Earn WELL Building Standard 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 WELL 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 WELL Certification?
The WELL Building Standard® is a performance-based system for measuring, certifying, and monitoring features of the built environment that impact human health and wellbeing, through air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind. WELL applies the science of physical and social environments to benefit people’s health, well-being and performance.
The WELL Building Standard® is third-party certified by the Green Business Certification Incorporation (GBCI), which administers the LEED certification program.
How It Works
The WELL Building Standard® is made-up of 110 features (performance metrics, design strategies, and policies) which are grouped within 10 concepts: Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Movement, Thermal Comfort, Sound, Materials, Mind and Community.
WELL Certification is achieved when projects demonstrate all preconditions. It is based on performance and requires a passing score in each of the aforementioned seven categories of the WELL Building Standard®. WELL Certification is awarded at one of four levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.
How Does a Pollinator Program Fit Into WELL 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 WELL Points Does a Pollinator Program Afford Your Property?
N12 Food Production, Part 1: Provide Gardening Space |
2 points |
|---|---|
X10 Pest Management and Pesticide Use, Part 1: Manage Pests |
1 point |
M02 Nature and Place, Part 2: Provide Connection to Place |
1 point |
M09 Enhanced Access to Nature, Part 2: Outdoor Nature Access |
1 point |
How a Pollinator Program Qualifies for Each WELL Point
N12 Food Production, Part 1: Provide Gardening Space
Utilize the pollination prowess of your bees to grow fruits and vegetables on your property for your community to enjoy.
X10 Pest Management and Pesticide Use, Part 1: Manage Pests
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.
M02 Nature and Place, Part 2: Provide Connection to Place
Celebrate the beauty of your property’s ecosystem by planting native flowers, trees, shrubs, and other greenery, promoting appreciation for the local biodiversity of your environment. Paired with beehives, this 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.
M09 Enhanced Access to Nature, Part 2: Outdoor Nature Access
Utilize your beehives as an outdoor attraction for your community to engage with. Take advantage of Best Bees’ outdoor signage, informational posters, and promotional collateral to encourage your community to access outdoor nature.
What Next?
Interested in bringing pollinators to your property to help you attain a WELL Building Standard 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.