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Evaluation of WELL Certificate in terms of Energy Efficiency and Sustainability in Educational Buildings

Year 2025, Issue: Special Issue, 54 - 65, 31.12.2025
https://doi.org/10.61150/ijonfest.2025030306

Abstract

Since the 20th century, increasing energy consumption has led to an increased demand for environmentally friendly and energy-efficient buildings. Thanks to the sustainable design of buildings with high energy consumption rates around the world, it is possible to minimize the effects of increasing carbon emissions and fossil fuel use, as well as reducing negative impacts such as climate change and depletion of natural resources. Developed in line with these objectives, BREEAM, LEED and WELL certification systems have enabled the evaluation of energy efficiency and sustainability performance of buildings. The WELL certification, which is relatively new compared to other certifications, stands out as a comprehensive evaluation system focusing on human health and well-being. This study analyzes the application of the WELL certification system in educational buildings in terms of design criteria, energy efficiency and sustainability. Within the scope of the research, indoor air quality, lighting, acoustic performance and energy efficiency parameters will be examined in detail. The results of the study will reveal the effects of the implementation of WELL certification in educational buildings on building-related energy efficiency and sustainability.

References

  • Kent, M.G., Parkinson, T. & Schiavon, S. Indoor environmental quality in WELL-certified and LEED-certified buildings. Sci Rep 14, 15120 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-65768-w
  • Licina, D., & Langer, S. (2021). Indoor air quality investigation before and after relocation to WELL-certified office buildings. Building and Environment, 204, 108182.
  • Lourenço, P. I. M. (2015). User Oriented Strategies Towards School Buildings’sustainability and Energy Efficiency (Doctoral Dissertation, Instituto Superior Técnico).
  • International WELL Building Institute. (2018, October 4). WELL v2 and educational spaces: Promoting healthy schools. IWBI. https://resources.wellcertified.com/articles/well-v2-and-educational-spaces-promoting-healthy-schools/
  • [Condezo-Solano, M. J., Erazo-Rondinel, A., Barrozo-Bojorquez, L. M., Rivera-Nalvarte, C. C., & Giménez, Z. (225). Global Analysis of WELL Certification: Influence, Types of Spaces and Level Achieved. Buildings, 15(8), 1321.
  • Intertek. (n.d.). WELL certification: Creating healthier buildings through performance and design. https://www.intertek.com/building/well-certification/ [7] Li, Y., Kubicki, S., Guerriero, A., & Rezgui, Y. (2019). Review of building energy performance certification schemes towards future improvement. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 113, 109244.
  • Potrč Obrecht, T., Kunič, R., Jordan, S., & Dovjak, M. (2019). Comparison of health and well-being aspects in building certification schemes. Sustainability, 11(9), 2616.
  • Özorhon, B., 2019. "Innovations in Health-Oriented Building Design." Journal of Sustainable Architecture, 27(3), 145–157.
  • Haverinen-Shaughnessy, U., & Shaughnessy, R., 2015. "Effects of Classroom Air Quality on Academic Performance." Building and Environment, 93, 52–57.
  • Wilkinson, S., et al., 2020. "Sustainable Materials in Building Design: A WELL Certification Perspective." Green Building Journal.
  • Figueiro, M., & Rea, M., 2016. "Lighting for Circadian Health in the Workplace." Journal of Environmental Health Research.
  • Kellert, S., & Calabrese, E. (2015). The practice of biophilic design. London: Terrapin Bright LLC, 3(21), 2021-09.
  • ASHRAE, 2020. Standards for Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality.
  • Marzban, S., Candido, C., Avazpour, B., Mackey, M., Zhang, F., Engelen, L., & Tjondronegoro, D. (2023). The potential of high-performance workplaces for boosting worker productivity, health, and creativity: A comparison between WELL and non-WELL certified environments. Building and Environment, 243, 110708.
