Fitwel certification costs much less than Well.
The Well program costs $1,800 to $4,200 to register, and $7,500 to $131,250 to certify, depending on the size of the property. This does not include the cost of putting health-promoting features into practice to obtain certification.
It is also recommended that recertification be conducted every three years to ensure that the office continues to be an environment that promotes health.
Fitwel charges a $500 registration fee and a $6,000 certification fee. The cost of meeting some of the recommendations may be quite limited. One recommendation might be to put up signs leading to the stairs to encourage employees to use them; another might be to set aside nursing rooms or workstations for nursing mothers.
Even after achieving Fitwel certification, building managers can improve scores and enhance interior finishes by making additional investments as budgets allow.
The expected improvements in employee health from both programs could lead to increased productivity, including reduced health care costs, absenteeism, and revenue from improved employee performance.
The American Society of Interior Designers said it saw a 16 percent increase in productivity after moving into its Well-certified Washington headquarters two years ago. The organization spent about $2 million outfitting its office space and has tracked the impact of the design, finding increased employee engagement and reduced absenteeism, said Randy W. Fiser, the chief executive.
Feather, who also serves on the Delos advisory board, said the organization added nearly $700,000 in net profit in its first year from increased productivity and energy cost savings.
Yet the desire to engage employees appears to be driving many companies toward programs that can help them create healthy office environments, according to architects and designers who work with clients on these projects.
“In today’s economy, people can move jobs,” said Paula McEvoy, an architect and co-director of sustainable design at Perkins & Will, which completed two Well-certified projects and five Fitwel certifications last year. “They can choose where they work.”
Since both authentication systems do essentially the same thing, some designers may be confused.
But Frank of the Center for Positive Design disagrees.
“We believe there is room in the market for both credentialing systems to coexist,” she said, adding that the existence of two programs could reinforce the message that health offices make sense.
“The more people are talking about promoting wellness in the workplace, the better,” she said.