Wellness in Real Estate resolution passed for U.S. built environment

The influential U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) has voted unanimously to pass a Wellness in Real Estate Resolution which commits to promoting buildings that “use a combination of criteria and features that will enhance the well-being of occupants and address growing preventable health concerns and costs.” The resolution is one of ten new sustainability resolutions for the U.S. built environment commended by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), which praised the USCM for “showing courage and leadership by embracing a strong sustainability and green building policy agenda”.

Jason Hartke, vice president of national policy at USGBC commented: “As the first responders on the frontlines in the battle to combat climate change, they are seeking out effective solutions and smart public policy that will help strengthen their local economies.”

The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) is the official non-partisan organization of U.S. cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are 1,302 such cities – represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. The ten resolutions were passed unanimously in Las Vegas at the 81st USCM Annual Meeting, which sets the national agenda for U.S. Mayors.

Wellness in Real Estate is the world’s first building standard focused exclusively on enhancing people’s health and well-being in direct, evidence-based and innovative ways through the built environment. It was introduced by real estate developer, Delos at the 2012 Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting following six years of research, development and collaboration with a board of researchers and doctors from Columbia University Medical School, as well as with architects, engineers and contractors.

Other resolutions passed by the USCM this week include supporting and advancing resilient communities, which commits to “support efforts by communities across the nation to advance sound resiliency policies and programs that (1) identify and plan for the risk and challenges posed by a changing climate, (2) deploy a skilled workforce to modernize critical infrastructure in the energy, communications, buildings, water, and transportation sectors, (3) strengthen the community as a whole to be a safer, healthier place to live.”

“The passage of these resolutions reflect the ardent dedication of all our mayors who are working to revitalize the economy through infrastructure investment and clean energy programs as well as green building and smart transportation improvements,” said Paul Mendelsohn, AIA’s vice president of government and community relations. “They are taking a smart, integrated approach across all sectors of the economy to drive sustainability, improve health and advance the triple-bottom line.”

By Sara Bean