Integrative Process for Health Promotion
OVERVIEW
In Phase II, GHP led development and launch of a health promotion ‘credit’ (based on principles of health impact assessment) for use within the LEED green building certification system by built environment project teams (e.g. architects, developers).
LEED OVERVIEW
A building or neighborhood development project becomes LEED certified by achieving ‘credits’ - the building blocks of the LEED system - that define best practices for sustainable design and construction (interior, exterior, and context) as well as operational policies and practices.
LEED credits and rating systems are available to address the full range of built environment projects including multi-family affordable housing, schools, and workplaces. Real estate teams (e.g. architects, property owners, investors) receive a tiered LEED rating (e.g. silver, gold, platinum) based on the number of credits their project achieves; a designation with proven market value. Some owner groups (e.g. governments, universities) set minimum sustainability standards that require all buildings are built to a specific LEED rating level (e.g. silver)
LEED INTEGRATIVE PROCESS FOR HEALTH PROMOTION PILOT CREDIT
Our team’s LEED ‘Integrative Process for Health Promotion’ pilot credit extends the LEED practice framework to formally include and certify health promotion as a built environment project goal and set of best practices.
Specifically, our LEED health credit and associated reference guides help project teams: a) recruit an appropriate public health partner, b) use public health data to prioritize population health needs and goals, c) choose design and programmatic strategies to meet these objectives, and d) monitor and evaluate health-related project outcomes. GHP also created guidance for GBCI, the third party organization responsible for the certification of LEED projects.
MARKET FEEDBACK
GHP’s new Integrative Process for Health Promotion pilot credit was launched within the LEED v4 rating system in Spring 2016. Early-stage market feedback has been strong and the new health promotion credit is currently in use in projects across market sectors including affordable housing, healthcare, commercial real estate, education, and government facilities
GHP is working with a subset of teams to conduct early-stage evaluation in preparation for larger scale implementation. Example: the Colorado Health Foundation used GHP’s LEED health credit for its new headquarters as a way to formally manifest and communicate its philanthropic mission and commitment to health promotion through its real estate investment.
24 Project Teams have requested technical assistance from GHP regarding LEED Integrative Process for Health Promotion Pilot Credit
Multiple Markets: Projects using our LEED health credit range across sectors: Affordable Housing, Office, Residential, Schools, Healthcare, Government
Increasing Interest: USGBC exploring ways to bring formal ‘health lens’ to entire library of LEED credits based on feedback from our health process credit prototype
