The THE IMPACT OF THE WELL CERTIFICATION ON THE WELL-BEING, HEALTH AND PRODUCTIVITY OF USERS OF OFFICE ENVIRONMENTS:

A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

WELL is the building certification focused on the well-being and health of its occupants that has seen the greatest growth in recent years. This study aims to verify, based on previous studies, whether WELL certification guarantees significant improvements in the health, well-being, and productivity of office building occupants. A systematic literature review of databases was conducted from 2014 to 2024, analyzing evidence from studies that observed the same group of employees after moving from a non-WELL-certified office building to a certified one, based on physical measurements and Post-Occupancy Assessment. A statistically significant increase in occupant satisfaction with indoor air quality (IAQ) and thermal comfort was observed, although IAQ worsened in one of the WELL buildings and temperatures were cited as a major factor in dissatisfaction. A significant improvement in mental health was found in one of the studies analyzed. Regarding physical health and productivity, insignificant improvements were observed between pre- and post-occupancy, concluding that further studies are still needed in this area to reach a consensus on the benefits provided by WELL certification.