A healthy working environment with the appropriate property certification

The S pillar. As a sustainable business, you are committed to the three ESG pillars: Environment, Social and Governance. Within the ‘Social’ domain, a healthy working environment is a key factor in your employees’ well-being. After all, they spend a significant portion of their time in the office.

Tip. A pleasant workplace results in fewer health complaints such as stress, fatigue and burnout. This translates into lower absenteeism and sick leave rates, higher productivity and a better corporate image among your customers, (potential) employees and other stakeholders.

Assessment. Certifications such as BREEAM, WELL and LEED are independent and externally coordinated assessment systems that make the sustainability of buildings measurable. This is done on the basis of a wide range of parameters. All three of these certifications also focus (in part) on improving the working environment and contributing to the physical and mental well-being of users. However, their content and approach differ.

BREEAM

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is one of the most widely used sustainability standards in the world. This certification assesses buildings across ten categories in which various sustainability aspects are evaluated. Within these categories, there are more than 90 criteria that a building can meet.

Health & Wellbeing

In addition to focusing on aspects such as energy, CO2 emissions, water, waste, materials and biodiversity, BREEAM has a separate ‘Health & Wellbeing’ category. This looks at, amongst other things:

• thermal comfort (pleasant indoor temperature with easily adjustable climate control);
• air quality (ventilation systems, CO2 monitoring and the reduction of harmful substances);
• daylight, views to the outside and artificial lighting (to enhance employees’ working comfort);
• acoustic comfort (noise reduction from sources inside and outside the building);
• drinking water quality and facilities;
• access to green spaces and nature.

Tip

In addition to this specific ‘Health & Wellbeing’ category, there are also indirect contributions from other categories, such as ‘Materials’ (e.g. use of non-toxic materials) and ‘Pollution’ (e.g. reduction of air pollution).

The result?

Based on the score within the various categories, a building can achieve one of the five BREEAM certification levels: Pass, Good, Very Good, Excellent or Outstanding.

LEED

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the most widely used certification system in the United States. Within Europe, LEED is increasingly being used by international companies and American multinationals that wish to apply a consistent sustainability standard across all their sites worldwide. Here too, buildings are assessed on the basis of eight categories.

Indoor Environmental Quality

There is a specific ‘Indoor Environmental Quality’ category that focuses on the well-being and health of employees. This covers, amongst other things:

• air quality and ventilation (including the limitation of harmful substances and CO2 monitoring);
• thermal comfort;
• lighting (including colour temperature and the avoidance of glare) and daylight provision;
• acoustic comfort (including management of background noise, reverberation and sound insulation);
• drinking water quality;
• visual connection with the outside world (e.g. views of nature).

Tip

Beyond this ‘Indoor Environmental Quality’ category, the ‘Sustainable Sites’, ‘Water Efficiency’ and ‘Energy & Atmosphere’ sections also indirectly contribute to employee well-being.

The result?

Based on the points achieved, a building can attain one of the four LEED certification levels: Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum.

WELL

Whilst BREEAM and LEED have a broader sustainability scope, the WELL certification specifically assesses how a building and its operations contribute to the well-being, health and comfort of its users. This is done on the basis of more than 100 criteria across ten categories relating to these aspects:

• indoor air quality and ventilation;
• the quality, purity and availability of drinking water;
• healthy food options within the building;
• natural daylight, lighting and visual comfort;
• access to physical activity and ergonomics;
• thermal comfort;
• acoustics and noise reduction;
• the use of non-toxic and sustainable materials;
• mental wellbeing, relaxation and stress reduction;
• community (with a focus on inclusion, accessibility, social interaction, outdoor spaces, etc.).

The result?

WELL operates on a performance-based system: a building must meet certain health and wellbeing standards. Depending on the number of points achieved, the system awards different certification levels: Silver, Gold and Platinum.

How do you obtain such a certificate?

Accredited consultant and assessor

To secure a BREEAM, WELL or LEED certificate, it is best to engage an accredited consultant who can guide you through the entire process – from preparation and implementation to the final inspection. Drawing on their expertise, they can help you focus on the most relevant criteria, save time and thus avoid unnecessary costs. In addition, engaging an assessor or evaluator to carry out the criteria checks is also required for certification.

How much does it cost?

Allow for a budget of at least several thousand euros. Depending on the complexity of the project and the chosen certification class, the cost can run into tens of thousands of euros. However, do not forget that investing in sustainability can be recouped through improvements in HR (attracting staff), finance (securing better financing), operations (reducing operational costs) and sales/marketing (better sales, lettings, communication and positioning). This is always linked to the wishes of the stakeholders.

Tip

If a certification becomes too burdensome or too expensive, you can always downgrade the certification level.

Whilst BREEAM and LEED have a broader sustainability scope, the WELL certification specifically assesses how your building contributes to the well-being, health and comfort of its users. It requires an investment, but it does make your business competitive and future-proof.