Through its influence on the design, construction and operation of buildings, the real estate industry is well suited to improving public health. Green builders, in particular, are becoming more widely recognized for their contributions to occupant health, as well as for their contributions to climate change mitigation.

Now, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and through the recently released Research Anthology of Health-Promoting Building Strategies, USGBC invites you to learn more about specific design strategies that can significantly improve occupant health.

Real estate professionals might say that a major justification for pursuing LEED certification, or any other approach to green building, has long been to minimize a structure’s operational costs through reductions in energy, water and waste. Less widely investigated is the positive impact that green buildings can have on human health. In each LEED rating system, positive outcomes related to health and wellness are enabled through credits directly related to the construction of healthy indoor environments.

With the new research anthology, real estate professionals can readily access a wide selection of healthy buildings research, articles and strategies to enhance their knowledge on these topics. They can then better identify and understand the sources of indoor pollutants and their potential health effects.

Today, being prepared to effectively justify and implement strategies for health and wellness in our buildings can prove valuable to people employed in all facets of real estate. Demand is growing, and the opportunity to pursue related strategies has never been greater.