Tag: healthy buildings

What Are Healthy Buildings?

As we head into Healthy Buildings Week here at Facilities Management Advisor, one might ask: “What are healthy buildings?” Healthy buildings involve a variety of categories, including design, cleaning protocols, ventilation, water quality, safety and security, clear communication and signage, encouragement of active occupants, and certification programs. Healthy buildings take on added importance as many workers […]

Is It Time to Ditch Fluorescent Light Bulbs for LEDs? Environmental Study Makes the Case

Fluorescent tube light bulbs, once embraced as an energy-efficient option, use “far more” energy than today’s LEDs and are now a “needless toxic health risk,” according to a new report published jointly by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), the Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP), CLASP, and the Clean Lighting Coalition. Laws and rules restricting the use of toxic mercury […]

U.S. Green Building Council Applauds Biden’s National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has applauded the Biden administration’s National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan, which includes a strong focus on improving indoor air quality (IAQ) and ventilation in buildings. “As states loosen masking requirements, the White House is exactly right to prioritize indoor environmental quality in homes and buildings,” said Elizabeth Beardsley, Senior Policy Counsel […]

Workers Worldwide Worry About Office Air Quality

Nearly three out of four (72%) surveyed office workers express concern about their building’s indoor air quality (IAQ), according to a new report from Honeywell. Titled “Workplace Air Quality: A Global Concern Emerges,” the report presents the findings of Honeywell’s second annual Healthy Buildings Survey, which recently queried 3,000 office workers in buildings with 500-plus workers in ASEAN, Germany, India, the Middle East, […]

Top 10 States for LEED Buildings in 2021

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced the ranking of its annual Top 10 States for LEED, with Illinois once again topping the list and demonstrating leadership in green building. Illinois certified 3.16 square feet of building space per person under LEED in 2021. LEED is the world’s most widely used green building program and was created by […]

Vast Majority of Workers More Wary of Offices Amid COVID-19 Variants

With the rise of new COVID-19 variants, 87% of workers have heightened concerns about working in an office building, according to a new survey. Honeywell released initial findings from its second annual study on workers’ perceptions and feelings on the health and safety of their workplace. Conducted by Wakefield Research, the study surveyed 3,000 office workers […]

skyscrapers

The Critical Need to Develop and Promote Healthy Buildings

One of the most difficult facets of the COVID-19 pandemic has been a fear of interacting with our loved ones, acquaintances, colleagues, or even total strangers while indoors. Ensuring that the spaces where we work and live are healthy and safe for continued occupancy is critical to overcoming the pandemic, and should be seen as […]