Well Building Standard, a real estate trend in favor of the planet

Sustainability has become one of the rising values in recent years given the fearsome situation we are addressing if we do not start taking action for the good of the planet. Actions have also emerged from the real estate sector to incorporate this aspect into the construction of houses: a clear example is the Well Building Standard. This proposal consists of a decalogue of standards that define the most sustainable way to carry out a construction project. It has up to 540 application variables that can turn a home into a healthy space. One of the main objectives of this model is to improve and extend the life of users residing in buildings in a sustainable way. 

What is the Well Building Standard?

Well Building Standard is based on a medical-scientific research that has been developed for almost a decade. The company in charge of its management is the Well Building Institute. However, the certification is issued by the Green Business Certification Inc (GBCI), an entity that also manages the recognized LEED sustainability certification. Following the enthusiasm for the reception of this proposal, the creation of projects with customizable approaches that address geographic and cultural health problems has been encouraged. Spain has been one of the first countries to adopt this construction model, along with other European countries such as France, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. In addition, the number of professionals in the sector accredited as WELL Accredited Professional has increased significantly.

How to identify a healthy space

There are multiple categories to evaluate the Well Building Standard in a construction: air, water, nutrition, light, movement, comfort, sound, mind, etc. In the case of air, a fundamental quality is one that guarantees a smoke-free environment where ventilation occurs efficiently. For this, a construction is implemented in the way that allows managing pollution through measures such as the optimization of windows and other ventilation ducts in the home. A little more abstract concepts are also contemplated as happens in the case of mental health. In a housing design according to the Well Building Standard it is important that mental health is promoted with measures such as access to nature or the management of work and rest areas to avoid pathologies such as stress. 

Knowing these real estate trends helps us define the characteristics we expect to find when we are going to buy a new home. In this way, we can evaluate the well-being that a house will provide us and what measures we must take to improve its condition of healthy space.