The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) has unveiled the second edition of its influential report, Investing in Health Pays Back: The Business Case for Healthy Buildings and Healthy Organizations. This updated publication serves as a comprehensive resource, presenting the most extensive body of research to date that connects health and well-being investments with measurable financial returns.
The latest edition expands significantly on the original, with more than double the research references. It combines academic findings, industry data, and case studies to address a central question for today’s practitioners: how can future projects be designed to improve human health while generating substantial economic value? The evidence also makes a strong appeal to policymakers, investors, and real estate leaders that prioritizing people’s health is not only ethical but also a sound financial strategy.
“We’ve consolidated the most compelling global evidence linking healthier buildings to improved well-being and performance into a single, practical resource,” said Rachel Hodgdon, IWBI’s President and CEO. “Whether you’re an investor, developer, architect, or advocate, this report provides the data and insights needed to advance healthier environments and strengthen the value of WELL.”
Key Insights from the Report
A McKinsey Health Institute study suggests that investments in comprehensive employee health could create nearly $12 trillion in global economic value and raise worldwide GDP by up to 12%. Research led by Harvard shows that better ventilation can boost employee productivity, valued at as much as $7,500 per worker annually. Studies from MIT and the University of Cambridge found that certified healthy buildings achieve rental premiums of 4–7%. WELL Certified workplaces show higher levels of employee satisfaction compared to non-certified spaces, with notable improvements in access to natural light (+18%), acoustical privacy (+17%), connection to the outdoors (+16%), lighting (+12%), thermal comfort (+11%), and air quality/movement (+10%). Occupants in WELL Certified buildings are 39% more likely to report overall satisfaction than those in standard green-certified spaces. The latest edition expands significantly on the original, with more than double the research references. It combines academic findings, industry data, and case studies to address a central question for today’s practitioners: how can future projects be designed to improve human health while generating substantial economic value? The evidence also makes a strong appeal to policymakers, investors, and real estate leaders that prioritizing people’s health is not only ethical but also a sound financial strategy.
“We’ve consolidated the most compelling global evidence linking healthier buildings to improved well-being and performance into a single, practical resource,” said Rachel Hodgdon, IWBI’s President and CEO. “Whether you’re an investor, developer, architect, or advocate, this report provides the data and insights needed to advance healthier environments and strengthen the value of WELL.”
Key Insights from the Report
“With this research, we’re giving IWBI’s global community the evidence they need to accelerate the adoption of healthier building strategies,” said Dr. Jason Hartke, IWBI’s Executive Vice President for External Affairs and Global Advocacy. “The results show that prioritizing health directly benefits productivity, retention, property value, and operational strength.”
The report also highlights the growing significance of social sustainability. It documents how health-focused metrics are increasingly shaping sustainable finance mechanisms such as green, social, and sustainability-linked bonds. WELL has already been included in 13 types of financial tools and integrated into sustainability frameworks, regulations, and case studies across 29 countries on five continents.
Expert Perspectives
Dr. Richard Carmona, 17th U.S. Surgeon General: “Since people spend about 90% of their lives indoors, buildings must be central to strategies that promote wellness and generate large-scale health benefits, alongside strong economic returns for organizations.” Professor Alessandro Miani, University of Milan and President of SIMA: “Investing in healthier buildings and organizations delivers immediate and powerful benefits—protecting health, raising property values, improving productivity, and helping attract and keep top talent. It is now a business necessity.” Rick Fedrizzi, Executive Chairman of IWBI: “Transforming workplaces and gathering spaces into healthier environments offers an unmatched opportunity to strengthen public health while delivering major economic gains. People represent the largest cost in any business—about 90% of expenses—so connecting healthier spaces to better outcomes provides organizations with the data to enhance human capital strategies.” Kay Sargent, author of Designing Neuroinclusive Workplaces: “Employers are increasingly aware that supporting individuals with different ways of thinking can create significant competitive advantages.” The report also highlights the growing significance of social sustainability. It documents how health-focused metrics are increasingly shaping sustainable finance mechanisms such as green, social, and sustainability-linked bonds. WELL has already been included in 13 types of financial tools and integrated into sustainability frameworks, regulations, and case studies across 29 countries on five continents.
Expert Perspectives