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UL and the Center for Active Design Launch a Revolutionary Partnership, Bringing Together Industry Leading Building and Product Health Certifications
UL, a global safety science leader, and the Center for Active Design (CfAD), operator of Fitwel, the world’s leading building certification system for health, today announced a partnership that will expand the market for healthier, more sustainable products and buildings globally. This alignment represents the first time two leading certification bodies are uniting to provide comprehensive resources on healthy buildings and products for the design and real estate industries. The initial focus is to increase the adoption of the Fitwel Certification System in China, while also providing architects, designers, and developers with more access to products with reduced risks to human health.
UL and CfAD will work together to expand the adoption of Fitwel in China, where the demand for healthier buildings is growing exponentially. According to a 2018 report from the Global Wellness Institute, 47 percent of consumers are willing to pay more for better indoor air quality and Beijing homebuyers will pay up to 14 percent more to be close to a park. With established and impactful standards for health-promoting features, including location and limits to product emissions that impact indoor air quality, both UL and CfAD will provide support for architects, buildings owners, and others in China looking to certify a building to the Fitwel standard.
The Tower Companies Receives the First Fitwel Residential Certification in the World from the Center for Active Design
Washington, D.C. based real estate developer and recognized sustainability leader, The Tower Companies, announced today that it has achieved the first-ever Fitwel certification for a multifamily residential building. This exemplary designation was awarded to The Pearl, a premier luxury apartment community in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland, receiving a 2 Star Fitwel Rating from the Center for Active Design (CfAD), the operator of Fitwel.
Our goal was to design The Pearl with elements that promote an active lifestyle and enrich people’s lives by giving them a sense of still and calm,” said Jeffrey Abramson, partner at The Tower Companies. “The Pearl is a home, a place where anyone can live a healthy, balanced, and full life with little effort. The Fitwel Certification System has given us the tools to greatly enhance that experience for our residents.