Mental Health and Campus Spaces

An often forgotten dimension of sustainability is that of health. A recent survey on sustainability at uOttawa revealed that when students think about sustainability, they usually think about how it relates to the environment and forget about the the social elements, which include health.

Certainly the health aspects of sustainability have been popping up in the news a lot lately, even if we don't immediately link it to the environment. Poor air quality and environmental contaminants related to floods, fires, and climate change come to mind fairly quickly, but there is a silent killer in the room and it is stress related to the environment.

The recent phenomenon of climate anxiety is washing over youth like a tidal wave. A 2017 report by the American Psychological Association suggests that worrying about climate change is having a serious impact on our mental health. And as you can imagine, the more we hear about bad things happening in our environment, the more people worry about it.

Sadly, when people stress about something, one of the typical responses is to become paralyzed by it. This compounds the problem; the more we do nothing about climate change, the more we worry about it, and the less we can do anything about it... So it stands to reason that if we can reduce stress in our immediate environment, we can improve the health of individuals (and maybe in turn they can help us flight environmental issues like climate change).

So what is it that sustainability can do uOttawa to help improve the health and well-being of the campus community? Let's take a look at a few of the things that could be done to make healthier spaces on campus.

LEED Certification

The air we breathe indoors has dramatic impacts on our health and comfort levels. Particulates in the air, strong and noxious odours, and temperatures all have impacts on our immune systems. The University of Ottawa constructs its buildings to a minimum LEED Silver certification, which places an emphasize on indoor air quality. It should be noted that every building we have built to date has been certified at a Gold level.

We condition the air, monitor its quality, maintain the equipment, and ensure that we are operating within regulated safety limits. Even the furniture inside the buildings is created with materials that don't off-gas and hurt the building occupants.
If the University wanted to further improve the health of occupants, it could maximize the points related to this area indoor air quality

WELL Standard

LEED isn't the only building certification system out there that focuses on health. Where LEED prioritizes energy and the environment, the WELL building standard prioritizes the health of the occupants. The air, the sounds, the water, the materials, the light, etc... are all considered in WELL buildings.

Although uOttawa doesn't currently use the WELL standard, we do borrow some of the elements to make our spaces better. And there is also the possibility that the University may adopt the standard in the future.

Indoor plants

Keeping on the topic of air quality, a preferred strategy for many people is to use plants. They are a natural way to remove potential toxins from the air and produce oxygen. The living wall in FSS is a great example of how plants can be used to purify the air in a space (and still look great). There is a great deal of information about the benefits of biophilic design and how tour proximity to plants does a lot of good for people.

The University is not very big on having many indoor plants, not because it is against them in principle but because they are difficult to maintain. But it is possible that a program to introduce more indoor plants and indoor gardens could eventually become a reality.

The main concourse of the Learning Crossroads uses a skylight to bring light into the space.

Lighting

It might surprise some of you the hear that lighting is on the list. If you think about it, light plays a huge part in our lives and in our well-being. One aspect is the intensity and spectrum of the lights inside a building. Light therapy is thought to be an effective tool against the seasonal disorder we experience in Canada during winter. More of these kinds of lights could be deployed in study areas around campus to improve well-being... but these lights can be very expensive.

Another aspect is access to natural day light. Every one loves a space that is naturally lit and people clamor towards windows in restaurants and study spaces. Some studies even show that you sleep better when you have more access to natural light. Well designed spaces prioritize putting high use areas next to windows so that people can utilize the light. The University can try to find ways to economically get more of the community next to windows. 

Soundscapes

Maybe more surprising than the impacts of light on your well-being might be the idea of sounds. Loud noises can slowly wear down on your health, maybe even effect your heart. Living in a loud city disrupts your sense of calm and can have you feeling on edge all the time. That's why there is so much attention going towards creating calming soundscapes.

A soundscape can be anything from light music to the songs of birds. The idea is to try to create a specific mood. Rock music in a dingy bar makes it seem more authentic while classical music in a restaurant can make it seem more elegant. If you need more proof about the power of sound, watch a scary movie without any background music and you will instantly understand how sound can make us feel something.
With the right soundscapes, the University campus could be transformed into a calmer, more relaxing place.

*****

Although not a complete list of all the thing that could be done, we hope that this small sample is enough to let you start seeing the possibilities. With a little push in the right direction, simple design choices could make a huge impact on the health of the campus community. Do you have anything you want to add?

~jonathan rausseo - campus sustainability manager