What is the primary objective of **WELL**?

**The primary objective of WELL is to design, operate, and measure buildings and spaces to advance human health and well-being through evidence-based performance outcomes.** Administered by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), WELL v2 organizes requirements across **10 core concepts**—**Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Movement, Thermal Comfort, Sound, Materials, Mind, and Community**—plus **Innovation**. It mandates **24 Preconditions** (pass/fail minimums) and offers **102 Optimizations** (points for enhancements), verified via on-site testing of air quality (e.g., CO₂ ≤900 ppm), water, lighting, acoustics, and thermal conditions.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **WELL**?

**WELL is a voluntary certification standard with no legal mandates, but it is professionally pursued by building owners, developers, operators, and tenants seeking verified health performance.** Applicable to new and existing buildings via pathways like **WELL Certification** (owner-controlled), **WELL Core** (base buildings with ≥75% leased space), and **WELL for Residential**. Corporate real estate executives, facilities managers, and ESG leaders in offices, hospitality, education, and healthcare adopt it for occupant productivity, talent retention, and ESG reporting.

Does **WELL** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**Yes, WELL mandates third-party documentation review and on-site performance verification (PV) by authorized WELL Performance Testing Agents.** Projects undergo preliminary and final documentation reviews via IWBI's platform, followed by PV testing at ≥50% occupancy for air (e.g., CO₂, PM2.5), water, light, thermal comfort, and sound. Certification levels—**Bronze (40 points), Silver (50, min 1/concept), Gold (60, min 2/concept), Platinum (80, min 3/concept)**—require all **24 Preconditions** met.

How often should an assessment for **WELL** be performed?

**WELL requires recertification every three years, with annual reporting for select features like air quality monitoring.** Ongoing performance uses continuous monitoring pathways (e.g., calibrated sensors for CO₂ ≤900 ppm, recalibrated annually). Pre-testing is recommended pre-PV for high-risk areas (e.g., near highways), and post-occupancy surveys/audits ensure sustained compliance across concepts.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **WELL**?

**Non-compliance results in certification denial, additional curative review fees, and delayed timelines, with no direct legal penalties as WELL is voluntary.** Failed PV (e.g., unmet pollutant thresholds) requires remediation or appeals. Operationally, it risks reputational damage, lost ESG value, tenant churn, and unrealized benefits like productivity gains. Recertification gaps void status after three years.

Can **WELL** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**Yes, IWBI provides official crosswalks mapping WELL features to frameworks like LEED.** Alignments reduce duplication: e.g., WELL Air filtration overlaps LEED IAQ credits; Thermal Comfort with energy modeling. Skybridge tools map v1 to v2/addenda, enabling dual certification efficiency for portfolios.

What is the first step to begin implementing **WELL**?

**The first step is project enrollment/registration on IWBI's digital platform and scorecard development.** Identify pathways (e.g., WELL Certification), baseline against **24 Preconditions**, prioritize Optimizations for target tiers (e.g., 40 points for Bronze), and conduct gap analysis/pre-testing for air/water risks.

What is the primary objective of **ISO 14064**?

**ISO 14064 provides requirements and guidance for quantifying, reporting, and verifying greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals.** The standard family—**ISO 14064-1:2018** for organizational inventories, **ISO 14064-2:2019** for project-level reductions/removals, and **ISO 14064-3:2019** for validation/verification—ensures inventories adhere to five principles: **relevance**, **completeness**, **consistency**, **transparency**, and **accuracy**. It enables credible GHG statements for regulatory reporting, investor disclosure, and carbon markets by defining boundaries, data quality, uncertainty assessment, and assurance processes.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **ISO 14064**?

**No organization is legally mandated to comply with ISO 14064, as it is a voluntary international standard.** Professionally, it applies to organizations (corporates, governments, NGOs), project developers (e.g., renewable energy, CCS), and verification bodies needing credible GHG inventories. It is required in practice for emissions trading, green finance, supply-chain disclosures, and programs demanding verifiable data, such as those aligned with regulatory readiness (e.g., where stakeholders specify ISO 14064 methods).

