The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) has launched a new global certificate to recognise and reward industry best practice in creating healthier and more resilient homes.
Called WELL for residential, the third-party verified, evidence-based certification programme is designed to transform the way homes are designed, built and maintained to support human health and well-being.
The certification, based on the WELL Building Standard (WELL) and its 10 WELL concepts, offers more than 100 strategies for creating homes that prioritise the health, comfort and well-being of residents.
Designed to empower builders and developers, operators, architects, designers and homeownersThe framework applies to both single-family dwellings and residences within multi-family buildings.
The programme was launched with 25 global pilot participants who have enrolled nearly 30,000 households and residences. The projects have a diverse global footprint in 10 countries, including the US, Canada, China, Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, the UK, Spain, Montenegro and the Netherlands.
"We are excited to work side-by-side with our pilot participants, as well as hundreds of stakeholders across the residential value chain, to present this transformative roadmap that will help market leaders adopt strategies that prioritise health in the way we design, operate and maintain our homes," said Rachel Hodgdon, president and CEO of the IWBI.
The WELL for Residential programme aims to provide a solution to help transform the global residential market and ensure that everyone, regardless of their background, have access to a home that improves their health and enables them to make healthier choices.
The programme was based on two years of industry input, market knowledge and expert recommendations from IWBI's WELL for Residential Advisory, composed of more than 100 world-renowned specialists, including leading builders and developers, architects and engineers, public health and building scientists, government officials and academics, as well as other real estate professionals.
The process
Projects can obtain the WELL Residence label for residences upon completion of the third-party review and verification of the selected strategies.
To obtain WELL Residence certification, a home must score at least 40 points.
Projects also have the opportunity to obtain a pre-certified WELL Residency status following a preliminary design review, an incremental milestone that allows participants to communicate achievements before construction is completed.
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