GREENSHIP vs WELL Building Standard: A Comparison for Indonesian Projects

As sustainability and occupant well-being become increasingly important in building design, project owners and developers have more options than ever when choosing a building certification system.

Two standards that are particularly relevant to modern building projects are GREENSHIP, developed by the Green Building Council Indonesia (GBCI), and the WELL Building Standard, developed by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI).

Although both systems promote better-performing buildings, they approach the subject from different perspectives.

GREENSHIP places greater emphasis on environmental performance and resource efficiency, while WELL focuses more strongly on human health, well-being, and the experience of building occupants.

For Indonesian projects, understanding this distinction can help project teams determine which certification—or combination of certifications—is most appropriate.

What Is GREENSHIP?

GREENSHIP is a green building certification system developed by the Green Building Council Indonesia (GBCI).

The system was developed specifically for the Indonesian context and uses a point-based rating system. Its assessment framework covers six major categories:

• Appropriate Site Development (ASD);
• Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EEC);
• Water Conservation (WAC);
• Material Resources and Cycle (MRC);
• Indoor Health and Comfort (IHC); and
• Building and Environmental Management (BEM).

Depending on the rating tool and project, GREENSHIP certification can be applied to new buildings, existing buildings, interior spaces, homes, neighborhoods, and net-zero projects.

For GREENSHIP New Building, for example, the certification process includes a Design Recognition stage followed by a Final Assessment that evaluates design and construction performance.

GREENSHIP therefore provides a framework for measuring how effectively a building manages resources and reduces its environmental impact.

What Is the WELL Building Standard?

The WELL Building Standard takes a different approach.

Rather than focusing primarily on the environmental performance of a building, WELL is centered on the relationship between the built environment and human health and well-being.

WELL v2 is organized around 10 concepts:

1. Air
2. Water
3. Nourishment
4. Light
5. Movement
6. Thermal Comfort
7. Sound
8. Materials
9. Mind
10. Community

The standard combines mandatory Preconditions with optional Optimization features, allowing project teams to select strategies appropriate to their specific objectives.

WELL is also performance-oriented. Depending on the requirements being pursued, projects can be subject to performance verification, including on-site testing by qualified performance testing agents.

In simple terms:

GREENSHIP asks, “How environmentally responsible is this building?”

WELL asks, “How does this building support the health and well-being of its occupants?”

GREENSHIP vs WELL: Key Differences

Although the two systems overlap in several areas, their primary objectives are different.

Aspect

GREENSHIP

WELL

Primary focus

Environmental sustainability

Human health and well-being

Developed by

Green Building Council Indonesia

International WELL Building Institute

Geographic orientation

Developed for Indonesia

International

Energy efficiency

Strong emphasis

Addressed, but not the primary focus

Water efficiency

Strong emphasis

Focuses on water quality and accessibility

Materials

Resource efficiency and environmental considerations

Human health and material-related impacts

Indoor environment

Indoor health and comfort

Major focus across multiple concepts

Acoustic performance

Addressed under indoor health and comfort

Dedicated Sound concept

Thermal comfort

Addressed

Dedicated Thermal Comfort concept

Occupant well-being

Considered

Central objective

Certification approach

Point-based rating

Preconditions + Optimizations

Typical strategic objective

Reduce environmental impact

Improve health, comfort, and well-being

The comparison shows that the two systems should not necessarily be viewed as competitors.

In many projects, they can actually complement one another.

Where GREENSHIP and WELL Overlap

Despite their different priorities, there are several areas where GREENSHIP and WELL intersect.

Energy and Indoor Environment

GREENSHIP places significant emphasis on energy efficiency and conservation, while WELL addresses aspects of the indoor environment that influence occupant comfort and well-being.

A building with an efficient HVAC system, for example, can potentially achieve environmental benefits while also supporting thermal comfort and indoor air quality.

Water

GREENSHIP strongly emphasizes water conservation.

WELL, meanwhile, is concerned with water quality and accessibility.

This creates an important distinction:

GREENSHIP asks how efficiently the building uses water, while WELL asks whether the water provided to occupants supports health and well-being.

A high-performance project can address both objectives simultaneously.

Materials

GREENSHIP's Material Resources and Cycle category considers the environmental and resource implications of building materials.

WELL also addresses materials, but from a health and wellness perspective.

For example, low-emitting materials can potentially contribute to healthier indoor environments while also supporting broader sustainability objectives.

Indoor Comfort

Both systems recognize the importance of the indoor environment.

However, GREENSHIP approaches indoor health and comfort as one component of overall green building performance, while WELL places human experience much closer to the center of the certification framework.

Which Is Better for Indonesian Projects?

There is no universal answer.

The appropriate certification depends on what the project is trying to achieve.

