Your well-being is rooted in your building’s health

Have you been suffering from frequent headaches, unexplained irritability, chronic fatigue or even fluctuating blood pressure? Did you know these may be directly related to the building that you are staying in or working out of? Maybe you should be pushing for a check on the wellness of your building in addition to your doctor’s visit to check your own fitness standard.

Does checking out the wellness of your property before purchasing or leasing it sound whacky and futuristic? Not really. With the launch of the International Well Being Institute (IWBI) in India recently, owners can now apply for the Well Building Standard Certification in addition to the Leed Green Building Certification from the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI).

So what does this certification mean to end users? “This standard focuses on the health and well-being of the people in the building,” says Kamyar Vaghar, strategic advisor, IWBI. At the heart of this rating are seven concepts – Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Fitness, Comfort and Mind. This translates into 102 features that are rated to arrive at the certification. The core idea is that the built environment complex impacts various systems of the human body – cardiovascular, digestive, endocrine, immune, integumentary, muscular, nervous, reproductive, respiratory, skeletal and urinary. Vaghar noted a 2 per cent rise in productivity in the wellness certified buildings in the US.

The certification version 1 is available for three types of commercial and institutional buildings:

    New construction or major renovation certification
    Tenant improvement certification
    Well core and shell compliance

Silver, Gold and Platinum Certifications are available with periodic performance checks in place.

So why is this certification relevant? The quality of the building impacts an occupant’s health and productivity. Poor air quality impacts the upper respiratory health, causes allergies and asthma, chronic fatigue, skin irritations, headaches and attention span. Water quality leads to gastro-intestinal, neuro-psychological, cardiovascular and endocrine health issues. If employees reduce the water intake it leads to negative impact on productivity and alertness, leads to anxiety, irritability and fatigue. Adequate light can negate sleep disorders, eye problems and pain management, while fitness features can reduce fatigue and increase productivity.

Keeping in mind this growing global problem, Rick Fedrizzi, CEO and founding chair, US Green Building Council and CEO of the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) said, “Socially responsible construction begins with a community’s perspective.” He spells his vision of green buildings for everyone within this generation.

The concept is new and is in the education phase. There have been early adopters who have already clocked employee health and productivity through fixing the property’s health. As Vaghar says, “Sitting is the new smoking.” Are you ready to play green as an employer? Then this message of dynamic certification of building health is for you.

Source:http://content.magicbricks.com/industry-news/delhi-ncr-real-estate-news/your-well-being-is-rooted-in-your-buildings-health/80339.html