Creating a healthy work environment

This section addresses the local problems caused by releases of toxic chemicals from buildings, which can harm occupants and damage the environment.

Much of the material selection was governed by a desire to limit indoor pollution from chemicals in paint, carpets, adhesives, engineered wood, etc.

This has resulted in the selection of, among other things, natural, low-VOC paint and linoleum floor covering.

As the Dunkeld office is a leased building, this is one of the areas that we had most control over and one of the easiest aspects to demonstrate.

Other attributes of the building which help to engender a healthy environment that promotes staff morale and productivity include:

• maximum use of daylight;
• views outside from all desk spaces;
• kitchen facilities - which provide an incentive to get up and move around every now and then;
• the garden, when it is complete and furnished, will offer some valuable green space for staff to use for reflection and/or breaks; and
• windows that open and allow fresh air ventilation.

Indoor air quality - sick building syndrome

A strong incentive for providing office space with good indoor air quality is the avoidance of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS).

SBS can result in increased staff absences and reduced morale. An alert office owner or tenant should recognise that the office itself is a potential cause of the problem.

In providing a healthy office, we need to be aware that SBS typically has several causes, including:

• poor indoor air quality, through a combination of inadequate ventilation / filtration and the emission of toxic chemicals - mainly volatile organic compounds - from a huge variety of sources, including carpets, varnish, paint, engineered wood, printers, photocopiers and perfume;
• uncomfortable working environment in terms of heat, humidity and light. A combination of daylight and views outside is a particularly important attribute of a more sustainable building, as it provides a valuable connection with the rhythms of the natural environment - reducing the oppressive insularity of an entirely artificial space.

Volatile Organic Chemicals

Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs) are organic chemicals often used as solvents in paints, varnishes and cleaning agents etc. They contribute to air pollution, which is linked to asthma and other breathing problems.

VOCs play a role in sick building syndrome. But they also cause problems when released to the external environment.

In certain weather conditions, they help generate photochemical oxidants which can have significant detrimental effects on health and can even degrade some materials. Therefore, as well as guarding against the ongoing release of VOCs into the internal environment, sustainability design should limit their release during construction and decoration and throughout the supply chain.

The bottom line - air quality and productivity

Improving the air quality in a building can reduce absenteeism. Even the smallest decrease in absenteeism or staff turnover can completely offset any additional costs that might result from supplying a healthy building rather than an unhealthy one.