Assessing the Conformity of Biophilic Design to Green Building Rating Systems for Human Well-being

Abstract

This paper investigates the relationship between certified green buildings and biophilic design principles, aiming to assess how biophilic design aligns with Green Building Rating Tools (GBRTs). To achieve this, three widely used GBRTs (LEED, BREEAM, and LBC) are compared to the WELL Building Standard, which has best adopted biophilic design patterns. The research team conducted a thorough review of available crosswalks and alignment documents, using WELL as a benchmark against the other three GBRTs. They identified overlapping equivalency levels of the seven concepts of WELL and their related 100 features, assigning weighted scores accordingly. The findings reveal both opportunities and challenges in the alignment between WELL and other GBRTs. While partial equivalency is possible, achieving full compliance is unlikely due to the extensive scientific basis of WELL features requiring further testing and analysis. LEED stands out with the largest share of equivalent features, covering 59% of the total, indicating full compliance, while BREEAM scored 36% for equivalent features. However, LBC performed differently, with only 8% of features deemed equivalent due to its reliance on actual performance rather than prescriptive measures observed in LEED and BREEAM. This article offers valuable insights for architects, designers, and policymakers in fostering integrated and sustainable built environments. It holds significant relevance due to its potential to uncover unexplored territory, promising to reshape discourse on green building certifications and their impact on human well-being and environmental sustainability.