It pays to invest in healthy, green offices — WorldGBC

This article was originally published in issue 19 of Passive House Plus magazine. Want immediate access to all back issues and exclusive extra content? Click here to subscribe for as little as €10, or click here to receive the next issue free of charge

The report, titled ‘Building the Business Case: Health, Wellbeing and Productivity in Green Offices’ highlights the global momentum behind healthy and green office design and operation, and showcases over 15 buildings that are leading the way.

Simple steps like improving air quality, increasing natural light and introducing greenery can also have a dramatic impact on the bottom line by improving employee productivity and reducing absenteeism, staff turnover and medical costs, according to the report, the latest to be released under WorldGBC’s ‘Better Places for People’ campaign.

The report identifies eight key factors for creating healthier and greener offices: indoor air quality and ventilation, thermal comfort, daylighting and lighting, noise and acoustics, internal layout and design, biophilia (connection to nature) and views, and the visual look and feel of the workplace.

Speaking to Passive House Plus following the publication of the report, John Alker, campaign and policy director at the UK Green Building Council, said: “There is no question that the topic of health and productivity can help make the national business case for raising standards in the built environment, because it provides an evidence base for policymakers to raise standards, whether through regulations or incentives.”

Meanwhile Terri Wills, CEO of the World Green Building Council, said: “This report breaks new ground by demonstrating tangible action businesses are taking to improve their workspaces. The results are clear – putting both health and wellbeing, and the environment, at the heart of buildings, is a no brainer for businesses’ employees and the bottom line.”

To read the full report and the 15 case studies of individual buildings, go to tinyurl.com/worldgbc.