Healthy building certification and wellness real estate standards

The inherent human connection to nature, whereby individuals seek affinity with living organisms and natural environments. In real estate, it pertains to design principles that integrate nature into built spaces, fostering well-being, productivity, and sustainability by evoking a sense of harmony with the natural world.

This term encompasses all human-made structures and spaces where people live, work, and engage with their surroundings. In the real estate context, it refers to the constructed landscape, including buildings, infrastructure, and urban development, and plays a crucial role in shaping communities and quality of life.

A government agency tasked with safeguarding and regulating environmental concerns in the United States. It establishes and enforces regulations related to air and water quality, waste management, and environmental conservation, impacting real estate through compliance requirements and sustainability initiatives.

Standardized frameworks that assess and validate the sustainability and environmental performance of buildings. These systems, such as LEED and BREEAM provide guidelines and criteria for design, construction, and operation to promote resource efficiency, occupant well-being, and reduced environmental impact in real estate projects.

A non-profit organization that promotes and facilitates the development of sustainable and environmentally responsible buildings and communities. These councils, like the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), offer certification programs, resources, and advocacy to advance green building practices and encourage healthier, more efficient building design and construction.

This movement, of which we proud to play a part, represents a global shift in real estate and construction toward prioritizing occupant health and well-being. It emphasizes design, materials, and operational practices that enhance indoor air quality, natural light, thermal comfort, and overall mental and physical occupant wellbeing, while also aligning with sustainability and environmental responsibility.

Refers to the purity of the air within enclosed spaces, namely building interiors. It encompasses factors like ventilation, filtration, and the absence of pollutants, emphasizing the importance of maintaining clean and breathable indoor air for the well-being of occupants in green and healthy buildings.

Encompasses various aspects of the indoor environment, including air quality, thermal comfort, lighting, and acoustics. It focuses on creating spaces that promote the well-being and productivity of occupants in green and healthy buildings.

A non-profit organization dedicated to advancing sustainability in the built environment. It administers the Living Building Challenge and the Declare label, promoting regenerative and healthy building practices by encouraging net-zero energy, water, and waste designs, making it a key player in green and healthy building initiatives.

Now the leading organization focused on promoting human health and well-being through building design and operations. It administers the WELL Building Standard, a performance-based system that emphasizes aspects such as air quality, water quality, and ergonomics to create healthier and more sustainable built environments.

In our view the most rigorous green building certification program, the LBC is administered by the International Living Future Institute. It sets the highest standard for sustainability, emphasizing net-zero energy, water, and waste goals. Buildings achieving this certification are recognized for their commitment to environmental and human health, pushing the boundaries of sustainable design.

Refers to an individual's emotional and psychological well-being. In the context of green and healthy buildings, mental health is a crucial aspect as the built environment can significantly impact occupants' stress levels, mood, and overall mental well-being through factors such as indoor air quality, lighting, and access to nature.

A rigorous evaluation process aimed at assessing the efficiency and sustainability of a building's systems and features. This encompasses energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and environmental impact. Such testing ensures that a property aligns with eco-friendly and health-promoting standards, making it an integral aspect of wellness real estate and sustainable design practices.

Amenities and activities that promote bodily movement and exercise within a built environment, be that a residential building, workplace or educational environment. This includes strategically located stairs, accessible outdoor spaces, and fitness facilities, fostering an active lifestyle for occupants. It is a vital component of wellness-centric real estate, enhancing overall health and sustainability.

The optimal temperature and humidity levels maintained within a building interior to ensure occupants' well-being. Achieving thermal comfort minimizes energy consumption by reducing the need for heating and cooling at certain times, while aiming to ensure the maximum number of occupancy are comfortable at any one time as possible.

The purity and safety of water supplied to a property. It encompasses measures to ensure that water is free from contaminants, chemicals, and pathogens, safeguarding the health of occupants. Maintaining high water quality and facilitating hydration with adequate water stations for example, is central to creating a healthy workplace.

The holistic state of health, comfort, and contentment experienced by occupants within a built environment when all the stars align! It encompasses physical, mental, and social dimensions, emphasizing the importance of creating spaces that enhance overall quality of life. Ironically, similar sensations are more easily provoked in entirely natural settings, the challenge is how to match that in a dense urban setting, indoors, at work, on a wet winter’s morning…!

A healthy building standard, focused on enhancing human health and well-being within indoor environments. It evaluates air quality, water quality, lighting, and occupant comfort, as well as nutrition, biophilia and mental wellbeing to ensure that buildings prioritize the health and wellness of their occupants. It now plays a pivotal role in promoting wellness real estate practices in construction, development, interiors and refurbishments around the world.

Essentially any building that adheres to the WELL Building Standard, designed to optimize the health and well-being of its occupants.

aAn accredited expert with specialized knowledge in the WELL Building Standard. They play a crucial role in the design, implementation, and certification of buildings aiming to meet WELL standards. These professionals facilitate the integration of wellness principles into real estate projects, contributing to the creation of environmentally sustainable and health-focused buildings.