Two prominent certifications, WELL and LEED, have emerged as leading standards for healthy and environmentally friendly buildings. While both certifications aim to improve building performance, WELL certification places a particular emphasis on human well-being.
While both WELL and LEED certifications aim to improve building sustainability, WELL often comes with a higher price tag. In many cases, a single WELL certificate can cost more than two combined LEED certifications. This disparity can be attributed to several factors, including:
Human-Centric Focus: WELL's emphasis on human well-being requires a more comprehensive approach to design and operation, involving factors like lighting, acoustics, and indoor air quality.
Performance Testing: WELL mandates performance testing for various aspects of the building, such as air quality, water quality, acoustics, light, and thermal comfort. These tests can be time-consuming and expensive.
The Role of Performance Testing Agents
To achieve WELL certification, buildings must undergo rigorous performance verification. This process involves hiring a specialized performance testing agent to measure key metrics and ensure compliance with WELL standards. Some of the key tests performed by performance testing agents include:
Indoor Air Quality Testing: Measuring levels of pollutants, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other contaminants in the indoor environment.
Water Quality Testing: Assessing the quality of drinking water and other water sources within the building.
Acoustic Testing: Evaluating the sound levels and noise transmission within the building.
Light Testing: Measuring the quality and quantity of light in various spaces to ensure adequate illumination and visual comfort.
Thermal Comfort Testing: Assessing the temperature, humidity, and air velocity within the building to ensure comfortable conditions for occupants.
Spot Checks: Conducting periodic inspections to verify ongoing compliance with WELL standards.
Visualizing the Difference: The Air Measurements Graph
While the graph below focuses on air quality, it's important to note that WELL and LEED also differ in their requirements for other key concepts. These include:
Water Quality: WELL often has stricter standards for water quality, ensuring access to clean and safe drinking water.
Acoustic Comfort: WELL places a greater emphasis on reducing noise pollution and enhancing acoustic comfort within buildings.
Lighting: WELL prioritizes natural light and optimal lighting design to promote occupant well-being and productivity.
Thermal Comfort: WELL focuses on creating comfortable indoor temperatures and humidity levels.
The air graph illustrates the difference in air quality measurement requirements between WELL and LEED. As shown, WELL places a greater emphasis on achieving high levels of indoor air quality, which can involve additional measures such as advanced ventilation systems and the use of low-emitting materials.
While both WELL and LEED certifications contribute to sustainable building practices, WELL's focus on human well-being sets it apart. WELL's emphasis on occupant health and comfort can lead to increased costs but also offers significant benefits in terms of productivity, employee satisfaction, and overall quality of life.
Figure 1: Comparison of LEED and WELL Pre-requisites (Air category) for Two IEN Projects
Figure 2: LEED and WELL Thresholds for Pre-requisites (Air category)
IEN's Achievements
IEN is proud to announce that we have successfully closed two WELL v2 Certified Gold projects this year, marking a significant milestone for sustainable building practices in Malaysia. By achieving WELL v2 certifications, these projects have demonstrated a commitment to prioritizing human health and well-being, as well as environmental sustainability. IEN's dedication to delivering high-quality, sustainable buildings is evident in these achievements.
Figure 3: IEN First WELL Individual Project
Figure 4: IEN First WELL-at-Scale Project
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