Are millennials driving the construction of ‘wellness’-minded buildings?

Millennials care about health—even in their buildings. And this growing cohort of aspiring homeowners is fueling a new construction trend for “wellness” buildings, Construction Dive reports. “Wellness” buildings are not only energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable, but they’re also supposed to improve human health and quality of life. Everything from natural light to air and water quality to open office layouts can be considered a part of the movement to make buildings healthier for the people who live and work in them.

Offices lead the charge, where employers interested in attracting and keeping top talent will invest in wellness-related amenities like healthy snacks, nap pods, and better lighting. But experts say that health-conscious construction will soon bleed over into residential buildings as millennials get used to their healthy office perks and decide they want them at home, too.

Robert Thorne, CEO and co-founder of The Wellness Habitat Company, imagines a near-future where advanced home technology will infuse probiotics and aromatherapy scents into household air, and lighting will automatically adjust to our circadian rhythms.

But while sustainable building practices can be measured in energy savings or carbon footprint reduction, the effects of wellness-enhancing features are typically more subjective and harder to track since they deal with comfort and long-term physical health. But this statistics challenge isn’t likely to stop developers from catering to the next generation of homeowners. Do check out the full story here.

Via: Construction Dive