{"id":3479,"date":"2017-07-11T09:23:12","date_gmt":"2017-07-11T09:23:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/evalore.reload.es\/?p=3479"},"modified":"2024-09-23T10:56:00","modified_gmt":"2024-09-23T08:56:00","slug":"what-is-the-well-certification","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/evalore.reload.es\/en\/que-es-la-certificacion-well\/","title":{"rendered":"What is WELL Certification and how can your building promote health and wellbeing?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Article updated for the WELL v2 certification: April 2021.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did you know that we spend 90% of our lives indoors?<\/strong> Did you know that the air in these spaces is 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air?<\/strong> Every day, dozens of articles are published that include compelling data about our relationship with the spaces that host our daily activities. It is evident that the quality of our built environment has a direct impact on our physical, mental and emotional well-being and on our ability to give of our best.<\/strong> Therefore, the WELL Building Standard has taken on the task of providing a series of scientific strategies that make it possible to improve the impact of buildings on us.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A healthy environment not only extends and increases our quality of life, but it also makes us more productive<\/strong>. This evidence has been proven in the business world, and there is currently a growing tendency that leads more companies to want to be a healthy business, which invariably involves achieving a healthy office<\/a><\/strong>. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These improvements can also be achieved in residential, hospital and commercial buildings, and in interior space renovations<\/strong>. Furthermore, architectural health criteria are becoming increasingly relevant in the development of projects, especially in the current context of COVID-19<\/strong>. In this article we explain why the WELL Certification is the most suitable for achieving these benefits in your building.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

How to achieve a healthy building? The WELL Building Standard<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are countless options for certifying your business, home, shop or building. However <\/span>there is only one that holistically encompasses both the physical factors of the environment and the policies that will make your space or building a healthy building<\/strong>: the WELL Certification<\/strong>, or as it is known in the United States, <\/span><\/span>the<\/span> WELL Building Standard<\/a><\/strong>. Furthermore, it should be mentioned that the latest version of the WELL Certification allows this process be much more inclusive and flexible<\/strong> by presenting more optional credits and the opportunity to certify various types of spaces and buildings.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"What
Image by Toa Heftiba from Unsplash. Edited by EVALORE<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What is the relationship between WELL Certification and LEED Certification?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The WELL Certification, managed by the International WELL Building Institute, is similar to the<\/span> LEED Certification<\/a><\/strong><\/span> (managed by the<\/span> USGBC<\/a><\/strong>), in its conception, in fact, much like LEED, it is certified by the Green Business Council Inc. (GBCI). If LEED Certification ensures compliance with sustainability and energy efficiency standards, the WELL Building Standard guarantees that the certified space works for the health and wellbeing of its occupants.<\/strong>. Both certifications are perfectly complementary and applicable both to entire buildings and to business spaces within them. When WELL and LEED are implemented in the same project, the building's performance is optimised for the benefit of the environment and the health of the occupants.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

The WELL Certification is the only one that holistically encompasses both the physical factors of the environment and the policies that will make your building a healthy one.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

What does the WELL Certification involve? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The new version of the WELL Certification consists of 10 areas of action<\/strong>, each of which includes a series of measures. Some of these measures are compulsory and others optional for achieving certification. Compared to the previous version, this one is more inclusive and flexible as it features fewer mandatory measures and more optional ones<\/strong>. These are the 10 areas of the WELL Building Standard and the objectives of each of them:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Air <\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Removal of air pollutants, pollution prevention and air purification<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Water<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Filtration, treatment and strategic location of water points<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Food<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Establishment of healthy food options and promotion of healthy eating<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lighting<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Access to natural light, and improvement of the quality of artificial light<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Movement<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Promotion and incorporation of activities that enable an active lifestyle<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thermal comfort<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Adaptation of the space to maximise thermal comfort and prevent energy losses<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Acoustic comfort<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Space adaptation to maximise sound insulation and absorption and mitigate the harmful effects of noise<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Materials<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Analysis of material components to ensure they are non-emissive and reduce exposure to environmental pollutants<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mind<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Improvement of spatial perception through biophilia and the incorporation of corporate wellbeing policies<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Community<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A culture of health and an inclusive community committed to these values<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"wellness
WELL Certification Concepts. Image by EVALORE<\/span><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What are the benefits of the WELL Certification? <\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Return on investment<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When referring to residential buildings, WELL Certification ensures economic benefits in the sale and rental of properties. Residential buildings certified under the WELL scheme see an increase in their market value and are let and sold 60% faster<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When referring to a company, we know that human capital accounts for 90% of the total costs involved in keeping it running, including the management and maintenance of the premises, energy costs, rent, etc. The medical and scientific evidence gathered over 10 years by the International Well Building Institute<\/strong> demonstrate that with the implementation of WELL Certification measures, benefits are obtained such as:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n