Research Shows Benefits Of WELL Building Certification

The largest peer-reviewed study to date links WELL Certification with improved worker productivity, health, and creativity. Earlier this month, the study was published in Building & Environment and found that WELL Certified building occupants reported higher performing workplaces compared with non-certified building occupant responses.

The researchers found that employee satisfaction across various building aspects improved significantly in WELL Certified offices compared to non-WELL Certified offices. “In general, satisfaction with 20 of 23 aspects related to the physical environment were significantly higher in WELL [Certified] offices,” says the study.

Respondents in WELL offices were 18% more satisfied with access to sunlight, 17% more satisfied with acoustical privacy, 16% more satisfied with connection to the outdoor environment, 12% more satisfied with lighting, 11% more satisfied with thermal comfort, and 10% more satisfied with both indoor air quality and air movement.

In addition, WELL Certified offices also had 12% lower Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) complaints and 6% lower musculoskeletal complaints than non-WELL projects.

WELL Certified offices also reported higher levels of satisfaction with their organization’s culture of health, with significant differences found in levels of satisfaction around inclusive culture, health promotion programs, a positive environment, and engagement.

The study was titled “The potential of high-performance workplaces for boosting worker productivity, health, and creativity: A comparison between WELL and non-WELL certified environments,” and looked at occupant data from the Asia-Pacific region, including New Zealand, Australia, and Hong Kong.

David Shiller

David Shiller is the Publisher of LightNOW, and Senior Business Development Consultant at Capacity Consulting, a North American consulting firm providing business development services to advanced lighting manufacturers. The ALA awarded David the Pillar of the Industry Award. David has been co-chair of the ALA’s Engineering Committee since 2010. David established MaxLite’s OEM component sales into a multi-million dollar division. He invented GU24 lamps while leading ENERGY STAR lighting programs for the US EPA. David has been published in leading lighting publications, including LD+A, enLIGHTenment Magazine, LEDs Magazine, and more.

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