational items to reduce energy consumption.

    Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Furniture / Furnishings

  • Furniture / Furnishings

    Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • HVAC

  • HVAC

    • Install occupant control thermostats that have prescribed temperature range limits to promote occupant comfort.
    • Ensure the air supplied by the HVAC system is properly conditioned - providing comfortable temperature ranges, removing moisture and air contaminants such as odors, dust, and carbon dioxide. Proximity to an exterior wall should be evaluated to minimize ductwork.
    • Ensure the minimum level, or higher, of outside air is circulated within occupied spaces to increase indoor air quality.

    Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Flooring

  • Flooring

    • Dry vacuum regularly and follow with a wet vacuum water extraction machine when necessary to protect indoor air quality.
    • Evaluate sustainable attributes such as high recycled content and low VOC's to determine the most appropriate sustainable product for the space. Remember that adhesives may be required for flooring, and these may add VOC's even if the finish flooring does not.
    • Prevent stains by cleaning up spills promptly, starting with cold water and blotting cloths.

    Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Recycling

  • Recycling

    • Ensure recycling containers are labeled consistently, with pictures, to help occupants sort materials in the appropriate containers. Coordinate with the recycling hauler to develop the appropriate signage (tenants in leased facilities should coordinate with the landlord or facility manager).
    • Provide ongoing education and training to occupants and janitorial staff about the recycling hauler’s requirements, what items are acceptable and unacceptable for recycling, proper disposal methods, and the importance of eliminating contamination.
    • Target paper and cardboard which typically make up the greatest percentage (by weight) of the total solid waste stream.

    Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Door System

  • Door System

    • Consider doors that are made of recycled content or are recyclable at the end of their lives.
    • Wood doors can be certified to prove the material was harvested in a responsible way.
    • Consider door finishes such as paints and stains that are low in VOC content.

    Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Windows and Daylighting

  • Windows and Daylighting

    • Consider installing frosted or fritted glass or window blinds to allow daylight to enter the office space while still maintaining privacy.
    • Design work space options to reduce levels of job stress by providing access to daylight, views of nature, flexible areas, and workspace amenities.
    • Design work space options to include access to daylight to synchronize circadian rhythms.

    Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Walls

  • Walls

    • Consider replacing part of the standard wall with interior glazing to allow natural light to penetrate into the interior space.
    • Consider demountable walls or partitions that can be moved and altered to create different types of spaces to meet the needs of the occupants.

    Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices