We are all familiar with Green Star, NABERS ratings and the benefits resource efficient buildings bring. But now there’s a new rating that’s emerged in the building industry. It’s the International WELL building rating.
Similar to other rating systems, the WELL Building Standard® is an evidence-based system for measuring, certifying and monitoring the performance of building features that impact health and well-being. WELL is administered by the International WELL Building Institute™ (IWBI), a public benefit corporation whose mission is to improve human health and well-being through the built environment. The WELL Building Institute has recently partnered with various Green Building Councils including the Green Building Council of Australia.
Given that the most expensive resource for a company is usually its people, it pays to ensure they are healthy and well. Benefits include higher productivity, less sick days and lower staff turnover rates to name a few.
This standard puts people’s health and wellness at the center of design. It takes a holistic approach to health in the built environment addressing behavior, operations and design. WELL is a performance-based system for measuring, certifying, and monitoring features of the built environment that impact human health and well-being, through air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind.
WELL is grounded in a body of medical research that explores the connection between the buildings where we spend more than 90 percent of our time, and the health and wellness impacts on us as occupants. WELL Certified™ spaces developments can help create a built environment that improves the nutrition, fitness, mood, sleep patterns and performance of its occupants.
People who work in WELL Certified environments have expressed the positive impacts their WELL offices have on productivity and performance. In the first office to be WELL Certified™ — Pilot Program, CBRE Corporate Headquarters, employees responded with the following survey feedback:
83% feel more productive
100% said that clients are interested in their new way of working
92% said the new space has created a positive effect on their health and well-being
94% said that the new space has a positive impact on their business performance
93% said that they are able to more easily collaborate with others
Source: CBRE Global Corporate Headquarters Los Angeles, California, Workplace 360 Study. 2014.
If you’d like to know more about the WELL standard, now available in Australia, go to the WELL Building Standard website by clicking here.
