Earn FitWel Points by Protecting & Promoting Pollinator Health
By bringing beehives to your property and actively championing pollinator health, you can earn your property points towards a FitWel certification.
What is “Green Building”?
Green building is the practice of creating structures and using processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle. There are various programs that offer green building certifications to buildings that qualify.
What is a FitWel Certification?
Fitwel is a building rating parameter for commercial buildings and for both single-tenant and multi-tenant existing structures that offer best practices and guidelines in designing and operating healthier buildings. Generated by expert analysis of 5,600+ academic research studies, Fitwel is implementing a vision for a healthier future where all buildings and communities are enhanced to strengthen health and well-being.
FitWel Origins
Fitwel was originally created by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention and U.S. General Services Administration. The CDC remains the research and evaluation partner for Fitwel.
How Does a Pollinator Program Fit Into FitWel Certifications?
An encompassing Pollinator Program, such as the one offered by Best Bees, has an outstanding impact on its local environment and communities. Having a strong Pollinator Program is more than simply having beehives – it means taking action to protect and promote pollinators, and sharing the benefits of bees with your community.
Some examples of the above include:
What FitWel Points Does a Pollinator Program Afford Your Property?
Site Composition and Location: Open Space Preservation |
2.31 points |
|---|---|
Site Management: Integrated Pest Management |
2.97 points |
Outdoor Spaces: Outdoor Space Amenities |
1.98 points |
Outdoor Spaces: Restorative Garden |
1.32 points |
Outdoor Spaces: Fruit and Vegetable Garden |
2.97 points |
Outdoor Spaces: Street Trees |
1.98 points |
Environmental Policies and Procedures: Heat Island Mitigation |
2.64 points |
How a Pollinator Program Qualifies for Each FitWel Point
Site Composition and Location: Open Space Preservation
Pollinator-friendly landscaping means prioritizing your natural environment and recognizing the importance of a healthy ecosystem. By preserving open space, you contribute to improved air quality, increased access to nature, and increased physical activity, which supports enhanced feelings of well-being.
Site Management: Integrated Pest Management
Pesticides and fertilizers pose a threat to pollinator health. By minimizing or eliminating synthetic pesticide and fertilizer use and employing a pest management plan based on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles, not only are you supporting healthy bees, but you are also lowering your potential negative ecological and environmental impacts overall.
Outdoor Spaces: Outdoor Space Amenities
Supporting pollinators by planting gardens and incorporating native plants into your site’s landscaping leads to beautifying your site’s natural environment. By creating outdoor spaces that are good for bees, you also create spaces that are good for people, too.
Outdoor Spaces: Restorative Garden
Pairing a pollinator-friendly garden with beehives creates the opportunity for your community to enjoy a thriving natural environment. The auditory and visual aspects of bees promote an immersive experience, and the beneficial effects of exposure to nature on human well-being have been well documented.
Outdoor Spaces: Street Trees
Bees pollinate more than just flowers; trees are important sources of pollen and nectar, too. Trees also provide cover for foraging bees during rainy weather.
Environmental Policies and Procedures: Heat Island Mitigation
Underutilized spaces, such as rooftops, are great places to turn into a pollinator garden. Green roofs also help to counter the heat island effect, as they reduce the temperatures of the roof’s surface and remove heat from the surrounding air.
What Next?
Interested in bringing pollinators to your property to help you attain a FitWel certification? Click the button below to connect with a member of our team and learn more about creating your perfect pollinator program with Best Bees.