IWBI Reveals Research Questions That Will Help Tackle Climate Change
Panelists on an IWBI webinar discuss the questions industry leaders should ask to address climate change, and how the Global Research Agenda lays out a strategy that can be used to take action.
Filling gaps in research is necessary to successfully confront the climate crisis, said a panel of experts during a webinar about public health, the built environment and how the IWBI Global Research Agenda can help bridge the gap between theory and practice.
Dr. Whitney Austin Gray, PhD, senior vice president of research at IWBI, hosted the virtual discussion Building a Future for People and the Planet and revealed the Global Research Agenda (GRA), 12 topics that researchers can target to develop information and drive impact in addressing health issues related to the built environment, including the climate crisis.
“Our goal is to leverage the Global Research Agenda to provide guidance for research and industry, catalyze timely resources, and be a trusted advisor and go-to resource as research emerges,” Dr. Gray said about the document, which was created by the IWBI Research Advisory. “By integrating knowledge and uniting disciplines under the framework of health, well-being and the built environment, we strive to establish strong partnerships between those who do research and those who implement and translate it.”
Dr. Gray discussed translating research on climate change, one of 12 GRA impact topics, into practice with panelists Dr. Howard Frumkin, MD, Professor Emeritus of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences at the University of Washington School of Public Health; Dr. Chris Pyke, PhD, Senior Vice President of Product at ArcSkoru and IWBI Research Advisor; and Jennifer Taranto, Director of Sustainability at Structure Tone.
The experts said that though the climate crisis is a looming public threat of the 21st century, confronting the issue provides an opportunity to improve the health of the planet and people.
“Health is a powerful and motivating factor for many people,” Dr. Frumkin said. “They may not care about the environment, they may not care about polar bears, but many people care about health - their own, and their children and grandchildren. And the voices of health professionals from around the world are some of the most trusted voices we have. So health brings a lot to the climate space as well."
Dr. Pyke agreed, and compared the built environment to a stage where people act out the theories and policies. On this stage, practitioners have the opportunity to focus on critical topics to advance the green building movement.
“Transparency, prediction and measured performance will be the foundation of making use of that stage,” Dr. Pyke said. “I believe that is what’s reflected in the IWBI Global Research Agenda.”
Translating research into practice
Structure Tone was two months into a construction project when Jennifer Taranto convinced senior leaders to pursue WELL Certification in addition to building to local energy code standards.
It led to the team designing and building at the same time, Taranto said during the webinar. While applying the changes, Structure Tone surveyed occupants to help measure the effects of the strategies in the WELL Building Standard.
“After the move into the new WELL Certified building, people said they felt motivated to come to work every day,” she said. “They said they bought their best selves to work, and that collaborating was easier. They also felt that the organization cared for their overall mental health and well being.”
It’s an example of theories in practice, Dr. Gray said. Successful implementation requires streamlining policy efforts, spearheading changes and creating a place to track and validate initiatives. It also requires a platform that allows multidisciplinary experts to come together, connect and learn from one another.
To allow experts across the field to convene and discuss these issues, Dr. Gray said IWBI will continue hosting webinars that explore additional GRA impact topics and how to translate what’s discussed.
Dr. Gray said she welcomes conversations and questions about the IWBI Global Research agenda, and can be contacted by e-mail at research@wellcertified.com.
Stay up to date on the conversation. Watch the first Global Research Agenda webinar.
