The physical environment affects health and wellness

Building occupants are beginning to demand that their indoor environment be more than just comfortable


Building owners, managers, tenants, and most of all building occupants are beginning to demand that their indoor environment be not just comfortable (not too hot or too cold, not too noisy, etc.), but that it contribute to their own health and well-being, according to an article from Building Operating Management on the FacilitiesNet website.

In the past, health and wellness were often ignored as facility managers strived to lower energy costs in buildings. Lamps were often replaced with minimal concern for improving lighting quality, and mechanical systems were replaced and controlled with only moderate concern for indoor air quality.

With LEED, the focus became more holistic, addressing broad sustainability goals, including interrelated operational issues such as energy efficiency, water use, materials, waste management, and indoor environmental quality, as well as some measures to improve occupant health. Now, primarily due to occupant demand and an understanding that the cost of personnel far exceeds the cost of energy and even the cost of rent and taxes, health and wellness are becoming part of overall sustainability strategies.

At the same time, new rating systems have been created, including WELL and Fitwel, that focus exclusively on occupant health and productivity.

Read the article.

 



January 15, 2019


Topic Area: Maintenance and Operations


Recent Posts

Redefining What Mental Health Facilities Look Like

A new Mental Health and Addictions Center uses design and architecture to challenge the stigma and create a more open model of care.


Managing High-Volume Laundry Operations 

Tips and tricks one director has learned in three decades of managing a large, high-volume laundry operation.


University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Falls Victim to Vendor Data Breach

A health information network named “Health Gorilla” improperly accessed medical records available through the national network used to exchange medical information.


Optimizing the Engineering Design of Ambulatory Care Facilities

Designing cost-effective engineering systems is not about minimizing investment but about investing strategically.


Construction Completed on Washington Health Urgent Care Facility in California

The design team maximized the existing footprint to accommodate five exam rooms, a dedicated procedure room and an X-ray room.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

 
 
 
 

Healthcare Facilities Today membership includes free email newsletters from our facility-industry brands.

Facebook   Twitter   LinkedIn   Posts

Copyright © 2023 TradePress. All rights reserved.