Wellness Within Your Walls® (WWYW) Residential Certification
Partner with Marla Esser Cloos, WWYW Compliance Coordinator, to achieve a WWYW-certified health and wellness residential living environment.
Home Professionals | 1:1 Program | Consulting
WWYW Certification for Health and Wellness
Wellness Within Your Walls® is the solution to affordable, accountable and achievable healthier living environments. WWYW’s certification process is rooted in a holistic approach to lowering toxins in living environments.
Why Building to a Healthier Standard Matters:
“More consumers are interested in ‘healthy homes.’ Americans are increasingly worried about the links between health and everyday environmental exposure.” – Elizabeth LaJeunesse, Senior Research Analyst with Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies
According to the World Health Organization, 19% of factors that affect our health and well-being are directly related to the environment and with people spending roughly 90% of their time indoors, architects, builders, interior designers and specifiers play a key role in protecting public health.
Verifiers and third-party certifications ensure that the built environment meets health and wellness standards, providing better health and wellness outcomes for the occupants.
Additional WWYW Programs
Healthy Living System™ Approved Seal
Education & Professional Certification
WWYW Spotted Products
The Healthy Living System™ (HLS) links all home systems through the application of healthier home strategies related to mechanical, electrical, plumbing, smart-technology and security systems. Taking a systems approach results in high-performing, more resilient, healthier homes. Highlighting innovative products, including ventilation, filtration and (de)humidification, speaks to new home buyers. WWYW was the first within the building industry to stand with the consumer on its mission to reframe the conversation that “health matters.” HLS brings healthier living spaces to the forefront and provides the builder with a way to make a difference in healthier outcomes by standing out among the competition, providing pathways to healthier living environments and benefiting from a healthier bottom line.
WWYW believes education is the key to reducing toxins in the living environments. WWYW offers a range of educational opportunities focused on how to make knowledgeable decisions before, during and after the design and build process. WWYW’s 4-course educational series focuses on the WWYW categories and their role in reducing toxins in the interior environment.
WWYW’s team of experts, including Marla Esser Cloos of Green Home Coach, have evaluated products and resources available on the topic of lowering toxins in the living environment.
Why Marla?
Marla brings more than 15 years of experience guiding residential and multifamily projects through healthier and green home certifications. Her work spans single-family homes, LIHTC and affordable housing developments, and market-rate multifamily projects—giving her a clear, practical understanding of how healthier and green home requirements translate across different project types.
Through Green Home Coach, Marla helps project teams make smart decisions early, avoid costly rework, and stay aligned with certification goals throughout construction. With a background in WWYW and NGBS consulting and residential education, she bridges the gap between technical certification requirements and the real-world pressures of building, including schedules, budgets, documentation, and inspections.
Accreditations
- Wellness Within Your Walls Certified Professional
- NGBS Verifier
- NAHB Master Certified Green Professional
- LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP)
Attributes
- Healthier and green home consultant with firsthand knowledge of certification review and approval processes
- Hands-on experience with single-family and multifamily new construction and remodel projects
- Trusted partner for affordable housing, LIHTC, and market-rate developments
- Known for clear communication, practical guidance, and thorough documentation
Green Home Verification & Consulting Services
Green Home Verification & Consulting Services
Green Home Coach provides end-to-end support for NGBS-certified residential and multifamily projects, helping teams move from early planning through final verification with clarity and confidence.
- Green Consulting
Plan review and refinement to support NGBS compliance and project alignment. - NGBS Verification
Registration, documentation, and coordination of required inspections for certification. - Energy Modeling & Testing
Coordination with certified Energy Rater partners for Manual J/S, blower door testing, and energy reporting. These services are not provided in-house. - Online Manuals (HomeNav™)
Custom digital building and tenant manuals that document systems, materials, and green features.
Marla’s Process for NGBS Certification
A clear, step-by-step approach that keeps projects aligned from design through certification.
- Initial Plan Review & Preliminary NGBS Scoring
- Energy Modeling & Testing with Energy Rater Partner
- Inspections & Documentation During Construction
- Final Certification Review & Submission
Featured Project: Moderate-Income Multifamily Development – St. Louis, MO Metro
A large-scale multifamily project demonstrating full NGBS certification support from design through completion.
- 140 units across 21 buildings
- 2–3 bedroom residential units
- Targeting NGBS Silver Level Certification
- Energy modeling and blower door testing completed with Central Energy Audits
- Custom HomeNav™ manuals provided for owners, staff, and occupants
Tools & Strategic Partners
Green Home Coach collaborates with trusted industry partners to ensure accurate modeling, testing, and documentation.
Central Energy Audits
Energy modeling, blower door testing, and performance verification services.
HomeNav™
Digital building and occupant manuals that support education, maintenance, and long-term building performance.
Ready to Certify Your Project?
Marla Esser Cloos and Green Home Coach make WWYW certification straightforward, accurate, and manageable from start to finish. Work with an industry expert who understands both the technical requirements and the realities of construction.
