09/17/2020
How do we engage in a process of safeguarding our personal health and that of the larger environment we live in? It requires an early focus and a diligent process to address the critical issues.
Designing, constructing and operating a building is primarily a pragmatic activity. Better building and enhanced operations can arise from early programming and planning. Goal setting of design and construction activities during this early planning sets the direction for the project team, as a whole, to pursue.
Management of these activities through documented calculations, tracking of progress and training of systems use can lead to more efficient and healthier building environments. Third party reviews of this process provide a fair assessment, a certification, of the level of achievement for these early planned goals. Building users, operations management, the local community and the greater environment can benefit through efficiency, comfort and health afforded by this well managed and certified endeavor.
The certifying body, Green Business Certification Institute (GBCI), offers third-party reviews for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and the WELL Building Standard. Similar in structure, LEED and WELL are complimentary programs to each other. While LEED accounts for the "site design to paint type" building activities, WELL focuses more on human health benefits that are associated with design and operations directly.
LEED v4.1 categories include Integrative Process, Location & Transportation, Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy & Atmosphere, Material & Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, Innovation, and Regional Priority. This is the most widely embraced and comprehensive certification program available to date.
WELL v2 is more occupant health focused with categories of Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Movement, Thermal Comfort, Sound, Materials, Mind, Community and Innovation.
Both LEED and WELL are point, or credit, accrual based programs with prerequisites in order to qualify for certification. The more credits that are planned for and managed early in the process, the greater the potential of higher achievement levels. These ascending levels are recognized through Certified (or Bronze for WELL), Silver, Gold and Platinum certification awards.
The attraction of certified facilities continue to increase in public and private developments throughout the world. Health related benefits are becoming the standard bearer for certification reviews and will continue to lead the direction for healthier buildings and for those who use them.