  • Harputlugil, G.U., Harputlugil, T., & Wilde, P. De. (2009). Thermal Design of Turkish Schools: Prospects for an Improved Pre-design Process. Architectural Engineering and Design Management, 5(3). 153-164.
  • Gimenez, C., Sierra, V., & Rodon, J. (2012). Sustainable operations: Their impact on the triple bottom line. International Journal of Production Economics, 140(1), 149–159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2012.01.035
  • Cancı Matur, U., & Köse, A. (2024). Enerji ve Sürdürülebilirlik. In A. Kesik (Ed.), Sürdürülebilirlik: Disiplinler Arası Yaklaşımlar ve Çözümler (pp. 86–111). İstanbul Gedik Üniversitesi Yayınları. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.61150/gedikyay.240405
  • Maxineasa, S.G., Isopescu, D.N., Vladoiu, C.L. (2021). Concepts of Energy-Efficient Buildings. In: Moga, L., Șoimoșan, T.M. (eds) Environmental and Human Impact of Buildings. Springer Tracts in Civil Engineering . Springer, Cham.
  • Mıhlayanlar, E., & Meral, S. (2023). Mevcut Binalarda Enerji Verimli Yenileme ve EKB Uygulaması. Kirklareli University Journal of Engineering and Science, 9(2), 478-497. https://doi.org/10.34186/klujes.1379762
  • Al-Rubaii, S., Köse, A., Kazar, G., & Güllü, A. (2022). The efficiency of photovoltaic panels to meet energy demand of a school building in the Mesopotamia region. Journal of Construction Engineering, Management & Innovation (Online).
  • Kasim, B., Yildirim, G., Köse, A., Canci Matur, U., & Güllü, A. (2022). The energy efficiency of a dormitory building with solar panels: a numerical investigation by using Building Information Modelling. Sustainable Energy Technologies 2022 Conference Proceedings – Volume 2, 296-303
  • Ojo Arowoshegbe, A., Uniamikogbo, E., & Oghogho Gina, O. (2018). Sustainability And Triple Bottom Line: An Overview of Two Interrelated Concepts. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322367106
  • Acosta, I., Varela, C., Molina, J. F., Navarro, J., & Sendra, J. J. (2018). Energy efficiency and lighting design in courtyards and atriums: A predictive method for daylight factors. Applied Energy, 211, 1216–1228. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.11.104
  • Ibrahim, H., Elsayed, M. S., Moustafa, W. S., & Abdou, H. M. (2023). Functional analysis as a method on sustainable building design: A case study in educational buildings implementing the triple bottom line. Alexandria Engineering Journal, 62, 63-73.
  • International WELL Building Institute, 2015. The WELL Building Standard.
  • van Baarsen, X. (2024, October 4). WELL vs. LEED vs. BREEAM: Key Differences and Focus Areas. Rhino Energy Blog rhino.energy
  • Walsh, N. P. (2024, August 14). LEED? BREEAM? WELL? Six Major Green Building Labels Explained. Archinect
  • Tsirovasilis, E., Katafygiotou, M., & Psathiti, C. (2025). Benchmarking Building Certification Systems: A Comparative Assessment of LEED, BREEAM, and WELL in Advancing Energy-Efficient and Sustainable Built Environments. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202507.0444.v1
  • Feijão, D., Reis, C., & Marques, M. C. (2024). Comparative analysis of sustainable building certification processes. Journal of Building Engineering, 96, 110401.
  • Perkins Eastman DC. (2024, April 26). John Lewis Elementary School achieves double platinum: LEED and WELL certification. Perkins Eastman. https://www.perkinseastman.com/2024/04/26/john-lewis-elementary-school-achieves-double-platinum-leed-and-well-certification/
  • Kosowski, T. (2023, July 11). Transforming a campus with WELL Certification: A case study. National Business Officers Association. https://www.nboa.org/net-assets/article/transforming-a-campus-with-well-certification--a-case-study
  • International WELL Building Institute. (2020, April 6). K‑12 school district enrolls in IWBI’s WELL Portfolio Program. International WELL Building Institute. https://resources.wellcertified.com/press-releases/k-12-school-district-enrolls-in-iwbi-well-portfolio-program/

WELL Sertifikasının Eğitim Binalarında Enerji Verimliliği ve Sürdürülebilirlik Açısından Değerlendirilmesi

Year 2025, Issue: Special Issue, 54 - 65, 31.12.2025
https://doi.org/10.61150/ijonfest.2025030306

