Building towards a greener future, Philips leads the charge for sustainable workplace design

As organizations face the New Year with high hopes and determination, the timing becomes opportune to look at how sustainable workplace design can be instrumental to achieving long-term business goals.

A paper from the Southern Illinois University took note that in several cases, sustainable initiatives and buildings resulted in increased satisfaction, attendance, and productivity among occupants. The synthesized research presented in the study gave evidence to the high return on investment of sustainable initiatives on both operational costs and employee productivity.

Implementing a sustainable working environment entails the improvement of several elements, including indoor air quality, thermal conditioning, interior space design, and, equally important, lighting—an area where global lighting leader Philips continues to find ways to enhance the quality of life in the workplace with innovative products and solutions.

Working towards brighter, more productive spaces

“The quality of the working environment has a huge impact on the bottom line, as workplace comfort and satisfaction can influence the level of productivity among employees,” says Chestnut Andaya, Philips' General Manager for Lighting. “There are huge implications for bad lighting choices, and this is something we actively try to address. By developing LEDs that ensure not only safety and energy efficiency but also optimal illumination, we are able to create healthy and productive work environments for businesses.” According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), bad lighting not only results in eye discomfort but also a sharp decline in productivity. Lighting has been found to be a direct cause of eye strain, double vision, and headaches among others which compromise a person's ability to work.

With up to 85 percent of office work depending on your sense of sight, it's no stretch to think that office productivity depends largely on lighting. This is why lighting leader Philips has taken up the challenge of delivering proper illumination in Philippine workplaces.

“When lighting improves the working environment, it impacts more than just visual performance. It also benefits overall individual health as well as the company as a whole in terms of employee satisfaction

and productivity,” says Andaya. “With better productivity, organizations can achieve more of their long-term goals.”

Philips’ LED bulbs for commercial and industrial applications are designed to deliver high lux levels at required color temperatures and glare factors, allowing employees to stay comfortable, relaxed, and focused at work. These bulbs are also easy to install and can efficiently direct light where illumination is needed most. Because of the excellent light quality and performance they offer, Philips’ LEDs are recommended for warehouses, supermarkets, DIY stores, electronic retailers, and showrooms.

Lighting the way to more sustainable systems

Considering the effects of lighting to employee productivity and wellbeing, workplace designers must ensure that the right light bulbs are chosen. However, Philips acknowledges that installing proper light bulbs can only do so much.

To further meet workplace lighting needs, Philips offers connected lighting systems that integrate controlled luminaries and comprehensive management systems. These LED solutions come with controls that enable workplace leaders to tailor their light settings to the needs of the employees.

Some of Philips’ lighting solutions even come with presence detection technology that automatically switches the lights on only when there are occupants. This prevents energy from being wasted in areas where people don’t have to stay long, such as along aisles or gang ways. Because Philips’ LED technology cuts down carbon footprint, these solutions further reduce a business’s impact on the environment.

By incorporating smart workplace design with efficient, sustainable lighting, companies can establish a happier work environment that empowers workers and brings the brightest ideas to light. To learn more about Philips products, log on to www.philips.com.ph or check the Philips Philippines facebook fan page.