Green Buildings Have Psychological, Environmental Benefits

Buildings have a direct impact on our environment. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), buildings consume almost 40 percent of the total U.S. energy consumption and generate 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions.

But "green" buildings, those designed to be more sustainable, eco-friendly and smarter, are helping change those numbers. These green buildings have human benefits as well, according to an infographic on Big Rentz.

People’s well-being, satisfaction, engagement, and productivity can be improved by a building green design and maintenance practices. In fact, there is actually a growing body of research suggesting that working in a sustainable building is good for people’s health and well-being.

Green cleaning is an easy way janitors can help contribute to healthier buildings. Surveys show that facility executives in commercial offices want their cleaning providers to use environmentally friendly cleaning products. According to a Contracting Profits survey, 86 percent of facility executives expect the cleaning contractors they hire to practice green cleaning whenever possible.

Recent studies have shown that green buildings provide environments that are beneficial for human health, with features such as natural lighting and better air quality.

A 2017 study from Harvard University, Syracuse University and SUNY Upstate Medical University on the impact of green buildings on cognitive function found that participants in green office environments were more productive than those in conventional buildings.

Those working in well ventilated environments were also the ones with the highest levels of cognitive function, the studies found.