
Green Buildings and the Importance of ESG through Health and Wellness
Our Environment shapes our health and well-being
Let us start by clearly defining what exactly is “ESG” as related to Green Building. Well, ESG represents Environmental, Social and Governance — refers to the three key factors in evaluating the sustainability and associated potential financial performance of a company. Sustainability considerations, and sustainable finance, as a result, are increasingly critical to financial decision-making as climate and social changes continue to have an effect on global markets.
According to the U.S. Green Building Council’s report sampled 1,850 adults across the U.S. and found that, by large margins, respondents indicated they believe environmental problems are important, but they do not believe the issues are important enough to really need to take immediate action. When they were asked to rate how important environmental problems were to them, just over 80 percent answered that they do not believe environmental problems are that important.
However, this perception is not quite so clear cut. You see, out of the 80 percent, over 45 percent believe that environmental issues are quite important, while just over 30 percent say they are somewhat important, thus suggesting that a majority do believe environmental problems are significant but with different levels of intensity.
But what is important here is we cannot just put all theses responses together. We must dissect and understand the spectrum of sentiment on these issues. Research shows that the easiest way to unite on the issue of environmental issues is in how the dialogue is presented to people, especially regarding the topics of their safety, health, and well-being of both friends as well as families.
When asked to choose which areas they felt the most passionate about protecting the groups surveyed said that health protection for their family and friends was most important. The most important reason both groups say people should demand action to address environmental problems is their families should enjoy the benefits of living in an environment that is both healthy and safe, that the current environmental issues are presently creating unhealthy air and drinking water, which harm our health.
Furthermore, close to half of the people questioned have had direct experience with either breathing problems or unsafe drinking water or both. When asked what they would do upon learning their home environment is unsafe they stated that they would directly take steps to protect their family. Nearly three out of 10 respondents would take action, give of their time or money to support environmental cleanup methods. Nearly one-fifth of the people would contact local or government authorities to work at solving the environmental issue. Some of the people mentioned they would make some changes to their environment and then see if that would help solve the problem. A few stated they would simply wait to see if any changes would take place through local officials so felt little concern. However, some did say they would be willing to relocate if health issues became a major concern for their families.
Even though people may share an experience just as there are different personalities so too there are different responses to environmental issues
This report also found that people seldom directly connect health-related issues to where they spend time such as work or home. When people were asked if they feel there is a connection between their health and their
For the ESG community, the recent evidence showing there is a connection between our environment and our health has prompted more people to join them in environmental awareness. Recently the ESG has become more well-known globally as more people awaken to this ever-growing connection of health as how it relates to the environment in which they live and work.
Hopefully, the recent reports, along with a growing public concern, will spark a greater understanding of how and what people invest in has a positive impact on the environment and society. The ESG community plans to use these reports, along with increased demand by the public, in educating people, including both employees and managers, in order to preserve their most prized assets — the people who are working within the very structures they own.
As awareness grows the ESG community plans to have an ever-greater influence on the creating of green buildings and greener environments. It is of Vital Importance that each and every one of us takes action in transforming our ESG landscape while opening the door to a new cleaner, greener environment and a new era of impact investment.
It will be through Positive financial support along with following through with contributions focused on the key issues of health and well-being as it relates to the environment to pave the way for the ESG people’s part in creating a greener healthier living standard for many generations to come.

