How is WELL certification different from other green building standards such as BREEAM or LEED?
WELL certification is different from other green building certification schemes like BREEAM and LEED in that it gives higher priority to human health and well-being as opposed to environmental impact and energy efficiency.
- WELL aims at improving the health and wellbeing of the building occupants through factors such as air quality, water quality, natural light, thermal comfort, acoustics, nutritional intake, physical activity and mental health.
- WELL directly relates building features to health impacts, based on scientific research.
- WELL is compatible with BREEAM and LEED since it addresses the gap of occupant-centred outcomes. Thus, a project can opt to pursue both the WELL certification and the LEED or BREEAM certification to ensure that it is as environmental friendly as possible while at the same time providing the best environment for the occupants.
- WELL uses performance-based assessments for elements that are likely to have direct impact on occupants for instance assessing the quality of air and water or assessing the ergonomics of a building. On the other hand, BREEAM and LEED have larger consideration of environmental factors and the types of building materials used.
In short, WELL aims at creating healthier and more comfortable environments for people, while BREEAM and LEED aims at reducing environmental impacts of buildings. All together they offer a holistic approach to sustainable as well as health-promoting building design.
