International Healthy Building Accord
About the Accord: The International Healthy Building Accord, spearheaded by IWBI, shaped by contributions from foremost health authorities, and informed by an extensive and thorough body of health and buildings research and scientific evidence, outlines the imperative for healthy buildings, key focus areas and strategic policy actions necessary to accelerate healthy buildings worldwide. Together, we’re urging the world’s policymakers and health leaders to step up and do their part to support healthy buildings.
I. A Healthy Building Imperative
We, the undersigned, affirm that healthy buildings are a fundamental human right, essential to the health, well-being and productivity of all individuals. This assertion underpins the critical need to prioritize the health of our indoor environments, the places and spaces where we spend roughly 90% of our lives. Rigorous and extensive research substantiates the vital role that buildings can play in protecting and improving human health, mitigating disease and enhancing well-being. Essential elements such as indoor air quality, water quality, thermal comfort, lighting, materials, design that promotes movement and access to healthy foods are instrumental in shaping positive health outcomes.
Adopting healthy building practices in our workplaces has been shown to improve cognitive function, mental health and productivity, all of which have a substantial impact on a business’ bottom line. A landmark, peer-reviewed study of WELL Certified buildings found a 26% increase in reported well-being scores, a 10% increase in reported mental health and a 10-point jump in median productivity.
The mounting impacts of climate change, including more frequent and severe extreme weather events, are contributing to the spread of disease and eroding our quality of life. This makes healthy buildings an imperative: we must proactively fortify all of the places where we live our lives to be health-resilient and capable of withstanding the challenges and stressors that will continue to increase in scale and frequency over time. By designing, operating and maintaining healthier, more sustainable buildings, we can minimize the toll that extreme heat, floods, wildfires and other climate-induced disasters take on our lives, while slowing the pace of climate change.
II. Key Focus Areas for Accelerating Healthy Buildings
To accelerate the shift towards healthy building strategies, we commit to helping advance the following:
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Indoor Environmental Quality: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the combined effects of ambient air pollution and household air pollution are associated with nearly 7 million premature deaths annually. Air pollution is responsible for 29% of lung cancer deaths, 43% of COPD deaths, 25% of ischemic heart disease deaths, and 24% of stroke deaths. Research indicates that improved indoor air quality (IAQ) can help reduce the spread of airborne diseases, protect against outdoor air pollution and decrease the number of triggers for asthma and allergies. In addition, improved ventilation and air filtration systems have been shown to reduce respiratory infection risk, including COVID-19 by over 80%. Therefore, enhancing regulations to ensure optimal indoor air quality, drinkable water and non-toxic materials, is a priority focus.
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Building Design for Health: Evidence-based design solutions that prioritize human health, like enhanced acoustics, optimized lighting, improved thermal comfort, universal design and access to restorative spaces, can help attract and retain talent and improve productivity. A recent study found that WELL Certified buildings, which utilize healthy building design and well-being strategies, experienced increases in occupant satisfaction, health, productivity and creativity.
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Healthier Materials: Buildings constructed with non-toxic materials not only support environmental sustainability but also the health of the people who occupy them. Research demonstrates that reducing exposure to harmful chemicals and pollutants in building materials can improve air quality and reduce health risks, such as respiratory issues and certain cancers. Environments featuring healthier materials support improved mental health and cognitive function, underscoring the need to integrate them into building standards and practices, along with the continued push for material transparency.
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Access to Nature: Increasing outdoor access and integrating biophilic design elements like plants, water features and ample natural light, have been shown to reduce mental fatigue and boost productivity. Providing access to nature can reduce stress, improve cognitive function and enhance mood and creativity among occupants, leading to as much as a 16% reduction in stress hormones and a 4-6% reduction in blood pressure.
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Emergency Preparedness and Resilience: Fortifying buildings against threats to public health and safety ensures they can protect people effectively no matter the circumstances. Studies suggest that resilient design can reduce the cost of disaster recovery by as much as 11 times the initial investment. Buildings also serve as fundamental building blocks of our communities, helping shape not just health outcomes, but also social outcomes, including bolstering local economies, supporting families and fostering community resilience.
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Health Equity: Advancing health equity through better buildings helps everyone feel welcome, seen and heard. Multiple studies show that employees in diverse and inclusive workplaces are more likely to innovate, enjoy their jobs, work harder, and ultimately stay with their employers for longer. By adopting inclusive design strategies, equitable access to healthy spaces and research-based design strategies we can reduce health disparities and ensure the advantages of healthy buildings reach our most vulnerable and marginalized populations.
III. Prioritizing Strategic Policy Actions
To fully realize the vision of this Accord, we advocate for decisive government action at all levels to prioritize and implement healthy building policy in the following six areas:
- Health-Focused Building Codes and Leadership by Example: Develop and implement building codes and standards that prioritize health, focusing on aspects like air quality, ventilation, lighting, materials and thermal comfort. These standards should reflect the latest research in health and building science, and address different types of buildings and use cases. In addition, governments must lead by example, adopting health leadership ratings, standards and benchmarks in public buildings.
- Funding and Other Incentives: Create economic and financial mechanisms, such as subsidies, grants, low-interest loans, bonds and tax incentives, to encourage investment in healthy buildings. These policies should support both new constructions and the retrofitting of existing buildings to meet health-focused standards.
- Education, Training and Capacity Building: Invest in relevant education and training programs for designers, builders, trade workers and facility managers, including professional accreditations. Deploy awareness campaigns to educate the public about the benefits of healthy buildings and how to improve their living and working environments.
- Research and Innovation: Invest in research and innovation to further define the relationship between building design and operations and health outcomes. Provide support for studies that explore innovative materials, building technologies and design strategies that enhance human health. Additionally, encourage collaboration between researchers, practitioners, industry leaders and policymakers to translate findings into practical applications.
- Public-Private Partnerships and Collaboration: Foster partnerships to leverage resources, expertise and networks from both public and private sectors to accelerate the adoption of health-focused designs, strategies and practices in the building industry across different communities and regions.
- Urban Planning for Health: Adopt urban planning practices that embed people-first principles into the fabric of communities and encourage mixed-use developments, outdoor access, walkability and active commuting.
IV. A Global Call to Action
We urge local and national governments, as well as international authorities, including the United Nations and its agencies and delegates to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, as well as the World Health Organization (WHO), to recognize the urgency and importance of healthy building practices. We call upon our elected leaders, policymakers and other decision-makers around the world to embrace this Accord and commit to the imperative of healthy buildings for everyone, everywhere. We urge governments to take action and lead by example by advocating for and adopting policies that prioritize people by way of building policies and regulations.
By committing to the tenets outlined in this Accord, we can ensure that our buildings become beacons of health and well-being, safeguarding current and future generations. The time to act is now.
Together, by uniting under this Accord, we commit to help build a future where every building is a foundation for health and vitality, reflecting our collective commitment to a healthier, more sustainable world.
