Last month, I explored the academic and financial benefits of improving IAQ in K–12 schools. Let’s now look at the profitability of supporting the health of employees in commercial real estate buildings.
Commercial building owners strive to maximize profits from their real estate investments by attracting long-term tenants with successful businesses. Beautiful exterior facades; elegant interior designs; convenient parking facilities; and amenities, such as fitness centers, will appeal to business owners who want to retain employees and attract customers. When combined with energy-conserving mechanical systems and a low-maintenance building infrastructure, the commercial real estate business can be extremely profitable. This cost-benefit model works beautifully until the tenant closes its doors because of financial hardship.