Office reception areas welcome visitors and provide opportunity for wayfinding, corporate branding and education. Include signage to educate visitors regarding sustainable attributes of office space. Utilize entry mats to help stop dirt and debris from entering the office space. Receptionists should be provided with comfortable work stations and a good quality indoor environment. To optimize daylighting strategies, use glazing for door and wall materials to allow daylight to penetrate beyond the building periphery. View Planning Strategies

• 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

  • Design Guidance
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  • Federal Requirements
• 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 composite wood doors with no added urea-formaldehyde and door finishes such as paints and stains that are low in VOC content.

  Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Design Guidance
  • Compare Systems
  • Federal Requirements
• 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.
  • Limit the use of accent lighting to specific artwork, menu boards, and educational items to reduce energy consumption.
  • Incorporate daylighting or views to the outside to create an inviting, ascetically pleasing environment as natural light is usually preferred to artificial lighting.

  Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Design Guidance
  • Compare Systems
  • Federal Requirements
• 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

  • Design Guidance
  • Compare Systems
  • Federal Requirements
• Furniture / Furnishings

• Furniture / Furnishings

  • Select ergonomically-designed furniture to provide maximum comfort and convenience for the occupants.
  • Use low-emitting furniture to protect indoor air quality.
  • Select third-party certified wood to ensure extraction is from a sustainably managed forest.

  Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Design Guidance
  • Compare Systems
  • Federal Requirements
• Entrance Mats

• Entrance Mats

  • Install permanent walk-off mats at least six feet long at all direct entrances from the exterior to help prevent outdoor air particles from affecting the indoor air quality (IAQ).
  • Consider installing entrance mats at interior suite reception areas to further remove dust and dirt.
  • Clean non-permanent entrance mats frequently to maintain their effectiveness.

  Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Design Guidance
  • Compare Systems
  • Federal Requirements
• Flooring

• Flooring

  • Dry vacuum regularly and follow with a wet vacuum water extraction machine when necessary to protect indoor air quality.
  • Consider materials that are both attractive and very durable in high traffic areas such as the reception/lobby including tile.
  • 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.

  Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Design Guidance
  • Compare Systems
  • Federal Requirements
• Ceiling

• Ceiling

  • Drop down soffits and accent lights decorate the space, however these features are resource intensive, use these strategies conservatively.
  • 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.

  Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Design Guidance
  • Compare Systems
  • Federal Requirements
• Windows and Daylighting

• Windows and Daylighting

  • Design Guidance
  • Compare Systems
  • Federal Requirements

• 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

  • Design Guidance
  • Compare Systems
  • Federal Requirements
• Entrance Mats

• Entrance Mats

  • Install permanent walk-off mats at least six feet long at all direct entrances from the exterior to help prevent outdoor air particles from affecting the indoor air quality (IAQ).
  • Consider installing entrance mats at interior suite reception areas to further remove dust and dirt.
  • Clean non-permanent entrance mats frequently to maintain their effectiveness.

  Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Design Guidance
  • Compare Systems
  • Federal Requirements
• Flooring

• Flooring

  • Dry vacuum regularly and follow with a wet vacuum water extraction machine when necessary to protect indoor air quality.
  • Consider materials that are both attractive and very durable in high traffic areas such as the reception/lobby including tile.
  • 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.

  Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Design Guidance
  • Compare Systems
  • Federal Requirements
• Ceiling

• Ceiling

  • Drop down soffits and accent lights decorate the space, however these features are resource intensive, use these strategies conservatively.
  • 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.

  Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Design Guidance
  • Compare Systems
  • Federal Requirements
• 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

  • Design Guidance
  • Compare Systems
  • Federal Requirements
• Furniture / Furnishings

• Furniture / Furnishings

  • Select ergonomically-designed furniture to provide maximum comfort and convenience for the occupants.
  • Use low-emitting furniture to protect indoor air quality.
  • Select third-party certified wood to ensure extraction is from a sustainably managed forest.

  Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Design Guidance
  • Compare Systems
  • Federal Requirements
• 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.
  • Limit the use of accent lighting to specific artwork, menu boards, and educational items to reduce energy consumption.
  • Incorporate daylighting or views to the outside to create an inviting, ascetically pleasing environment as natural light is usually preferred to artificial lighting.

  Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Design Guidance
  • Compare Systems
  • Federal Requirements

• 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 composite wood doors with no added urea-formaldehyde and door finishes such as paints and stains that are low in VOC content.

  Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Design Guidance
  • Compare Systems
  • Federal Requirements
• 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

  • Design Guidance
  • Compare Systems
  • Federal Requirements
• Furniture / Furnishings

• Furniture / Furnishings

  • Select ergonomically-designed furniture to provide maximum comfort and convenience for the occupants.
  • Use low-emitting furniture to protect indoor air quality.
  • Select third-party certified wood to ensure extraction is from a sustainably managed forest.

  Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Design Guidance
  • Compare Systems
  • Federal Requirements
• Entrance Mats

• Entrance Mats

  • Install permanent walk-off mats at least six feet long at all direct entrances from the exterior to help prevent outdoor air particles from affecting the indoor air quality (IAQ).
  • Consider installing entrance mats at interior suite reception areas to further remove dust and dirt.
  • Clean non-permanent entrance mats frequently to maintain their effectiveness.

  Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Design Guidance
  • Compare Systems
  • Federal Requirements
• Flooring

• Flooring

  • Dry vacuum regularly and follow with a wet vacuum water extraction machine when necessary to protect indoor air quality.
  • Consider materials that are both attractive and very durable in high traffic areas such as the reception/lobby including tile.
  • 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.

  Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices

  • Design Guidance
  • Compare Systems
  • Federal Requirements
• 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

  • Design Guidance
  • Compare Systems
  • Federal Requirements