Assessing the interaction of office building characteristics with occupant well-being – A Seattle case study

Sofia Dermisi, Anne Moudon, Alon Bassok and Xiao Shi

ERES from European Real Estate Society (ERES)

Abstract: Numerous studies in recent years have focused on assessing the performance of sustainable vs. non-sustainable buildings. This study is a departure, by exploring well-being characteristics of office building occupants while accounting for office building (CoStar) characteristics and their sustainable labeling (Energy Star and LEED/USGBC) in the Seattle area. Utilizing detailed health and physical activity profiles of individuals, which include office workers’ daily physical activity, work-to-home distance and Body Mass Index (BMI) - a proxy for well-being, we are exploring possible relationships between them and office characteristics. Our preliminary results suggest - as expected - that increased number of parking spots is associated with higher occupant BMIs. In contrast, buildings with fitness centers are associated with a lower occupant BMI. Additionally, even though there is no relationship between LEED certification and BMI, BMI is higher for those in energy star label buildings. Building on these results we are exploring additional relationships, however we cannot imply at this stage that office building characteristics have a causal relationship with BMI or health.

Keywords: sustainable office buildings; Well-Being (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: R3 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018-01-01
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:arz:wpaper:eres2018_248

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