Does **ISO 14064** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**ISO 14064 does not require external audit or third-party certification.** Parts 1 and 2 provide self-implemented requirements for quantification and reporting, with verification under **ISO 14064-3** optional but recommended for credibility. Assurance (limited or reasonable) by competent, impartial bodies (e.g., per **ISO 14065:2020**) elevates statements for markets, investors, and regulators, involving risk assessment, materiality, and evidence gathering.

How often should an assessment for **ISO 14064** be performed?

**ISO 14064 requires annual GHG inventory assessments aligned with the organization's reporting period.** Organizational inventories (**Part 1**) must cover a defined period (typically calendar or fiscal year), with consistency in methods and base-year adjustments for structural changes. Project monitoring (**Part 2**) follows defined plans, and verification (**Part 3**) occurs per engagement scope, often annually for ongoing credibility.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **ISO 14064**?

**Non-compliance with ISO 14064 carries no direct penalties, as it is voluntary.** Indirect consequences include rejected GHG claims in carbon markets, failed stakeholder disclosures, reputational damage from greenwashing accusations, and exclusion from green finance or procurement. Poor inventories risk material misstatements during external assurance, leading to modified opinions or invalidated reductions.

Can **ISO 14064** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**Yes, ISO 14064 aligns closely with the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard's principles and Scope 1-3 categories.** Its five principles mirror GHG Protocol requirements, enabling interoperable inventories. **Part 1** supports organizational reporting; **Part 2** complements project protocols; **Part 3** integrates with assurance standards. Boundary approaches (equity share, operational control) and disclosures facilitate mapping without independent mention of other frameworks.

What is the first step to begin implementing **ISO 14064**?

**The first step is defining organizational and operational boundaries per ISO 14064-1.** Select consolidation approach (**equity share** or **control**), identify emission sources/sinks across **Scopes 1-3**, and document relevance to ensure completeness. This governance decision sets the foundation for data collection, base-year selection, and auditability.

WELL vs ISO 14064

Standards Comparison

WELL

Voluntary

2014

Performance-based certification for building occupant health

ISO 14064

Voluntary

2018

International standard for GHG quantification, reporting, and verification.

Quick Verdict

WELL certifies buildings for occupant health via performance testing, while ISO 14064 standardizes GHG emissions accounting and verification. Companies adopt WELL for wellness differentiation and ESG appeal; ISO 14064 for credible climate reporting and regulatory compliance.

Building Health & Wellness

WELL

WELL v2 Building Standard

Cost

€€€€

Complexity

High

Implementation Time

12-18 months

Key Features

Mandatory on-site performance verification testing
10 core concepts for occupant health
Preconditions mandatory; optimizations earn points
Tiered certifications Bronze through Platinum
Continuous monitoring compliance pathways

Greenhouse Gas Accounting

ISO 14064

ISO 14064 Greenhouse gases series

Cost

€€€

Complexity

High

Implementation Time

6-12 months

Key Features

Three-part modular structure for inventories, projects, assurance
Five principles: relevance, completeness, consistency, transparency, accuracy
Organizational and operational boundary definitions
Scope 1-3 emissions classification and quantification
Risk-based validation and verification processes

Detailed Analysis

A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.

WELL Details

What It Is

The WELL Building Standard v2, administered by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), is a performance-based certification framework focused on advancing human health and well-being in buildings. It emphasizes evidence-based strategies across design, operations, and policies, distinguishing itself through mandatory on-site verification rather than documentation alone.

Key Components

**10 core conceptsAir, Water, Nourishment, Light, Movement, Thermal Comfort, Sound, Materials, Mind, Community (plus Innovation).
24 Preconditions (mandatory pass/fail) and 102 Optimizations (point-earning).
Tiered certifications: Bronze (40 points), Silver (50), Gold (60), Platinum (80) with concept minimums.
Built on public health research; requires performance testing and continuous monitoring options.

