Why green buildings?

In Australia, the business case for sustainable commercial buildings is in a rapid state of transition. With several drivers such as government regulation, tenant demand, environmental imperatives, cost efficiencies, brand value and improved indoor environment quality increasing the demand for green buildings.

Making a building green

So what is a green building? In generic terms it can be defined as a building with a minimum adverse impact on the built and natural environment, in terms of the buildings themselves, their immediate surroundings, and the broader regional and global setting.*

There are plenty of reasons why more tenants are moving into or asking for green buildings. There is a strong link between human productivity and green buildings. A key study from the Building Commission** has showed a positive link between green buildings and improved Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ).

Improving productivity

Improved IEQ means improved productivity through reduced absenteeism and employee turnover, better concentration and the ability to complete tasks quicker with greater accuracy. Tenants of green buildings are less likely to move and will pay higher rent once they have found a building that employees actually like.

Improved comfort conditions lead to improved occupant productivity. This results from increased levels of natural light and ventilation, greater thermal control and reduction in unwanted noise. For example, the use of chilled beam technology for cooling allows high levels of fresh air while maintaining good comfort conditions with low background noise.

 

*2003 Environmentally sustainable buildings: challenges and policies. Report by the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

**Victorian Building Commission 2006. Indoor Environment Quality - leadership now or damage control in the future? Report by Business Outlook and Evaluation