USD/CBRE Study Finds That Employees in Green Buildings Are More Productive Than Those...

USD/CBRE Study Finds That Employees in Green Buildings Are More Productive
Than Those in Non-Green Buildings

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Researchers at the University
of San Diego's Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate and CB Richard Ellis have
found that employees who work in green buildings are more productive than
their counterparts who work in non-green buildings. Green buildings were
defined as those that are LEED-certified at any level or those that bear the
Energy Star label.

In the study, researchers Norm Miller, Ph.D., academic director at the
Burnham-Moores Center, and David Pogue, national director of sustainability at
CBRE, surveyed 154 green buildings nationwide containing over 2,000 tenants,
534 of which participated in the study. The study is the largest of its kind
by far; a 2003 study looked at productivity levels in just 33 green buildings.
Miller and Pogue used two measurements of productivity: sick days and the
self-reported productivity percentage change after moving into a new building.

Forty-five percent of respondents reported that they had experienced an
average of 2.88 fewer sick days at their new, green office location vs. their
previous non-green office location. An equal amount noted no effect, while 10
percent reported more sick days. The 10 percent that reported more sick days
were residents of Energy Star-labeled, not LEED-certified buildings. Unlike
LEED buildings, Energy Star buildings do not have air quality requirements.

Based on the average salary of the tenants, an office space of 250 square feet
per worker and 250 workdays a year, the 2.88 fewer sick days translate into a
net impact of $4.91 per employee, according to the authors.

On the self-reported productivity measure, 12 percent of respondents said that
they strongly agree that employees were more productive in green buildings,
42.5 percent agreed that employees were more productive and 45 percent noted
no change in productivity. According to the authors' calculations, the
increase in productivity translates into a net impact of $20.82 per employee,
based on an office space of 250 square feet per worker and using average
salary as an index.

"Healthier buildings reduce sick time and increase productivity," says Miller.
"If you consider the benefits in terms of recruitment, retention of employees,
less sick time and greater productivity, tenants should be willing to pay more
rent for such space or require steep discounts for less healthy space."

For the full study, go to www.usdrealestate.com.

Founded in 1993, the University of San Diego's Burnham-Moores Center for Real
Estate is committed to delivering outstanding education, industry outreach,
career and research services to advance socially responsible leadership in the
real estate profession. As part of the University's School of Business
Administration, the Center offers a Master of Science in Real Estate degree,
an undergraduate major and minor in real estate, a Certificate in Real Estate
Finance, Investments and Development, a Certificate in Land Use and
Sustainable Community Development and several major industry conferences
throughout the year. For more information, visit www.usdrealestate.com

SOURCE Burnham-Moores Center at the University of San Diego

Jeryldine Tully, Communications Director, Burnham-Moores Center for Real
Estate, +1-619-260-4786