State legislators were told Thursday that green buildings can improve the health of occupants, in addition to conserving energy, says a report by the House Public Information Services.

A joint meeting of House and Senate panels heard from David Jacobs, director of research for the National Center for Healthy Housing, who said that green improvements made recently in Worthington, Minn., provided healthier living benefits with proper ventilation systems, removal of surfaces containing volatile organic compounds, radon testing, integrated pest management, no-smoking rules for common areas and proper drainage.

Those modifications led to fewer respiratory illnesses and other health problems, while cutting energy use by 46 percent, he said.