Beyond green buildings: how green certification systems contribute to the dual imperative of environmental/well-being outcomes through the lens of SDGs

Purpose The built environment is currently facing profound challenges in terms of carbon emissions and health risks due to poor indoor environmental quality. Standards, such as the WELL Building Standard (WELL), Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), respond to part of these concerns; however, sustainability at the meeting point between an environmental issue and a health problem has been little investigated. This study aims to examine how such certification standards can relate to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Design/methodology/approach This study used a mixed-methods approach to developing a weighted SDG mapping study based on coverage balance and synergy scores. These variables were combined into a composite integration index that describes the connection between health and the environment. Findings Merely 12% of health-related criteria were included in LEED according to inspection. In contrast, the health synergies and environmental co-benefits scores in WELL were highest at 38%. In contrast, BREEAM obtained an intermediate span of 57% for environment and 23% for health. As a result, WELL (58.2) and BREEAM (55.5) achieved higher integration index scores than LEED (39.9). Significantly, all three schemes highlighted poor performance in achieving social equity. Originality/value This study provides a new methodological framework for assessing the performance of sustainability standards at the nexus of health and the environment, as well as useful information for certifying bodies and governments aiming to reinforce these standards.