Improving Buildings through WELL & Fitwel Certifications
In the realm of sustainable building management, the integration of urban agriculture presents a sophisticated strategy for achieving and surpassing the standards set by WELL and Fitwel certifications. These certifications serve as benchmarks for buildings that not only prioritize occupant health and wellness but also contribute to environmental sustainability. Urban agriculture plays a pivotal role in aligning building operations with these health-oriented certification criteria.
Elevating Indoor Environmental Quality
The core objective of WELL and Fitwel certifications is the advancement of indoor environmental quality, a criterion that urban agriculture directly influences. This is important, seeing as individuals spend a majority of their time indoors. Urban farms inside buildings are like living air purifiers. They pump out oxygen and grab pollutants out of the air, making it cleaner and fresher for everyone inside. This mechanism aligns with the certifications’ emphasis on air quality standards, providing a natural solution to improve occupant health and increase productivity.
Advancing Biophilic Design Principles
Biophilic design, which underpins both WELL and Fitwel certifications, seeks to connect building occupants with natural elements, thereby enhancing psychological well-being and cognitive function. Urban agriculture offers a tangible implementation of biophilic design, integrating living ecosystems into built environments. This not only enriches the aesthetic and sensory experience of occupants but also leverages the psychological benefits associated with nature exposure, such as stress reduction and improved mental health. The incorporation of urban agriculture into building design is a strategic measure to fulfill biophilic design criteria within certification frameworks.
Eating Fresh, Staying Healthy
Urban farms are not just for show; they grow real food! Urban agricultural initiatives significantly contribute to the nutritional well-being of building occupants by providing access to fresh, locally sourced produce. This access is critical in promoting healthier dietary habits, a key aspect of WELL and Fitwel certifications which prioritize nutritional standards and food accessibility. By incorporating food production systems into building designs, stakeholders can directly influence the dietary choices of occupants, thereby enhancing their health outcomes and aligning with the certifications’ nutritional guidelines.
Fostering Community Engagement and Cohesion
Urban farming grows stronger, more engaged, communities. This aspect is instrumental in achieving WELL and Fitwel certifications, which value social well-being and community connectivity. Through participatory gardening, educational programs, and social events centered around urban farms, buildings can become hubs of community activity and engagement, enriching the social fabric and meeting certification criteria for community development.
Onsite Validation
The WELL program mandates an in-person review of a building's health-related features by a certified WELL Assessor. This process involves an on-site visit where the assessor checks the documents submitted with the application and conducts specific tests on certain aspects, such as air quality, to ensure compliance. This step of physical verification offers building owners further confirmation that their properties meet health and wellness standards. Unlike WELL, the Fitwel program does not include an on-site verification phase.
Why It Matters
The strategic incorporation of urban agriculture into building management practices offers a multifaceted approach to meeting and exceeding WELL and Fitwel certification standards. It enhances the physical and psychological health of occupants while promoting environmental sustainability and social cohesion. Embracing urban agriculture represents a forward-thinking approach to designing and operating buildings that are compliant with current health and sustainability standards, and positioned to meet the future demands of urban living. In doing so, buildings become ecosystems that nurture health, well-being, and community.
Through our work in urban farming, we're helping buildings transform into spaces that are healthier for the people inside while being active participants in making our cities greener. It's about reconnecting people with nature, right in the heart of our urban landscapes. Join us in embracing urban farming and take a step towards a greener, healthier future.
