The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the General Services Administration have introduced Fitwel building certification system based on a review of more than 3,000 scientific studies linking the built environment to health behavior and outcomes. This system provides the building industry with a roadmap to inform future investments and operational priorities, and it positively impacts occupant health and productivity through an integrated approach to workplace design and operations.
The new certification is based partly on market trends indicating that nearly half (49%) of building owners are willing to pay more for buildings demonstrated to have a positive impact on health.
The results from pilot participants of the certification are very positive, with 97% of pilot study participants reporting that Fitwel's web-based tool is easy to use and 84% reported that they better understand how their buildings support healthy behaviors.
Click here for more information on the new certification.
