All over the world, promoting wellness is a priority for employers, builders and city planners alike. Building green using LEED, and other GBCI-administered rating systems such as SITES, enables us all to live, learn, work and play in environments that enhance human health both indoors and outdoors.
LEED has an entire credit category in the rating system for the indoor environment: Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ), which includes prerequisites and credits for design and construction projects, interiors, homes and existing buildings. When it comes to residential, LEED-certified multifamily and single-family homes are designed to deliver a healthier and safer place for residents by providing cleaner indoor air. As of early 2017, more than 112,000 residential units have earned LEED certification. Also, teams are focusing on designing neighborhoods that are more walkable, green and community-promoting, with tools like LEED for Neighborhood Development.
Energy-efficient buildings also help reduce pollution and improve outdoor air quality in major industrialized areas, making LEED a critical tool in reducing smog. Cities are embracing the power of green building to mitigate the effects of climate change and make air healthier and fresher for their citizens.
For office buildings, a healthy indoor environment with clean air and access to daylight makes a big impact on employee engagement. Studies show that LEED-certified buildings demonstrate increased recruitment and retention rates, as well as increased productivity benefits for employers. As global green construction continues to double every three years, the driving factors include not just client demand and environmental regulation, but an increased awareness of the health benefits to occupants.
Learn more about applying sustainable building strategies to human health with this session being held at all three Greenbuild events:
Performance-based IAQ evaluation in LEED v4—a pilot
Greenbuild China: Tues., October 17, 3:15–4:15 p.m.
Greenbuild India: Fri., November 3, 3:30–5 p.m
Greenbuild Boston: Fri., November 10, 8–9 a.m.
In 2016, USGBC tasked a working group with exploring state-of-the-art approaches to evaluating and monitoring the air in our indoor spaces. The group’s work is now complete and available for use in a new LEED pilot credit. Participants will learn about the pilot credit requirements and how to apply it to their LEED projects, as well as participate in a discussion with two experts from the working group, both offering a unique perspective on evaluating indoor air in China.
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