Green buildings = Increased worker productivity

[Guest guest]

Green buildings = Increased worker productivity

A study released by the University of San Diego and CBRE reveals that employees

in a green building are more productive than their counterparts in a standard

building.

Mon, Oct 12 2009 at 12:00 PM EST

http://www.mnn.com/business/commercial-building/blogs/green-buildings-increased-\

worker-productivity

Recent studies have shown that green buildings lead to higher rental income,

lower occupancy rates, and an additional premium at the time of sale. Now a new

study by the University of San Diego and CBRE allows building owners to add

increased worker productivity to their list of green building benefits.

Norm G. (University of San Diego) and Dave Pogue (CBRE) wrote the report,

which will be published in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Sustainable Real

Estate.

The report's abstract provides an introduction to the data contained in the

31-page paper, " Healthier buildings reduce sick time and increase productivity,

making it easier to recruit and retain employees. The results provided here are

based on a survey of over 500 tenants who have moved into either LEED or Energy

Star labeled buildings managed by CBRE. " Source: Green Buildings and

Productivity (PDF)

Study authors examined the effects that telecommuting, health care maintenance,

temperature, indoor air quality, indoor pollution, innovative workspaces, and

several other factors influenced employee productivity.

The report also discusses the effect that sick building syndrome (SBS) has on

employees. Causes of SBS include inadequate ventilation, chemical contaminants

from indoor and outdoor sources, and biological contaminants. Green building

rating systems, like the LEED certification system by the U.S. Green Building

Council, address these causes and guide building designers.

The research team collected responses from 534 tenants in 154 buildings that

were either LEED certified or were recognized by the EPA as an EnergyStar

building. In order to determine the productivity of workers in the building,

tenants were asked to report on employees' sick days and the self-reported

productivity figures after the tenant moved into the green building.

Survey respondents showed that 54.5 percent of tenants reported that employees

are more productive with 12 percent strongly agreeing with this statement.

Additionally, 45 percent of the respondents noticed a decrease in sick days

since their individual company moved into the green building.

Surprisingly, 10 percent of the tenants reported an increase in sick days taken

by employees. However, every tenant represented by this 10 percent was in an

EnergyStar rated building that was not also LEED certified. Further research is

needed to help account for the increase in sick days.

This study is just the latest report that confirms the many benefits to building

green, beyond the obvious reduced environmental impact of the building. To read

the study in its entirety, download the report now: Green Buildings and

Productivity (PDF).

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