CREJ

December 2018 — Office Properties Quarterly — Page 13 www.crej.com Are your tenants uncomfortable? We can help. www.cmimech.com 303.364.3443 We love solving complicated mechanical problems. A s organizations and insti- tutions across industries face increasing pressure to address climate change, taking a closer look at the spaces where they operate is a good place to start. Ultimately, by creating more environmentally sound structures we can reduce our carbon footprint, but we now know that the benefits of that work extend beyond the environ- ment – it’s also making us happier, healthier people. New research sug- gests human health and happiness is impacted by the spaces where we work. A survey released earlier this year by the U.S. Green Building Council, the creators of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design green building rating system, found links between LEED certified office buildings and employee happiness. The survey found that LEED build- ings are linked to improved produc- tivity, health and wellness. These attributes, as well as a space that provides clean and high-quality indoor air, directly contribute to employees feeling happy and ful- filled at work. More than 80 percent of respondents reported that being productive on the job and having access to clean, high-quality indoor air contributes to their overall work- place happiness. In addition, more than 90 per- cent of respondents who work in LEED certified green buildings said they’re satisfied on the job, and 79 percent said they would choose a job in a LEED certified building over a non-LEED building. The sur- vey also shows a majority of office workers want to work for com- panies that are value oriented, take stances on important issues like sustainability, and do their part for making a posi- tive difference in the world. In fact, 84 percent of respondents prefer to work for a company that has a strong, concrete mission and posi- tive values. Sustainability, human health, worker happiness, environmental impact – all these issues are inter- twined. For instance, take Colorado, which has more than 1,000 LEED certified commercial projects, total- ing more than 133 million square feet of space. In 2017, it was ranked 10th in the U.S. for the most LEED certified space per capita with 2.27 sf of certified space per resident in the state. Consider that this year, Colorado also was ranked the third- happiest state in the U.S. based on health, lifestyle and economic sta- bility factors. While Colorado has gone above and beyond in its state- wide commitment to sustainability, the effort of state and business offi- cials to build green certainly sup- ports the health and happiness of its residents. Having a happy and healthy work- force that feels the work they do is valuable and valued also has a definitive impact on a company’s bottom line. People who work in green buildings are 10 to 25 percent more productive and report being sick less often. This, in turn, lowers employee turnover, and ultimately leads to cost-savings from the time and resources it would take to regu- larly hire and train new employ- ees. And all of this is on top of the energy and water cost savings associated with green buildings. Its estimated that green buildings use 25 percent less energy and a 19 percent reduction in aggregate operational costs in comparison to noncertified buildings. The business case for green build- ings is clear and now we’re seeing more research that points to the impact on human health. USGBC’s own employee happiness survey results have been reinforced in recent industry research that points to important social factors driv- ing the decision to build green. The World Green Buildings Trends 2018 SmartMarket Report from Dodge Data and Analytics found that green building construction is expected to grow between 2018-2021 and improving occupant health and well-being emerged as the top social reason for building green. The report, conducted in 87 different countries with participation from architects, contractors/builders, consultants, developers, engineering firms, inves- tors and more, shows that more than 60 percent of respondents expect a vast majority of their build- ing projects to be green in the future. Two-thirds also report that using a rating system like LEED allows them to create a better performing build- ing and more than half believe it provides third-party verification that ensure buildings are running in a sustainable manner. LEED is the world’s most widely used green building rating sys- tem and a tool that helps teams address the human health aspects of a building. Today, there are more than 95,000 commercial projects participating in all 50 states and 167 countries and territories, and nearly 2.2 million sf of space certified every day. The demand for green building is there, and between USGBC’s sur- vey on employee happiness and the Dodge Data and Analytics report, the connection between employee desire to work in green buildings and the choice to build green appears to be connected. It’s important for employers to take a stance on vital issues that affect their employees and their families, to truly embody their company values, and to pri- oritize sustainability not only from an economic, or even an ecologi- cal standpoint, but from a human health standpoint as well. It’s easy to overlook the spaces where we work when we’re focused on deadlines, meeting sales goals and lengthy to-do lists at the office. But it’s becoming clearer that our environment has a bearing on our overall well-being and health. With an ever-competitive workforce that values a green and healthy place to work, employers must adapt to find and retain the best talent. V Green buildings create happier, healthier workers Sustainability Patti Mason Mountain regional director, U.S. Green Building Council