WELL & BREEAM to Redefine Sustainable Building Standards

WASHINGTON — The Washington-based International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) and U.K.-based BRE (Building Research Establishment), a building science center that works to improve the built environment, recently announced an agreement in which both organizations will collaborate to streamline the sustainable certification process that often costs design-build (DB) teams time and money, and requires extensive paperwork.

“We look forward to partnering with BRE to advance this important concept by helping project teams who are using both BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method), and WELL to deliver a more sustainable and healthier built environment as efficiently as possible,” said Rick Fedrizzi, chairman and CEO of IWBI, in a statement.

Both WELL and BREEAM focus on the well being of individuals living and working in sustainable buildings. There is, however, some overlap between the two standards, and completing both certifications seems wasteful for project teams working to stay on schedule and finish projects on time.

BREEAM is a sustainability assessment for method and master-planning projects, infrastructure and buildings. It addresses all stages of the project from conception to completion. To receive certification, DB teams must meet or exceed standards that are based on performance benchmarks.

The WELL building standard is similar, as it is based on the energy performance of a building. To receive certification, buildings must pass in the categories of air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind. Each of these categories works to improve the health and well being of building occupants. Once the categories are incorporated, WELL certification is awarded on Silver, Gold and Platinum levels.

The collaboration will work to streamline the process of certifying green buildings by saving DB teams time and money. It comes at a time when building owners and designers are realizing how human health is harmed or enhanced by the built environment.

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that people spend 90 percent of their time indoors, so the built environment should enhance health instead of harming it with potentially toxic interiors, poor access to healthy food, exercise-inhibiting office layouts and poor air quality.

The criteria that streamlines the green building certification process is being completed by Washington-based Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) and is expected to be complete by January 2017.