Researchers at Michigan State University have found another reason for commercial buildings to go green: Employees reported being sick less often and feeling less stress and depression after their companies moved from non-LEED Certified buildings to LEED Certified buildings. They also reported higher levels of productivity. “Effects of Green Buildings on Employee Health and Productivity,” recently published in the American Journal of Public Health, highlighted two case studies which yielded positive results for green building. So is there a connection between sustainable construction and occupant health? Research seems to indicate a very strong one.
In 1984—nearly a decade before the first LEED rating system was even in development—a report by the World Health Organization detailed that occupants in roughly 30% of buildings, both new construction and renovation, reported experiencing poor indoor air quality. And this accounted only for those who issued complaints. Researchers identified this as not jus ...
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