Fitwel Certification with GreenCheck
Are you looking for ways to retain your existing tenants and/or attract new ones to your property? Building health is often overlooked in the real estate industry as way to entice and retain new tenants, but it can be an extremely powerful instrument when used effectively. You might wonder what exactly is the business case for health in buildings? When a property has made efforts to enhance the wellbeing of its occupants, this has proven to lead to higher productivity, lower absenteeism rates, and increased talent attraction. In addition, 78% of millennials see workplace quality as important when choosing an employer and 69% will trade other benefits for better workplaces.
Now that the value of building health is clear, how do you get started? One way is to pursue your property’s Fitwel certification. This will help you showcase your efforts towards occupant health and in turn improve your property’s appeal to tenants. Fitwel is a building rating system for commercial interiors, residential, and both multi-tenant and single-tenant existing buildings that provides guidelines on how to design and operate healthier buildings. Many organizations are investing in wellbeing and holistic health programmes as it leads to a more productive workforce and increased employee engagement.
No Prerequisites or Requirements
One of the biggest advantages of Fitwel is that there are no prerequisites or requirements that would prevent a building from being eligible for certification. There are a minimum number of optional points that need to be earned (90 out of 144 possible), but no Fitwel criteria that “has to” be pursued.Fitwel certifications are given either 1, 2, or 3 stars based on the number of points they earn.
Recent changes in Fitwel V1 to V2.1
Fitwel v2.1, launched June 3rd, 2019, advances the Fitwel vision where every building and community is optimized for health. The Fitwel Standard now features a new construction pathway, newly developed Retail and Community Scorecards, as well as strengthened Workplace and Multifamily Residential Scorecards. This change positions Fitwel to compete more directly with the WELL Building Standard, which also covers both new construction and building operation phases.
Fitwel vs. WELL
Both Fitwel and the WELL Building Standard have their pros and cons. Fitwel is less expensive, easier to use, and as mentioned has no prerequisites or requirements that you must pursue. Because it is less stringent than WELL however, you may not make as many improvements to your building as you would be required to with the WELL Building Standard. We believe both programs are great, and choosing the right program depends on your situation. We would love to assist you in your decision-making process!
Click here for more information on Fitwel v2.1, or reach out to us at GreenCheck! With Fitwel Ambassadors on staff, we would love to help guide you through the entire certification process. Use the form on the right side of this page to contact us, or call 416-640-2444 for more information.
