Our buildings are the exact antithesis of the Great Outdoors.  Buildings—especially the modern skyscraper with its complex of offices, commercial spaces, residential areas—have become beautiful enclosures.  Whereas in the past our hunter-gatherer ancestors were always on the go, prowling and hunting in the wild, we on the other hand willingly strap ourselves to our office chairs and become slaves to our sedentary jobs.  We don’t mind because anyway our buildings have deftly merged work, life, and leisure all in one place.

Let’s make stairs fun to use again!
(Image from http://www.facilities.uiowa.edu/)

That’s good and all, but sometimes we need green buildings to be a little more physically demanding.  Nowadays everything’s built for our convenience: elevators and escalators, and the most horrendous king of convenience of them all, walkalators.  I’ve seen people actually use the elevator to get to the, hold on, second floor.

Back at my very first job at the fourteenth floor of this old and nondescript but otherwise happy building, I used to take the elevator up to the tenth floor, and then use the stairs the rest of the way.  I prefer trudging up the stairs, lonely and masochistic as that may sound, because it allows me to think.  There’s none of that luxury inside elevators.  Plus, I’d rather use the stairs now while I’m young and my knees are still up to the challenge.

Don’t Just Sit There!

For years studies have been warning us that all-day sitting is bad for us because our bodies are designed for movement (remember our hunter-gatherer ancestors.)  When we’ve been sitting down for more than an hour, important cellular mechanisms that regulate metabolism and circulation become dormant, resulting in toxic buildup that cause diseases.  Even more alarming are studies that suggest sitting can still kill us even if we exercise.

Researches like these should be compelling enough for green builders and companies alike.  For builders, the challenge is to rethink the way they design skyscrapers from inside out.  Strategic placement of amenities such as the office pantry or the lounge area can be used to great advantage in order to encourage people to take the stairs for example.  Instead of a smoking area, why not just a rooftop garden for people to chill out at, smokers and non-smokers alike?

Meanwhile, for companies, the challenge lies in enforcing policies that motivate employees to get up and get moving.

Employees stretch and exercise in preparation for the day’s work. (Image from christopherconsultants.com)

Exercise.  Japanese companies actually require their employees to partake in early morning calisthenics en masse.  They call it rajio taisō (literally radio calisthenics, because the exercise steps were originally broadcast by radio).  To an outsider, the whole thing might look childish and awkward but for the Japanese it’s a great way to energize and start the day.  Judging from their longevity and work ethics, maybe those guys are really onto something.

Stairs.  Let’s make stairs fun to use again!  Why should elevators get all the scenic outside views and the fancy music?  Why should stairs be relegated to emergency cases only?

Standing desks.  Standing flexible desks have become the antidote to the silent killer that all-day sitting is, and yet many companies still haven’t upgraded their traditional cubicles with the pseudo-ergonomic office chairs.

Bike.  It’s a great thing when companies encourage a community of bikers in the workplace.  How? By providing ample bike parking space for everyone, as well as the requisite changerooms and showerrooms, freebies like helmets and water bottles, or other rewards and incentives—whatever it takes for people to choose to bike instead of taking the car.

Gym.  What building isn’t without a gym nowadays?  Free gym membership is always a welcome treat, a great way for people to stay in shape especially when we’ve been sitting on our office chairs all week long.

Company outings.  Company outings don’t always have to be the usual boring karaoke night or all-you-can-eat buffets.  Why not go out for bowling or laser tag instead, or sign up for marathons?  Tree-planting activities or volunteering at Habitat for Humanity are fine too.  Meanwhile, team-building events with crazy obstacle-courses for everyone to accomplish together help build camaraderie while also keeping everyone fit.

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Seriously, I dread the day when our green buildings start looking like something from the Jetsons cartoon series, what with its ultra-convenient walkalators and teleporters and whatnot.  For now let’s be thankful we still have stairs in our buildings for us to use when elevators start to become boring.