By Blake Jackson, Architect, Sustainability Design Leader (Boston, Massachusetts)
The is the second in a series of blogs by Blake as he explores health-based building rating systems. Blake’s first blog, “The emergence of health-focused rating systems,” can be found here.
Linking health, the built environment, and corporate responsibility
Health-focused rating systems exist because occupant health is gaining more attention from business leaders. They are responding to employee demands for healthier workplaces.
Consider: As a “people cost,” employees represent an organization’s largest long-term overhead—greater than construction and operations combined. This metric considers not only productivity, but health, happiness, and branding impacts. The theory goes that if these factors can be positively impacted, bottom-line savings can be significant.
Because we spend so much time indoors, the design of that space provides a critical path to enabling better health outcomes. How? Smart space design can encourage activity; improved indoor air quality can enhance cognition; diminished volume of toxins introduced into interiors reduces exposure hazards; and healthier food options promotes healthier consumption and eating habits.
Today, it’s common for top companies to attract and retain talent by showcasing physical workplaces and company culture, policies, and perks emblematic of health and wellness. Beyond providing an optimal work environment, corporations are realizing the financial value of aligning their missions to environmental and human health within their buildings.