5 Takeaways from Greenbuild 2022

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Written By Marcos Reynaga

Fitwel at Greenbuild 2022

Last week, we joined industry leaders for the 20th Anniversary of Greenbuild. While topics spanned climate change, sustainability, equity, and resilience, health and well-being in the built environment took center stage.

Here are the top 5 takeaways for a healthier 2023.

1. Health is Driving the Conversation 

The ESG conversation has expanded beyond net zero and carbon neutrality to a more holistic view of ESG. We heard overwhelmingly that companies, builders, portfolio owners, and occupants alike are all putting a greater emphasis on the “S” in ESG. Although “E” metrics have become more standardized thanks to regulations and global climate change goals, industry leaders are seeing the importance of evaluating their ESG strategy through a health-focused lens. Top-of-mind questions include: How do people respond to the strategies identified in public health research and implement them in their facilities? Is there a clear, measurable outcome for human health?

At the heart of the matter is how to measure and quantify those “S” impacts – something that continues to challenge the industry. Fitwel’s Guide to Measuring “S” outlines five key areas and metrics for quantifying the ‘Social’ in ESG reporting and is part of our larger commitment to support the industry in quantifying the “S” in ES. Download the Guide here.

2. People are Leading the Movement 

COVID-19 underscored the critical importance of safe and healthy environments for everyone. At Greenbuild, we saw that the demand for healthy buildings is largely being driven at the individual level — and it’s not going away any time soon. Several sessions highlighted a renewed demand from tenants and occupants for green, healthy buildings, as did Pete Zadoretzky of LivCor, who also serves as a Fitwel Ambassador.

Fitwel Ambassadors around the world are stepping up to help meet the growing demand for healthy buildings – and in turn, taking their careers to the next level. Learn more about the benefits of becoming an Ambassador by clicking here. 

Interested in joining? Start by enrolling in our signature Ambassador Course and take advantage of the 30% discount using promotional code: Greenbuild30.

3. Champions are Deepening Their Commitment 

As a result of this tenant-driven demand, healthy buildings are being prioritized at the enterprise level. Fitwel Champion Quadreal joined the Center for Active Design’s CEO, Joanna Frank, at Greenbuild to showcase their deepening commitment to health and well-being across their portfolio, emphasizing that Fitwel Certification is a key market differentiator in local and regional markets.

They also discussed Health Drives Real Estate Value, a report analyzing Quadreal’s 60 Fitwel-certified properties that found prioritizing health directly impacts key outcomes, revealing synergies that will drive decision-making across the industry.

To learn more about the benefits of becoming a Fitwel Champion, click here.

4. It’s All About the Data 

As investors and tenants continue to focus on ESG, the need for actionable data has become increasingly important. What we learned: companies are looking for portfolio-wide solutions for benchmarking their health-related data to better understand how their assets affect human health and their bottom line. Fortunately, given the spike in healthy building certification systems in recent years, particularly in the wake of COVID-19, more health-related data is becoming available.

To optimize buildings and communities to promote the health, safety, and well-being of occupants, the first step is to measure where the portfolio stands today. During Benchmarking for Health within Multifamily Residential Assets, panelists representing the Center for Active Design, LivCor, QuadReal, and Lendlease, shared how benchmarking their portfolios through Fitwel helps them understand their asset-level performance, set investment priorities, and ultimately drive value. 

5. The Time is Now! 

It has been repeatedly demonstrated that health is essential for generating value and reducing risk in the built environment, and now more than ever, we need to take steps to measure its influence.

Whether you’re a designer, student, CEO, or sustainability director, we invite you to join us in building health for all. Here’s how you can get involved today: 

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Marcos Reynaga
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