A study of additional items for health and wellbeing based on Green Standard for Energy and Environmental Design (G-SEED) in Korea - Comparisons of IEQ field of G-SEED, BREEAM, LEED, and WELL certification -

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Although social demands for health and acquisitions of G-SEED (Green Standard for Energy and Environmental Design) are increasing in Korea, health improvement cannot be secured by acquiring G-SEED that is based on specifications, not performances.

Methods/Statistical analysis: G-SEED as representative green building certification criteria domestically used was compared to internationally authorized BREEAM and LEED in this study. First, indoor environmental quality (IEQ) known to be very close to health was compared between domestic and international green building certifications. Second, individual certifications were analyzed by comparing BREEAM, LEED, and G-SEED with WELL for evaluating health-friendly buildings. The most necessary health element for G-SEED was then obtained.

Findings: As a result of comparisons between IEQ field of G-SEED and the level of BREEAM and LEED for improving health and wellbeing, it was found that expanding the evaluation range to include other facilities classified by building uses of G-SEED was important. This suggests that G-SEED should be followed by benchmarking the evaluation standard (i.e., evaluation levels of LEED) which is universally covered by the IEQ field of BREEAM and LEED. By comparing BREEAM and LEED based on WELL, the field with the lowest contribution to G-SEED was Lights, followed by Sound. This could propose G-SEED after benchmarking relative elements of BREEAM and LEED.

Improvements/Applications: Results of this study present a direction to recognize and improve health levels of G-SEED. They could be applied as basic information for follow-up studies or development of next versions in Korea.