Abstract

20. yüzyıldan bu yana artan enerji tüketimi, çevre dostu ve enerji verimli binalara olan talebin artmasına neden olmuştur. Dünya genelinde yüksek enerji tüketim oranlarına sahip binaların sürdürülebilir tasarımı sayesinde, artan karbon salınımı ve fosil yakıt kullanımının etkilerinin en aza indirilmesinin yanı sıra iklim değişikliği ve doğal kaynakların tükenmesi gibi olumsuz etkilerin de azaltılması mümkün olmaktadır. Bu hedefler doğrultusunda geliştirilen BREEAM, LEED ve WELL sertifika sistemleri, binaların enerji verimliliği ve sürdürülebilirlik performanslarının değerlendirilmesine olanak sağlamıştır. Diğer sertifikalara kıyasla nispeten yeni olan WELL sertifikası, insan sağlığı ve refahına odaklanan kapsamlı bir değerlendirme sistemi olarak öne çıkmaktadır. Bu çalışma, WELL sertifikasyon sisteminin eğitim binalarındaki uygulamasını tasarım kriterleri, enerji verimliliği ve sürdürülebilirlik açısından analiz etmektedir. Araştırma kapsamında iç hava kalitesi, aydınlatma, akustik performans ve enerji verimliliği parametreleri detaylı olarak incelenecektir. Çalışmanın sonuçları, WELL sertifikasyonunun eğitim binalarında uygulanmasının bina ile ilgili enerji verimliliği ve sürdürülebilirlik üzerindeki etkilerini ortaya koyacaktır.

