FARMINGTON, Conn., April 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- It's long been said that a happy worker is a more productive worker. But what goes into making workers happy? Several experts in the field of green building say the design of the building itself can contribute to boosting employees' moods, increasing productivity and aiding in employee retention. "Green building is good business. Green building certifications attract tenants, employees, even students and help to keep them... People want to work in green buildings, and comfortable, happy workers are more productive workers," said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chairman of the U.S. Green Building Council, who provided the keynote address titled "People, Planet and Performance" at the recent Carrier Global Engineering Conference in Las Vegas. In addition to creating happy workers, green buildings result in life-cycle savings of 20 percent of the construction costs, according to Fedrizzi. Like Fedrizzi, the event's keynote speakers said there is a direct correlation between increased productivity and employees who love being in their work space. Numerous studies have shown the impact of biophilia, a concept that promotes the instinctive bond between human beings and other living systems, can impact everything from a patient's recovery period to increasing sales at a leading national discount chain, according to Bill Browning, keynote speaker and principal of Terrapin Bright Green. What does biophilia mean for green building? Browning said there are various levels of bringing nature into a space from gardens and living walls to using natural materials, such as wooden doors, large windows and nature artwork, to designing the nature of the space – or creating a space that is compelling and exhilarating. Valentine Lehr PE, of Lehr Consultants International, in his keynote emphasized that engineers play a key role in adoption of innovations into the built environment. Carrier's 11th Global Engineering Conference convened a global audience of approximately 900 attendees from 20 countries and 40 states to create dialogue on the latest in green building technologies, sustainable design and engineering practices. For more information on the 2012 Global Engineering Conference, visit www.2012GEC.com.
