Written by: Christy Ip, LEED AP BD+C, LEED AP ID+C, WELL AP, Fitwel Ambassador, ActiveScore AP, LFA, Sustainability Lead | EXP
According to the World Health Organization, chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and respiratory illnesses – will account for 86% of the 90 million deaths each year by around 2050. Reports have also shown where we live and work has a strong relationship to our health and well-being. Hence, creating a healthy built environment has become a key element in combating health challenges. Simultaneously, there is an increased trend of companies and investors focusing on environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance within capital markets in order to incorporate health considerations into their financial decision-making and reporting.
Organizational leaders understand that the physical and mental wellness of their people directly impacts organizational performance and a healthy and engaged workforce can positively affect a company’s financial performance. A company that invests in employees’ health and wellness and fosters well-being can result in increased focus and higher engagement as well as an increase in employee retention rates and attracting top talent.
Fostering a Healthy Workspace
A healthy workspace includes a combination of design and operational strategies that help bring health, work and wellness together. This could include choosing offices with proximity to public transportation to encourage active commuting and reduce reliance on cars. Offices can also integrate biophilic design elements such as indoor plants, natural materials and views of green spaces to create a more calming and rejuvenating atmosphere. Integrating natural elements into indoor environments has been demonstrated to alleviate stress, decrease blood pressure and enhance productivity.
Operational strategies for promoting a healthy workspace involve enhanced well-being practices and initiatives. Mental health support can also be promoted through policy, program and design strategies that seek to address the diverse factors that influence cognitive and emotional well-being. This can be provided through the provision of mental health screenings by licensed health professionals, mental health benefits policy that covers clinical screening and in/outpatient treatment and mental health benefits available to all employees without a need to share underlying health reason.
Certifications
To accommodate the growing demand of the real estate market and demonstrate commitment to indoor environmental health, certification programs that focus on building occupants’ health and wellness have become popular. These certifications play a crucial role in promoting sustainability and well-being within the built environment.
LEED – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Although LEED focuses on the environmental performance of buildings and takes a holistic approach in conserving resources and reducing carbon emissions, it also contains several health-related strategies that help address the health of building occupants. These strategies include using low-emitting materials to ensure high indoor air quality, promoting physical activity by looking at the walkability of the site location and designing spaces for mental health support and comfort.
Fitwel Building Certification System & Fitwel Viral Response Module Certification
Fitwel is a certification system developed to optimize buildings, improving health and productivity outcomes through targeted design improvements and operational strategies. Fitwel focuses on holistic, evidence-based health impact opportunities that are driven by the design and operations of shared spaces and workspaces, along with the overall operations programming of the building. It focuses on building design and operations, emphasizing outdoor spaces, stairwell engagement, proximity to open spaces and community destinations, environmental policies, social resilience, safety and emergency preparedness.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fitwel Viral Response Module Certification was developed. With content similar to the Fitwel Building Certification, the module covers additional concepts such as enhanced operational policies, disinfection and hygiene protocols and communications. This module is meant to prepare building operators and owners to standardize procedures and plans so they can easily track performance metrics and identify areas for improvement across their assets.
WELL Building Standard & WELL Health-Safety Training
The WELL Building Standard is an evidence-based rating system focused on relevant, proven and resilient strategies around occupant health and well-being. The framework places holistic emphasis on ten key concepts: Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Movement, Thermal Comfort, Sound, Materials, Mind, and Community. The WELL Building standard also requires annual air and water quality testing as well as bi-annual thermal comfort testing to verify ongoing operations meet the intended health & wellness-centered design.
Similar to the Fitwel Viral Response Module Certification, the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) has developed the WELL Health-Safety Training in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It focuses on operational policies, maintenance protocols, emergency planning and stakeholder education to address a post-COVID-19 built environment and prepare building owners and operators to address health and safety-related issues into the future.
UL Verified Healthy Building Mark
The UL Verified Healthy Building Mark is a certification program offered by UL Solutions. This program signifies that a building or space has been assessed and verified to meet specific health and wellness criteria. These criteria typically include factors like indoor air quality, ventilation, water quality, lighting, acoustics and overall occupant wellness.
Given the importance of indoor spaces for human health and wellness, stakeholders are increasingly focusing on creating environments that prioritize these factors. Whether it is through sustainable building practices, health-conscious design features, or wellness programs, there is growing recognition of the impact that indoor environments can have on our overall well-being.
In essence, placing a high value on the health and well-being of building occupants not only benefits individuals but also serves the interests of businesses and fosters a more sustainable and thriving future for all.