Why Organizations Use It

Drives occupant productivity, reduces absenteeism, enhances ESG reporting, and boosts asset value/rents. Complements LEED for holistic sustainability; builds stakeholder trust via verified health outcomes; voluntary but tenant-demanded for competitive edge.

Implementation Overview

Phased approach: gap analysis, scorecard development, documentation review, on-site testing, recertification every 3 years. Applies to new/existing buildings across sectors; cross-functional teams needed for design, operations, policies.

ISO 14064 Details

What It Is

ISO 14064 is an international standard family (Parts 1-3:2018-2019) providing specifications and guidance for quantifying, reporting, and verifying greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals. It is a modular framework focused on organizational inventories (Part 1), project-level reductions (Part 2), and validation/verification (Part 3), emphasizing principle-based approaches like relevance and transparency.

Key Components

**Three interdependent partsOrganizational GHG inventories, project accounting, and assurance processes.
**Five core principlesRelevance, completeness, consistency, transparency, accuracy.
Scopes 1-3 classification for emissions.
Voluntary third-party verification model under Part 3, aligned with ISO 14065.

Why Organizations Use It

Meets regulatory demands (e.g., CSRD, SB-253) and investor ESG needs.
Enhances credibility, reduces greenwashing risks, unlocks green finance.
Drives operational efficiencies and supply-chain decarbonization.

Implementation Overview

Phased approach: governance, boundary-setting, data collection, verification.
Suited for all sizes/industries; 6-12 months typical.
Involves training, software, and optional certification via accredited verifiers. (178 words)

Key Differences

Aspect	WELL	ISO 14064
Scope	Occupant health/well-being in buildings	GHG emissions quantification/reporting/verification
Industry	Real estate, offices, all building types globally	All sectors worldwide, any emitting organization
Nature	Voluntary performance-based certification	Voluntary international accounting standard
Testing	Mandatory on-site performance verification	Optional third-party validation/verification
Penalties	Loss of certification, no legal penalties	No direct penalties, credibility loss

Scope

WELL

Occupant health/well-being in buildings

ISO 14064

GHG emissions quantification/reporting/verification

Industry

WELL

Real estate, offices, all building types globally

ISO 14064

All sectors worldwide, any emitting organization

Nature

WELL

Voluntary performance-based certification

ISO 14064

Voluntary international accounting standard

Testing

WELL

Mandatory on-site performance verification

ISO 14064

Optional third-party validation/verification

Penalties

WELL

Loss of certification, no legal penalties

ISO 14064

No direct penalties, credibility loss

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about WELL and ISO 14064

WELL FAQ

ISO 14064 FAQ

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WELL

ISO 14064

Quick Verdict

WELL

Key Features

ISO 14064

Key Features

Detailed Analysis

WELL Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

ISO 14064 Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

Key Differences

Scope

Industry

Nature

Testing

Penalties

Frequently Asked Questions

WELL FAQ

What is the primary objective of WELL?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with WELL?

Does WELL require an external audit or third-party certification?

How often should an assessment for WELL be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with WELL?

Can WELL be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing WELL?

ISO 14064 FAQ

What is the primary objective of ISO 14064?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with ISO 14064?

Does ISO 14064 require an external audit or third-party certification?

How often should an assessment for ISO 14064 be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with ISO 14064?

Can ISO 14064 be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing ISO 14064?

You Might also be Interested in These Articles...

CIS Controls v8.1 for Cloud & Kubernetes: A Practical Implementation Playbook (AWS/Azure/GCP + IaC)

CIS Controls v8.1, Operationalized: Top 10 Reasons Compliance Monitoring Software Accelerates Real-World Implementation

Top 10 Reasons CMMC Level 3 Certification Unlocks Competitive Edge for Primes Handling Critical DoD Programs

Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM

Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages

FISMA vs EN 1090

NIS2 vs J-SOX

ISO 27017 vs Basel III