Health and wellness awareness

Health literacy, defined by the Institute of Medicine as “the degree to which individuals can obtain, process, and understand the basic health information and services they need to make appropriate health decisions” is essential for optimal health and well-being. Literacy requires awareness and an ability to decipher health literature and options for health services. Both accessibility and customizability of health-oriented literature are necessary to promote increased health awareness and well-being.

This feature promotes the availability of health and wellness literature, including detailed descriptions of WELL features and their benefits. A library of information provides an additional educational resource that encourages deeper understanding of health and wellness behaviors.

Part 1: WELL Building Standard® Guide

Explanatory guides allow occupants to familiarize themselves with and benefit from features that are incorporated into the project, as well as gain a broader understanding of health and wellness factors beyond the built environment. The following is provided:

a. A guide (available to all occupants) describing the WELL Building Standard features pursued by the project.

Part 2: Health and Wellness Library

A digital and/or physical library of resources is provided that focuses on mental and physical health and meets the following criteria:

a. Contains at least one book title or one magazine subscription for every 20 occupants (no more than 20 titles are required).

b. Is prominently displayed and readily available to all occupants.

Part 3: Health and Wellness Narrative

A written document provides a narrative on a health and wellness curriculum that incorporates all of the following:

a. The impact of the built environment and other environmental factors on occupant health, wellness and comfort.

b. The promotion of heathy habits as related to WELL Concepts of air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind.

c.¹³⁶ The EPA's IAQ Tools for Schools, by school administrators.

	Core & Shell	New & Existing Buildings	New & Existing Interiors
Part 1: WELL Building Standard® Guide	P	P	P
Part 2: Health and Wellness Library	P	P	P
Part 3: Health and Wellness Narrative	-	-	-

	Commercial Kitchen	Education	Multifamily Residential	Restaurant	Retail
Part 1: WELL Building Standard® Guide	-	P	P	P	P
Part 2: Health and Wellness Library	-	P	P	P	P
Part 3: Health and Wellness Narrative	-	P	-	-	-

Verification Methods Matrix

	Letters of Assurance	Annotated Documents	On-Site Checks
Part 1: WELL Building Standard® Guide			Visual Inspection
Part 2: Health and Wellness Library			Visual Inspection
Part 3: Health and Wellness Narrative	Architect	Policy Document

Show Standard Citations

**136**

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Approach - Providing a Framework for Success. http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/pdfs/framework.pdf. Updated March 12, 2015. Accessed March 25, 2015.
84.3.c	The U.S. EPA notes that the IAQ Tools for Schools Framework can provide guidance on the purpose of the IAQ Framework, which can translate into environmental health achievements in schools.

This is a legacy version of the WELL Building Standard. Please check the latest version here.

84. Health and wellness awareness