Do Green Workplaces Really Matter?

Research shows that workspaces that meet “green” standards contribute to the better cognitive functioning needed to think clearly and work efficiently. There is a scientific link between green workplaces and higher productivity.

According to Mark Conway, head of workplace environments at facilities management company Active, the benefits of a green workplace are too great to ignore. As Mark stated in an interview with Forbes, “The performance of those working in ‘Green’ environments, increases on average by double, compared to those who work in conventional ones. In a marketplace where costs are key and mistakes cost money, this sort of increase cannot be ignored.”

Not surprisingly, thoughtful workplace design can be a powerful tool for supporting employee performance. And a collateral benefit is that what typically supports productivity also enhances employee health and wellness – it’s all interrelated.

The Impact of Green Workplaces On Business Performance and Mental Health

According to scientific research and carefully controlled experiments, improved air quality helps you think more clearly. And since many of us spend much of our time working indoors, the quality of our environment plays an important role in our ability to complete our work.

A 2016 joint study between Harvard University and SUNY Upstate Medical University found a 26.4% increase in cognitive test scores of participants working in “high-performing, green certified” buildings. They also had 30% fewer “sick-building” symptoms than participants in non-green certified buildings.

“We spend about 90% of our time indoors, and buildings have a unique ability to positively or negatively influence human health,” says Julia Raish, Division Lead at Paladino and Company, a sustainability consulting firm. “Maintaining a healthy environment and increasing human performance is central to increasing quality of life. And more importantly, it’s central to business performance.”

A landmark 2015 study found a direct correlation between indoor environmental quality and cognitive function, which impacts the productivity levels of workers. When working under conditions that met the LEED standard for air quality (green), workers scored 61% higher on cognitive functioning than those participants working under conventional office air quality standards. And when the air ventilation conditions were set to twice the LEED requirements (green +), the workers scored 101% higher.  

In addition, the ability to gather and apply information to a specified goal – also improved significantly in the green and green+ groups, increasing a whopping 172% and 299% respectively. Finally, the ability to strategize – including the ability to plan, prioritize and sequence action were 183% and 288% higher among participants in the green and green+ conditions than they were in the office with typical air quality.

This study focused solely on improved air quality, yet green workplaces include other aspects, such as natural light, spaces designed for social interaction, and increased movement, all of which have a direct impact on the performance and health of employees.

How to Make a Greener Workspace Without a Full Renovation

Creating a green workspace doesn’t necessarily require moving your headquarters out to a forest, or embarking on an expensive and intensive renovation.

Instead, Raish advises focusing on opportunities to “create interactions between people and nature in order to achieve the happiness effect that spending time in the natural world provides.”

Leigh Stringer, LEED AP, author of the best-selling book , The Green Workplace: Sustainable Strategies that Benefit Employees, the Environment and the Bottom Line, shares that organizations can nurture our naturally strong desire to be in and among nature through configuration of space, by organizing interior environments or man-made outdoor landscapes, using similar to natural environments elements.

For example, introduce a water feature, such as a portable fountain or waterfall in your reception area. Add indoor plants and greenery, or even an aquarium with tropical fish.

Pay particular attention to the lighting in your work areas. “Natural light is invigorating, and supports the body’s natural rhythms,” says Raish. Light pools, filtered lights, and simply opening your office window blinds can help increase sunlight exposure to boost cognitive functioning.

Adjustable LED lighting that changes through the day can help mimic natural daylight progression, which impacts our bodies’ natural circadian rhythms. When choosing what to include in your “green” workplace, don’t forget to make choices that align with your business culture.

The ROI of Going Green

The key to success is striving to deliver on the triple bottom line of people, planet, and profit says U.S. Green Building Council manager of facilities, Melanie Mayo-Rogers. There’s no question that green workplaces help the planet. But what about people and profit?

As it turns out, green is measurable when it concerns your employees. Green workplaces reduce the average number of sick days per employee, reduce sick leave costs, improve productivity, and increase employee retention. And, decreased costs equates to increased profits for your company.

There’s a shade of green for every organization, regardless of size or budget. So, don’t worry if your workplace isn’t certified green–every little bit helps.  You could soon find yourself with an office full of happier, healthier, and more engaged workers.