Participate in the 2017 GRESB Health & Well-being Module
Published on 15 Jun 2017
In 2015, our Green Health Partnership research team worked with GRESB and its stakeholders to develop the first GRESB Health & Well-being Module. Last year, 174 real estate entities – 23% of all entities participating in the GRESB Real Estate Assessment – demonstrated market leadership by participating in the inaugural health-focused module.
This year, participants are able to again participate in the GRESB Health & Well-being Module by completing the series of 10 indicators before the GRESB portal closes on July 1, 2017. Log in to the portal here.
The module focuses on the impact of the built environment on health
As in 2016, the 2017 GRESB Health & Well-being Module will provide insight into how property companies and funds around the world are promoting health and well-being. While many GRESB participants are already contributing to societal health promotion efforts by focusing on traditional environmental issues associated with climate change, this module and associated report focus on the more immediate impacts of the built environment on health.
The Module consists of indicators that assess the presence of both internal and external processes for health and well-being promotion.
Internal health promotion refers to policies and actions focused directly on a real estate company’s own workforce.
External health promotion refers to intentional actions taken by companies and funds to improve the health and well-being of their tenants, customers and the communities surrounding their real estate assets.
An unrealized opportunity for value creation
External health promotion arguably represents the largest unrealized opportunity for value creation due to the increasing demand for real estate assets that consider health and well-being impacts from tenants and building owners.
In 2016, while almost all GRESB Health & Well-being Module participants reported taking action to promote the health of their employees, only 72% took action to promote the health of their tenants and customers. Interestingly, no companies or funds report taking external action without taking action internally.
For more on the results of the 2016 GRESB Health & Well-being Module, check out the results snapshot and the associated white paper.
Next step
To complete the 2017 GRESB Health & Well-being Module, please login to the GRESB Portal before July 1.
*The Green Health Partnership is a research and development initiative between the University of Virginia School of Medicine and the U.S. Green Building Council with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
This article is written by Kelly Worden.
Related insights
Articles
Net Zero Buildings: Leaders in Energy, Carbon, Water and Waste
A new report from the Energy Transitions Commission, a group of global leaders from across the energy landscape, reinforces that a net zero economy by 2050 is technically and economically possible. The report points to the need for electrification and urges governments, investors, and companies to accelerate the adoption of zero-carbon solutions now. That includes […]
Changing Perception about Green Buildings and the Importance of ESG by focusing on Health and Wellness
People do not often consider how the places where they spend their time affect their health. When asked how often they consider the health and environmental impacts of the buildings they spend time in, 39 percent said they never considered it or do not know.
A Greater Grasp: How we can use green building to motivate and make meaningful strides in sustainability
It’s up to all of us to start engaging wider audiences and convince the public of the reality of climate-related threats. And to do that, we need to illustrate the importance of small, everyday actions. We have to connect the dots between people and the planet they call home.