References

  • Kent, M.G., Parkinson, T. & Schiavon, S. Indoor environmental quality in WELL-certified and LEED-certified buildings. Sci Rep 14, 15120 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-65768-w
  • Licina, D., & Langer, S. (2021). Indoor air quality investigation before and after relocation to WELL-certified office buildings. Building and Environment, 204, 108182.
  • Lourenço, P. I. M. (2015). User Oriented Strategies Towards School Buildings’sustainability and Energy Efficiency (Doctoral Dissertation, Instituto Superior Técnico).
  • International WELL Building Institute. (2018, October 4). WELL v2 and educational spaces: Promoting healthy schools. IWBI. https://resources.wellcertified.com/articles/well-v2-and-educational-spaces-promoting-healthy-schools/
  • [Condezo-Solano, M. J., Erazo-Rondinel, A., Barrozo-Bojorquez, L. M., Rivera-Nalvarte, C. C., & Giménez, Z. (225). Global Analysis of WELL Certification: Influence, Types of Spaces and Level Achieved. Buildings, 15(8), 1321.
  • Intertek. (n.d.). WELL certification: Creating healthier buildings through performance and design. https://www.intertek.com/building/well-certification/ [7] Li, Y., Kubicki, S., Guerriero, A., & Rezgui, Y. (2019). Review of building energy performance certification schemes towards future improvement. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 113, 109244.
  • Potrč Obrecht, T., Kunič, R., Jordan, S., & Dovjak, M. (2019). Comparison of health and well-being aspects in building certification schemes. Sustainability, 11(9), 2616.
  • Özorhon, B., 2019. "Innovations in Health-Oriented Building Design." Journal of Sustainable Architecture, 27(3), 145–157.
  • Haverinen-Shaughnessy, U., & Shaughnessy, R., 2015. "Effects of Classroom Air Quality on Academic Performance." Building and Environment, 93, 52–57.
  • Wilkinson, S., et al., 2020. "Sustainable Materials in Building Design: A WELL Certification Perspective." Green Building Journal.
  • Figueiro, M., & Rea, M., 2016. "Lighting for Circadian Health in the Workplace." Journal of Environmental Health Research.
  • Kellert, S., & Calabrese, E. (2015). The practice of biophilic design. London: Terrapin Bright LLC, 3(21), 2021-09.
  • ASHRAE, 2020. Standards for Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality.
  • Marzban, S., Candido, C., Avazpour, B., Mackey, M., Zhang, F., Engelen, L., & Tjondronegoro, D. (2023). The potential of high-performance workplaces for boosting worker productivity, health, and creativity: A comparison between WELL and non-WELL certified environments. Building and Environment, 243, 110708.
  • Harputlugil, G.U., Harputlugil, T., & Wilde, P. De. (2009). Thermal Design of Turkish Schools: Prospects for an Improved Pre-design Process. Architectural Engineering and Design Management, 5(3). 153-164.
  • Gimenez, C., Sierra, V., & Rodon, J. (2012). Sustainable operations: Their impact on the triple bottom line. International Journal of Production Economics, 140(1), 149–159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2012.01.035
  • Cancı Matur, U., & Köse, A. (2024). Enerji ve Sürdürülebilirlik. In A. Kesik (Ed.), Sürdürülebilirlik: Disiplinler Arası Yaklaşımlar ve Çözümler (pp. 86–111). İstanbul Gedik Üniversitesi Yayınları. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.61150/gedikyay.240405
  • Maxineasa, S.G., Isopescu, D.N., Vladoiu, C.L. (2021). Concepts of Energy-Efficient Buildings. In: Moga, L., Șoimoșan, T.M. (eds) Environmental and Human Impact of Buildings. Springer Tracts in Civil Engineering . Springer, Cham.
  • Mıhlayanlar, E., & Meral, S. (2023). Mevcut Binalarda Enerji Verimli Yenileme ve EKB Uygulaması. Kirklareli University Journal of Engineering and Science, 9(2), 478-497. https://doi.org/10.34186/klujes.1379762
  • Al-Rubaii, S., Köse, A., Kazar, G., & Güllü, A. (2022). The efficiency of photovoltaic panels to meet energy demand of a school building in the Mesopotamia region. Journal of Construction Engineering, Management & Innovation (Online).
  • Kasim, B., Yildirim, G., Köse, A., Canci Matur, U., & Güllü, A. (2022). The energy efficiency of a dormitory building with solar panels: a numerical investigation by using Building Information Modelling. Sustainable Energy Technologies 2022 Conference Proceedings – Volume 2, 296-303
  • Ojo Arowoshegbe, A., Uniamikogbo, E., & Oghogho Gina, O. (2018). Sustainability And Triple Bottom Line: An Overview of Two Interrelated Concepts. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322367106
  • Acosta, I., Varela, C., Molina, J. F., Navarro, J., & Sendra, J. J. (2018). Energy efficiency and lighting design in courtyards and atriums: A predictive method for daylight factors. Applied Energy, 211, 1216–1228. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.11.104
  • Ibrahim, H., Elsayed, M. S., Moustafa, W. S., & Abdou, H. M. (2023). Functional analysis as a method on sustainable building design: A case study in educational buildings implementing the triple bottom line. Alexandria Engineering Journal, 62, 63-73.
  • International WELL Building Institute, 2015. The WELL Building Standard.
  • van Baarsen, X. (2024, October 4). WELL vs. LEED vs. BREEAM: Key Differences and Focus Areas. Rhino Energy Blog rhino.energy
  • Walsh, N. P. (2024, August 14). LEED? BREEAM? WELL? Six Major Green Building Labels Explained. Archinect
  • Tsirovasilis, E., Katafygiotou, M., & Psathiti, C. (2025). Benchmarking Building Certification Systems: A Comparative Assessment of LEED, BREEAM, and WELL in Advancing Energy-Efficient and Sustainable Built Environments. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202507.0444.v1
  • Feijão, D., Reis, C., & Marques, M. C. (2024). Comparative analysis of sustainable building certification processes. Journal of Building Engineering, 96, 110401.
  • Perkins Eastman DC. (2024, April 26). John Lewis Elementary School achieves double platinum: LEED and WELL certification. Perkins Eastman. https://www.perkinseastman.com/2024/04/26/john-lewis-elementary-school-achieves-double-platinum-leed-and-well-certification/
  • Kosowski, T. (2023, July 11). Transforming a campus with WELL Certification: A case study. National Business Officers Association. https://www.nboa.org/net-assets/article/transforming-a-campus-with-well-certification--a-case-study
  • International WELL Building Institute. (2020, April 6). K‑12 school district enrolls in IWBI’s WELL Portfolio Program. International WELL Building Institute. https://resources.wellcertified.com/press-releases/k-12-school-district-enrolls-in-iwbi-well-portfolio-program/
There are 32 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Sustainable Architecture, Energy Systems Engineering (Other)
Journal Section Research Article
Authors

Zeynep Demir

Ali Köse 0000-0002-0426-5159

Submission Date July 7, 2025
Acceptance Date July 18, 2025
Publication Date December 31, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Issue: Special Issue

Cite

IEEE Z. Demir and A. Köse, “Evaluation of WELL Certificate in terms of Energy Efficiency and Sustainability in Educational Buildings”, IJONFEST, no. Special Issue, pp. 54–65, December2025, doi: 10.61150/ijonfest.2025030306.