GREENSHIP May Be More Appropriate When:

A project is primarily focused on:

• Reducing energy consumption;
• Improving water efficiency;
• Reducing environmental impact;
• Managing material resources;
• Improving site sustainability;
• Meeting Indonesian green building objectives; and
• Demonstrating environmental performance within the Indonesian context.

GREENSHIP can be particularly relevant when the project's sustainability strategy is closely connected to Indonesian building practices and the local regulatory and professional environment.

GBCI currently offers GREENSHIP certification pathways for multiple building and project types, including new buildings, existing buildings, interior spaces, homes, neighborhoods, and net-zero projects.

WELL May Be More Appropriate When:

A project places greater emphasis on:

• Occupant health;
• Indoor air quality;
• Thermal comfort;
• Lighting and circadian health;
• Acoustic comfort;
• Physical activity;
• Mental well-being;
• Healthy materials; and
• Community and occupant experience.

WELL can therefore be particularly attractive for projects where occupant experience is a major part of the value proposition.

This may include premium offices, healthcare facilities, educational buildings, hospitality projects, and other buildings where human performance and well-being are strategic priorities.

What About Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities?

The distinction becomes particularly interesting when considering healthcare projects.

Hospitals are buildings where environmental performance and human health are both critical.

A healthcare facility needs to manage energy and water efficiently, minimize environmental impacts, and use resources responsibly. At the same time, patients and healthcare professionals require appropriate indoor air quality, thermal comfort, lighting, acoustic conditions, and healthy materials.

This means that a healthcare project may benefit from combining the strengths of both approaches.

GREENSHIP can help establish a framework for environmental performance, resource efficiency, and building management.

WELL can provide an additional framework for considering human health, comfort, and well-being.

The result can be a more comprehensive strategy:

Environmental Performance + Human Performance = High-Performance Healthcare Facility

Can GREENSHIP and WELL Be Used Together?

Yes.

There is no fundamental reason why a project must choose one system exclusively.

In fact, using both can provide a broader sustainability and wellness framework.

A project might use GREENSHIP to establish its environmental objectives while using WELL to strengthen its occupant-health strategy.

For example:

GREENSHIP

→ Energy efficiency
→ Water conservation
→ Sustainable materials
→ Site development
→ Waste and resource management
→ Building environmental management

WELL

→ Air quality
→ Water quality
→ Light
→ Thermal comfort
→ Sound
→ Materials
→ Mental well-being
→ Community

Together, these approaches can address both sides of building performance.

The Importance of Materials

The choice of building materials is an area where the two certification systems can intersect significantly.

A material used in a high-performance building may need to satisfy multiple requirements simultaneously.

For example, a wall material could potentially contribute to:

• Thermal insulation;
• Acoustic insulation;
• Fire performance;
• Indoor environmental quality;
• Durability;
• Resource efficiency; and
• Long-term operating performance.

This is why selecting materials solely on the basis of whether they are “green” may not be sufficient.

The more important question is:

How does this material contribute to the overall performance of the building?

A high-performance material can potentially support multiple objectives at once.

For example, improving the thermal performance of the building envelope can reduce unwanted heat transfer and potentially lower HVAC energy demand. Improving acoustic insulation can enhance privacy and occupant comfort. Durable materials can reduce replacement frequency, maintenance requirements, and construction waste.

The best material strategy is therefore one that considers performance across the entire building life cycle.

GREENSHIP, WELL, and the Future of Building Performance

The evolution of building certification reflects a broader change in how we define a high-quality building.

In the past, building performance was often evaluated primarily through structural safety, functionality, and compliance.

Today, the discussion increasingly includes:

Energy → Carbon → Water → Materials → Indoor Environment → Health → Well-being → Productivity

This broader perspective recognizes that buildings are not simply physical structures.

They are environments in which people spend a significant portion of their lives.

For Indonesian projects, GREENSHIP and WELL represent two complementary approaches to this challenge.

GREENSHIP provides a strong framework for environmental sustainability within the Indonesian green building ecosystem.

WELL brings a deeper focus on the health and well-being of people who occupy and use buildings.

Conclusion

GREENSHIP and WELL are not simply two competing building certification systems.

They represent two different but complementary perspectives on building performance.

GREENSHIP focuses primarily on the relationship between the building and the environment—how efficiently it uses energy and water, manages resources, and minimizes environmental impacts.

WELL focuses primarily on the relationship between the building and its occupants—how the building supports health, comfort, well-being, and human performance.

For Indonesian projects, the right choice depends on the project's strategic objectives.

For projects focused on environmental sustainability and resource efficiency, GREENSHIP may provide the appropriate foundation.

For projects where occupant health and well-being are central priorities, WELL can provide an additional layer of performance requirements.

For ambitious projects, however, the most powerful strategy may not be choosing between them.

It may be combining both.

The future of sustainable buildings is no longer simply about making buildings consume less.

It is about creating buildings that perform better—for the planet and for the people who use them.