Eighty years ago, real estate was all about luxury and functionality, but, nowadays, building trends are changing, and changing fast. People no longer wish to live in lavish villas covering hundreds of square metres, but in sustainable, eco-friendly homes.
But the need for wellness doesn’t stop at home. With newer generations taking over the workforce, more and more businesses are looking to optimise their working spaces to include lounges, resting and recreational areas, ergonomic furniture, and plenty of natural light and greenery to facilitate both mental and physical wellbeing of its employees.
WELL Building Standard
One of the leaders in the new wellness-oriented real estate environment is the International WELL Building Institute. IWBI is concerned with taking a holistic approach to building houses and working environments, considering various factors that influence our physical and mental wellbeing. The IWBI is a pioneer in creating efficient, green and sustainable buildings, and, if one is to be successful as a new real estate agent, one should really consider supporting this idea wholeheartedly.
For a building to conform to the WELL Building Standard, it has to encompass several green concepts. Namely, a WELL certified building needs to have optimised air flow, clean water, provide a soothing and comfortable environment, access to as much natural light as possible, and promote healthy eating and physical activity.
The Need for Social Interaction
Humans are social beings, and, as such, they crave contact with other people. The holistic approach introduced by the IWBI is also concerned with incentivising human interaction. We already mentioned that WELL Building Standard can also apply to whole neighbourhoods, and, it is the belief of those enforcing the standard that having a whole neighbourhood comprised of green and sustainable buildings will surely instil a sense of community in the residents.
This kind of sense of community and singularity also means that more and more people will become more interested in wellness and will, ultimately, become advocates of the new wellness-inspired lifestyle and the WELL Building Standard as a whole.
The Trend That’s Enveloping the World
One of the best parts of this trend is that it is, slowly but surely, enveloping the whole world. Just in the US, there are hundreds of estates and communities being built according to the new, and most larger cities are looking to incorporate this trend as standard as a means of reducing their carbon footprint and lessening the negative impact these multi-million resident settlements have on the environment.
Other countries are picking up this trend too. There are reports that around 800 such estates are being built in 34 countries. Indonesia is big on these new wellness-oriented estates, and, if one would search Bali Villas for sale, one would find a myriad of green, efficient and sustainable property.
It’s All about Sunshine
One of the driving forces behind green and sustainable buildings is solar power. More and more countries are considering the benefits of solar energy, as the overall demand for energy in the world increases, and as the worldwide supply of fossil fuels dwindles.
The country that’s really adopting this sustainable energy model is the US. The US Energy Information Agency estimates that commercial buildings are using a whopping 30% of the world’s energy, and this has a massive impact on fossil fuel consumption and the environment. However, under the leadership of IWBI, the standards set will, hopefully, allow for greater and more efficient use of solar power, and create net-zero buildings in the future. The change, however, starts at home, and IWBI’s first mission is to facilitate solar energy production and usage in residential buildings, as the first step to reducing the use of fossil fuels and increasing energy efficiency across the world.
The Business Side of Things
With the new wellness-oriented trend taking off at such a quick pace, the wellness real estate market is booming. It is the belief of many real estate agents looking to sell this type of property that demand is exceeding supply by a wide margin. Wellness real estate is becoming a multi-trillion market, and, with the demand for green homes being so high, investing in international real estate can be a winning strategy, if one concentrates on this rising market.
However, wellness-inspired building is still at a very early stage, and, as such, it’s more tailored for higher-end market and wealthier buyers. The materials and techniques used are still quite expensive, but, as they get more and more popular, the prices are sure to drop.
A Green Future
All in all, what IWBI is trying to achieve with their new WELL standards is a better, brighter and cleaner future. Humankind as a whole is becoming more and more aware of their impact on the environment and the issues of global warming. But, what IWBI is really saying is that environment is not the only thing in danger, but man himself. Our fast-paced lifestyle has little room for wellness and we often don’t take care of ourselves the way we should. Thus, the International WELL Building Institute strives to create environments where man can feel safe, comfortable and healthy, while reducing his impact on the nature as a whole.
Nina is a digital nomad, yoga aficionado and a travel enthusiast with a distinctive taste for home decor. She’s passionate about learning new things and sharing meaningful ideas.
