MEDIA CONTACT | Megan Baker, Assoc. VP, Engagement, megan@thegbi.org, (971) 256-7174
GBI’s new certification celebrates buildings that promote exceptional health and wellness for occupants and allows building owners to demonstrate these achievements to stakeholders.
Portland, Ore. – Green Building Initiative’s (GBI’s) Green Globes certification is a comprehensive three-in-one system that evaluates the environmental sustainability, health and wellness, and resilience of buildings or portfolios. New in 2022, Green Globes for Existing Buildings (EB) 2021 addresses social responsibility and governance with a dual certification offering for health and wellness that highlights the importance of occupants’ well-being.
“This new GBI certification links the comprehensive Green Globes sustainability certification with minimum requirements to allow building owners to promote to occupants and stakeholders that particular health and wellness O&M practices are in place and addressed,” said Vicki Worden, GBI President & CEO, “and comes at a time when the commercial real estate community and investors are seeking additional validation of achievements that meet the social requirements of ESG initiatives.”
Dual Certification in Green Globes and Health & Wellness (H&W) amplifies the benefits of Green Globes certification by rewarding a project’s prioritization of H&W achievements. The two certifications support and validate strong performance in sustainability and wellness criteria like establishing improved indoor air quality (IAQ), providing thermal comfort and personal controls, eliminating exposures to toxins and contaminants, maximizing daylight and natural views, implementing site planning that encourages healthy activity and addressing safety and security measures. To learn more click here.
Research has shown that healthy environments can reduce overall risk and business liability and increase user satisfaction, supporting larger organizational quality goals. For owners of commercial real estate portfolios, increased user satisfaction also has the potential to increase leasing rates and length of leases.
Referencing federal guidance and industry standards, GBI has identified eleven categories of criteria that focus on health and wellness. Green Globes EB 2021 offers 411 points devoted to H&W criteria, across the identified categories, out of a maximum of 1000 points total; a minimum of 226 points (55%) are required to meet the minimum threshold for the H&W Certification.
Dual certification in GBI’s Green Globes and Health & Wellness requires the following two components:
- Part A: Minimum requirements that set the framework for an existing building that supports the health and wellness of occupants.
- Part B: Meet a minimum of 55% of identified H&W points classified under eleven H&W categories that further enhance the building’s health.
Future innovative programs to be offered by GBI include Health & Wellness for New Construction buildings, plus validations for achievements in Net Zero as well as education on ESG for real estate professionals. For more information or to use Green Globes on your building as a free trial, visit www.thegbi.org or contact GBI at info@thegbi.org.
About GBI
GBI is an international nonprofit organization and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Accredited Standards Developer dedicated to reducing climate impacts by improving the built environment. Founded in 2004, the organization is the global provider of the Green Globes® and federal Guiding Principles Compliance building certification and assessment programs. GBI also issues professional credentials, including the Green Globes Professional (GGP), Green Globes Emerging Professional (GGEP), and Guiding Principles Compliance Professional (GPCP). To learn more about opportunities to become involved with GBI, contact info@thegbi.org or visit the GBI website at www.thegbi.org.
[source: https://thegbi.org/about-gbi/press-room/article/gbi-launches-dual-certification]
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.