Dive Brief:

• A World Green Building Council report released this week found that the same green office features that make employees healthier and more satisfied in their jobs also boost employers' bottom lines.
• "Building the Business Case: Health, Wellbeing and Productivity in Green Offices" highlights case studies of companies that have instituted green initiatives, thereby upping employee production and saving money. The report also provides a step-by-step process that other firms can follow in order to green their office spaces.
• In its report, the WGBC said employees typically account for 90% of total operating costs, so even a small improvement in productivity can provide a company with significant economic benefit.

Dive Insight:

Wellness-minded design features continue to gain traction, especially in the commercial building industry. According to a September Dodge Data & Analytics report, almost 75% of U.S. architects and more than 30% of building owners are considering health effects when designing or constructing buildings. Of the companies that implemented such features, 73% saw increased rates, and 62% said their buildings had risen in value.

One example of this wellness trend is the WELL Building Standard from the International WELL Building Institute. The IWBI was founded by Delos with the goal of developing and implementing standards for building-occupant health in the areas of air and water quality, light, fitness and physical and mental comfort. In March, Delos CEO Paul Scialla told Construction Dive that the firm is looking to address human biological sustainability as a complement to environmental sustainability in the built environment.

Earlier this year, Bentall Kennedy also released a report that indicated green buildings, LEED-certified specifically, could get 3.7% higher rents and 4% greater occupancy rates then their non-green counterparts. The commercial real estate company also found that ENERGY STAR-certified buildings saw an uptick of 2.7% in rents and a 9.5% increase in occupancy. In addition to greater revenues, Bentall Kennedy said these certifications could also increase property values by 8% to 10%.