COVID-19 has inextricably linked design and operational practices of the built environment to public health outcomes. As a result, worker health is an essential consideration for all buildings. Fitwel, a building certification system to support healthier spaces, provides strategies that can be used as a guide to achieve positive public health outcomes.
Choate’s Director of Environmental Services and Fitwel Ambassador, Sara O'Mara, LEED FELLOW, WELL AP, predicts there will be increased demand in not only Fitwel but other 3rd party certifications (i.e., WELL, Green Globes, and LEED) as owners strive to enhance stakeholder trust, increase economic stability, attract talent, and improve their corporate image.
1. LEVERAGING BUILDINGS | 2. DENSITY FOR PEOPLE | 3. GETTING CERTIFIED
In the second installment of our three-part series, we examine five ways to optimize dense areas in order to keep citizens healthy.
Fitwel research has shown crowded workplaces, fitness centers, restaurants, bars, and public transportation can easily accelerate transmission. With more than half (55%) of the world’s population living in cities, the rise of COVID-19 has highlighted the need to ensure our dense communities are resilient against the spread of COVID-19.
5 Ways to Enhance Resilience in Dense Environments
1. Viral Safety Module: In early July, Fitwel introduced an annual certification of company-wide policies that represent best practices in viral mitigation. The Viral Safety Module will include the following:
- Maintenance Protocols,
- Indoor Air and Water Quality
- Emergency Preparedness and Pandemic Planning
- Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration
- Communication Practices
- Health Promotion Programming
The certification revaluates the evidence-based strategies found in Fitwel's recently published series: Research to Action: Building Health for All in the Face of COVID-19
2. Decrease Energy Use: Air pollution is associated with an increase in COVID-19 mortality. Compact mixed-use development where residential neighborhoods are closer to employment reduces commute times and significantly impacts air pollution. In addition, decreasing distance to transit options can further decrease reliance on cars.
"A cross-sectional study as of May 28, 2020 out of Harvard found that an increase of just 1 micrometer per cubic meter of particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with an 8% increase in the COVID-19 death rate in the US." Source: Wu, X., Nethery, R. C., Sabath, B., Braun, D., & Dominici, F. (2020). Exposure to air pollution and COVID-19 mortality in the United States.
4. Outdoor Spaces that Support Community: Several aspects of dense environments support strong social networks and social and civic health, including quality, well-maintained outdoor spaces like public squares, parks and sidewalks. Dilapidated communities see a rise in violence, higher rates of chronic illness, lower brain and physical development in children, mass retreat into unhealthy eating and exercise habits, and breakdown of social networks and capital. All elements that drive predispositions to COVID-19.
Dilapidated communities see a rise in violence, higher rates of chronic illness, lower brain and physical development in children, mass retreat into unhealthy eating and exercise habits, and breakdown of social networks and capital.
A clear definition of maintenance standards, cleanliness, and codes of conduct are important in establishing consistent, safe outdoor spaces.
5. Increase Access to Nature:As COVID-19 spread across the globe, it brought with it isolation, fear, uncertainty, and disruption. Research has shown that access to nature is associated with positive mental health, including stress reduction, improved mood, creativity, mental sharpness, and a whole host of other positive impacts.
Creating more innovative strategies to connect people to nature in dense environments and workplaces will be essential in combating the mental health crisis brought on by the pandemic.
Learn more about Sara O’Mara, Director of Environmental Services and Choate’s expertise in Fitwel, LEED, WELL, Green Globes, and Energy Star. Director of Environmental Services. Sara is a Fitwel Ambassador and can help navigate digital certification, facilitate education meetings, help establish specific goals, and prepare documentation.
Read Part I of our Fitwel series, Leveraging Buildings in the Fight Against COVID-19.
Read Part III of our Fitwel series, Getting Certified.