The Impacts of the Building Environment on Health and Well-Being

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Buildings will examine how the built environment affects our well-being, and this in turn influences our work effectiveness in the workplace. Poor environments contribute to absenteeism and also to people not working as well as they might (which is referred to as presenteeism). Absenteeism and presenteeism produce enormous costs for companies. For example, in the UK, it is reckoned that good design could save approximately £135 bn per year through increases in health and well-being (which lead to increases in productivity and reduced medical costs). It has been shown that the economic costs in the UK of sickness, absence, and presenteeism are over £100 bn per year. The economic losses due to poor design not only lower productivity but also waste energy because designing for sustainability results in environments that are not only better in human terms, but which tend to be leaner in terms of energy consumption.

High quality environmental design is an investment, as occupants are healthier, staff retention rates are higher, productivity is higher, and sustainability ideals, such as lower energy consumption, are more likely to have been met in well-designed buildings. Fresh air at appropriate temperatures, daylight, views outside, color, acceptable sound levels, spatial arrangements, ergonomics, and greenery are all factors that contribute significantly to our mood and well-being in the workplace, but which also impact energy needs. Intelligent buildings need to bring together all these aspects into a holistic whole.

Recommendations will be made for the design of healthy, sustainable buildings.

Prof. Dr. Derek Clements-Croome
Ms. Ann Marie Aguilar
Ms. Mallory Taub
Guest Editors

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