Home Publisher's Point of View Inn at Moonlight Beach Finds Value in IWBI’s Well Certification

Inn at Moonlight Beach Finds Value in IWBI’s Well Certification

1017
0
SHARE
Glenn Hasek

It is certainly not a ground swell, but it is further evidence of the increased interest in wellness throughout our industry: the announcement that the five-suite Inn at Moonlight Beach has become the first lodging establishment in the world to obtain Well Certification. It was awarded the certification by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) in collaboration with Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI).

For those of you not familiar with IWBI, it is a public benefit corporation whose mission is to improve human health and well-being in buildings and communities across the world through its WELL Building Standard. WELL Certification for buildings and WELL AP credentialing for individuals are third-party administered through IWBI’s collaboration with GBCI.

Created through seven years of rigorous research and development working with leading physicians, scientists, and industry professionals, the WELL Building Standard is a performance-based certification system that marries best practices in design and construction with evidence-based scientific research. The Inn at Moonlight Beach earned the distinction based on seven categories of building performance—Air, Water, Light, Nourishment, Fitness, Comfort and Mind—and achieved a Platinum level rating.

Emphasis on Healthy Spaces

According to IWBI, WELL is premised on a holistic view of health: human health as not only a state of being free of disease—which is indeed a fundamental component of health—but also of the enjoyment of productive lives from which we derive happiness and satisfaction. Healthy spaces protect us from that which can make us sick, promote practices that can keep us well, and facilitate opportunities for us to connect with one another and live our lives to the fullest.

Core components of the WELL program include: air, water, nourishment, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, materials, mind, community, and innovation. Within “air”, for example, there are 14 areas where one can earn points. One category is “Microbe and Mold Control.”

A building can earn Silver, Gold or Platinum certification. WELL Certification is valid for three years. In order to maintain a current certification, WELL Certified projects must undergo Performance Verification again and apply for recertification to verify that the building continues to perform in accordance with the requirements of the WELL Building Standard before the end of the three-year certification period.

Thousands Registered for Certification

There are currently 206 WELL certified projects and 3,313 WELL registered projects in 55 countries. There are now 4,843 WELL APs and 3,797 WELL exam registrants from 82 countries.

IWBI is led by Rick Fedrizzi, Chairman & CEO. Fedrizzi is founding chair of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and former CEO of both USGBC and of GBCI.

As are the criteria for LEED, the criteria for the WELL program are a worthwhile read for anyone looking to build or renovate a lodging establishment—whether one is pursuing certification or not. They are a guide for putting together a healthy, sustainable environment for guests and employees alike.

Says Shangwen Chiu Kennedy, owner of the Inn at Moonlight Beach, “I was inspired and grateful for the effort that was put into the creation of the WELL Building Standard and excited about having an opportunity to implement it in a built project. The concept of WELL aligns with the intention of our boutique hotel, which is to nourish life and encourage people to experience the joy of connecting with nature, one’s self, and the broader local community.”

Who is Your Sustainability Champion?

Green Lodging News is always looking to profile sustainability champions in our Personnel Profile section. If you would like to nominate someone for this section of Green Lodging News, contact me at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.

Looking for Guest Columnists

Every two weeks Green Lodging News posts a new guest column on its website. (Click here for examples.) The guest column also appears in the weekly e-newsletter. Green Lodging News is currently in need of industry experts to contribute occasional guest columns. Experts may include consultants, architects, designers, suppliers and those who own or operate green lodging establishments. Columns may be articles that take a stance on a particular subject or be strictly educational in nature. Columnists benefit by having their photo included along with a one paragraph description of their company. Interested in writing a column? Contact Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.

Get in the Green Suppliers Spotlight!

Green Lodging News, lodging’s leading environmental news source, announces the launch of Green Suppliers Spotlight, an e-blast to 22,606 subscribers that features the lodging industry’s leading green products and services. The e-blast features multiple vendors—unlike the current Green Supplier Spotlight that allows one supplier to “own” the Green Lodging News subscriber list for one e-blast. (Click here for a Green Suppliers Spotlight sample.)

Green Suppliers Spotlight is published weekly on Thursdays to general managers, owners, management companies, directors of sustainability, directors of engineering, facilities managers and many others who are either in purchasing positions or who influence purchasing decisions. Suppliers of green products and services throughout North America and beyond are invited to participate in the e-blast. (Minimum two suppliers per e-blast.) Green Suppliers Spotlight was created to give vendors an opportunity to reach a high number of industry purchasers at a very low cost—as low as $200 per e-mail. (Click here for rate sheet.)

Those advertising in Green Suppliers Spotlight can include up to 100 words, one image, contact information and multiple links to their website in their ad. At the end of each month, a report will be sent to each supplier with information on delivered e-mails, opens and click-throughs.

Planning Advertising for 2019?

Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for advertising spots for 2019. Many excellent spots are available on our new website and in the weekly e-mail newsletter. Many Green Supplier Spotlight dates are also available. Interested in receiving a 2019 media kit? Be sure to contact me as soon as possible at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com. A media kit can also be accessed by clicking here. Thank you to all those companies that consistently support Green Lodging News.

Newsletter & Green Supplier Spotlight Circulation

The circulation of our weekly e-newsletter and Green Supplier Spotlight currently stands at 22,606. Thank you to our new subscribers for signing up. Be sure to encourage your colleagues to do the same. There are “subscribe” links on the Green Lodging News home page. You may also e-mail editor@greenlodgingnews.com to be added to our list.

Green Lodging News & Social Media

Green Lodging News now has 1,809 Twitter followers. Thank you to all of those who follow our tweets. In addition to following us on Twitter, be sure to bookmark the Green Lodging News Blog in your browser. More importantly, participate with your comments. Green Lodging News is also on Facebook. Be sure to “Like” us there. Green Lodging News now has 936 Facebook likes.

As always, I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.

LEAVE A REPLY