by Brianna Crandall — April 2, 2014—A major global project that will help to define the health and productivity benefits of green office buildings was formally launched in March by the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC), according to a press release from the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC).
The topic is rising up the global release estate sector’s agenda as organizations begin to understand the business benefits of greener, healthier buildings. With 85 percent of a company’s costs spent on salaries and benefits, even modest improvements to staff health and productivity can have a dramatic impact on organizational profitability, notes CaGBC.
Studies have found:
- Up to 11 percent gains in productivity from improved ventilation;
- Up to 23 percent gains in productivity from improved lighting design; and
- Significant improvement in employee recruitment and retention as a result of green retrofits.
However, challenges remain in attempting to robustly measure health and productivity outcomes, and attaching financial value to them. The WorldGBC’s project aims to establish a common way of capturing these benefits, and to provide best practice guidance on the type of green building features—such as daylighting, ventilation and indoor office environments—that enhance them. This can then be used to better inform investment decisions.
WorldGBC has announced that the corporate sponsors for the project are Jones Lang LaSalle, Lend Lease and Skanska. The Green Building Councils of Hong Kong, United Kingdom, United States and Colombia are also partnering on the project.
“While there is a growing body of research that firmly supports the connections between sustainable buildings and improved health, productivity, and learning outcomes of those who occupy them, this evidence is yet to inform investment decisions in the same way as traditional financial metrics,” says Jane Henley, CEO of WorldGBC. “This project aims to identify the metrics that will support investment in greener buildings.”
Thomas Mueller, President and CEO of CaGBC, noted that CaGBC is a strong advocate of the positive impacts that sustainable buildings have on employee health, and said, “In-depth research on health benefits will show owners, tenants and employers that investment in green building can pay large dividends beyond operational savings and corporate social responsibility. The evidence is mounting that better sustainable design strategies such as daylighting, thermal comfort and better indoor air enhance productivity and employee satisfaction, and reduce sick leave—outcomes that should interest every employer and employee.”
With the support of Green Building Councils and their members from around the world, and a steering group of experts in this field, the final report is expected in fall 2014.
For more information on supporting the business case for green building, see the WorldGBC’s report The Business Case for Green Building: A Review of the Costs and Benefits for Developers, Investors and Occupants , available online.
