The US Green Building Council and the International WELL Building Institute have formed a partnership to simplify certifying buildings for both health and sustainability. The USBGC’s LEED certification rates a building’s sustainability credentials, while WELL ratings consider a building’s impact on the wellbeing of people who use it. Both LEED and WELL building certifications have requirements for lighting.

Beginning in early 2023, the USGBC and IWBI will work together to streamline the process for achieving dual WELL and LEED certifications. The process will involve a third-party review overseen by Green Business Certification Inc.

Over the last few years, the Covid pandemic has pushed wellbeing up the agenda for both landlords and tenants at the same time as sustainability dominates global concerns. That has upped pressure on real estate to prove that buildings are both healthy and sustainable.

The two organizations have worked together before. In 2017, for example, the pair teamed up on a database called Origin, which helps companies find certified sustainable building materials. The partnership will also explore future opportunities to accelerate the adoption of LEED and WELL, as well as the development of new tools and resources to support a growing green workforce. More information on this new partnership is available here.

David Shiller

David Shiller is the Publisher of LightNOW, and President of Lighting Solution Development, 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 co-chaired 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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