What is Green Building?
According to the World Green Building Council, it is a building designed to reduce its negative impact on the environment. Effective use of energy, water, resources, reduction in pollution and wastes, and enabling the reuse and recycling of resources such as solar power are among the main objectives in conceptualizing a green building. There can be differences in the application and operation in different countries, depending on the availability of the resources. Ultimately, the goal is to be able to construct a building that will be less harmful to the natural environment. Can Green Building support the workforce?
With clear-cut and targeted training efforts for the contractors and builders, the efficiency in building more environment-friendly structures can be improved. Establishments globally have signed to get their LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification to make sure that they are green buildings inside and out. LEED is for all building types and covers materials, construction, operations, and maintenance.
On the other hand, employees working in buildings that have a lower impact to the natural environment are seen as healthier and thereby more productive. The 9-5 indoor environment is important for employees’ overall well-being. This impacts how they work, deal with colleagues, and respond to pressure. When employees feel healthy, they are happier, more efficient and able to contribute more to their teams.
With the emergence of different employee support for wholistic well-being – working in a green building adds more stable support for employees. Indoor air quality, reusable resources, and the look and feel of the surroundings are some factors that employees find important. Other factors include the lighting, correct waste disposal, and comfort.
At the end of the day, happy and healthy employees lead to higher productivity and better work quality, boosting the overall company growth, while taking care of nature and the environment around them. It’s a win-win!
