Does your building have the Human Factor?

Yes, it’s important to create energy efficient and sustainable buildings, but there is also a need to create an environment that nurtures healthy, happy and more productive people.

The importance of cultivating this kind of space is now at the forefront of building owners’ minds as the world begins to return to normal following the COVID-19 pandemic.

People’s priorities have also changed, recent research published by LinkedIn suggests that candidates are rethinking what’s important to them when it comes to choosing a new job with work life balance is now their top priority.

But buildings are far more than just offices, they are hospitals, schools and care facilities, so what is it that gives a building the human factor?

Daylight control aids well-being and comfort

It’s suggested that we now spend 90% of our time indoors which means creating a comfortable indoor space is essential, whether it’s for work, recovery or study. A key element of this is controlling the levels of daylight buildings let in as this has a significant impact on individuals well-being and productivity.

In the healthcare sector, there is considerable evidence to suggest that access to natural daylight in hospitals or care environments can play a significant role in patients’ recovery as well as aiding staff. Regulating patients’ exposure to natural daylight during their time in hospital can lead to a reduction in the amount of time they spend in hospital, faster post-operative recovery and greater pain relief.

For example, our bodies use natural light in the same way as water and food, getting sufficient quantities of the full spectrum of light is essential to our metabolic process. It also regulates our body’s circadian rhythm, which helps control our sleep and wake cycles as well as impacting our emotional health, heart function and body temperature.

However, it’s not just the healthcare sector that benefits from access to natural daylight. A study carried out in California over the course of an academic year found that those students who benefited from more natural light in their classrooms achieved scores that were 20% higher in mathematics tests, and 26% higher in reading tests than those students who had less access to natural daylight in the classroom.

Using solutions such as dynamic solar shading enables building owners to preserve the full spectrum of daylight as well as diffusing light where required. This creates an environment where individuals feel comfort is prioritised which in turn can lead to improved health, well-being and focus.

The importance of thermal comfort

Another factor is room temperature as this can have an impact on performance levels as well as personal well-being. Feeling too hot or too cold affects how we feel which in turn can impact recovery, reduce focus and lower productivity. Achieving an optimum indoor environment is proven to have a positive impact on individuals at work, school and while in hospital.

For example, research carried out by Helsinki University of Technology and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, states that performance rates increase when temperatures average between 21c or 22c. A further study by Harvard and Oxford Brookes universities found that a range of environmental factors including thermal, visual and acoustic comfort as well as CO2 concentrations can impact productivity by up to 20%.

If building temperatures reach uncomfortable levels, it can have a significant impact on not only individuals’ health or students focus but there are financial implications to consider too. Research carried out by Facilities Management journal UK found that 29% of workers estimated they spend between 10 and 30 minutes not working each day due to an uncomfortable office temperature. The results also suggest that around 2% of total office hours are wasted per year due to buildings being too hot or too cold, potentially costing the economy more than £13 billion annually[1].

Is the Human Factor here to stay?

Climate change and sustainability have played a key role in the design of today’s buildings. However, the financial benefits have also influenced building managers to shift to more environmentally friendly design. Yes, green buildings cost on average 5% to 10% more than non-green structures but when you consider that 90% of business operating costs are typically associated with people even a 1% rise in productivity could equate to a significant increase in the bottom line.

However, it’s not all about money, especially in the current climate. It’s about individuals feeling valued and the buildings we work, recover and study in prioritising health and well-being. This is why it’s vital for building owners and designers put the human factor on an equal footing with their sustainability goals.

[1] Assuming an average wage of £26,500 per year with 29.84m UK employees working 228 days a year