Case Studies: Living Building Challenge

The Living Building Challenge (LBC) is currently the most rigorous building performance standard in the world. Only 8 buildings have achieved full certification, while as of May 2014, 190 projects around the globe have been registered with the LBC as being in some phase of design or construction.

The LBC can apply to any building project, whether it be new or existing, residential or commercial. The newest version of the LBC is version 3.0, which is comprised of seven categories referred to as Petals:

• Place
• Water
• Energy
• Health & Happiness
• Materials
• Equity
• Beauty

These seven petals are subdivided into a total of 20 Imperatives, each with its own specific focus.

The Living Building Challenge had its beginnings in the mid-1990s, with its epicenter in Bozeman, Montana. The objective here was to create the most advanced sustainable design project to date. The research and technology solutions were guided by Jason F. McLennan. This process laid the foundations of what would be the requirements for the Living Building Challenge.

In 2006, after publishing several related articles, McLennan gifted the first version of the Living Building Challenge to the Cascadia Green Building Council, who then released it to the public. McLennan then paired with Eden Brukman, together authoring the more comprehensive version 2.0. The Living Building Challenge has since gained international attention, and now sits under the Cascadia GBC-founded Living Future Institute umbrella, whose mission is “to lead the transformation to a world that is socially just, culturally rich and ecologically restorative.”

What is the Living Building Challenge?

The Living Building Challenge is exactly that: a challenge. Created by the Living Future Institute, it is more than just a certification, it was created first as a philosophy and is now being used and embraced as an advocacy tool. The International Living Future institute strives to push designers, building owners, politicians, government officials and all of humanity to envision a better future.

They want to know, “Instead of a world that is merely a less bad version of the one we currently have — we ask a simple and profound question — what does good look like?” Instead of attempting to mitigate the harmful impact that buildings have on the environment like so many other certifications, the LBC calls for buildings to have a net positive impact. Additionally, the required Imperatives are performance based, leading to the ideal outcome being the indicator of success.

The LBC makes us consider every single act of design and construction, and has us ask of each decision, whether this will make the world a better place. It creates a holistic standard, requiring the collaboration of many to produce a single unifying entity of restorative and regenerative sustainability. It is the belief of the Living Future Institute that “incremental change is no longer a viable option” if we are to “realign our ecological footprint to be within the planet’s carrying capacity”.

There are several certifications that are provided by the Living Future Institute, depending on what aspects of the Living Building Challenge are achieved.

Living Certification

The Living Certification, or Living Building Certification, is achieved by satisfying all of the required 20 Imperatives. For Landscape and Infrastructure projects, 17 are required, while for renovations, only 15 must be achieved.

The Seven Petals and their associated Imperatives are as follows:

Place: Restoring a healthy interrelationship with nature

• Imperative 01: Limits to Growth
• Imperative 02: Urban Agriculture
• Imperative 03: Habitat Exchange
• Imperative 04: Car Free Living

Water: Creating developments that operate within the water balance of a given place and climate

• Imperative 05: Net Positive Water

Energy: Relying only on current solar income

• Imperative 06: Net Positive Energy

Health & Happiness: Creating Environments that optimize physical and psychological health and well being

• Imperative 07: Civilized Environment
• Imperative 08: Healthy Interior Environments
• Imperative 09: Biophilic Environment

Materials: Endorsing products that are sage for all species through time

• Imperative 10: Red List
• Imperative 11: Embodied Carbon Footprint
• Imperative 12: Responsible Industry
• Imperative 13: Living Economy Sourcing
• Imperative 14: Net Positive Waste

Equity: Supporting a Just Equitable World

• Imperative 15: Human Scale + Human Places
• Imperative 16: Universal Access to Nature & Place
• Imperative 17: Equitable Investment
• Imperative 18: Just Organizations

Beauty: Celebrating design that uplifts the human spirit

• Imperative 19: Beauty + Sprit
• Imperative 20 Inspiration + Education

For an in-depth review of Petals and Imperatives, read the Living Building Challenge V 3.0 PDF

Petal Certification

Petal certification is granted to projects which were able to meet the Imperatives of some but not all petals. This certification requires that the project meet at least 3 of the 7 petals, and that one of the petals must be either Water, Energy or Materials. It also requires that Imperative 1: Limits to Growth and Imperative 20: Inspiration and Education be satisfied.

Net Zero Energy Certification

Net Zero Energy Certification is granted to projects that produce 100% of their energy needs through onsite renewable energy. Combustion of any kind is not allowed inside the building. This level of LBC certification also requires that Imperative 1: Limits to Growth, Imperative 19: Beauty and Spirit, and Imperative 20: Inspiration and Education be satisfied.

Certification of any kind is based on performance rather than modeled outcomes.

The Living Future Institute challenges us to do more than better: They expect nothing less than best. The Living Building Challenge guides us toward a truly better future, and puts forth a standard for which every other standard should strive.

Living Building Challenge Case Studies

Here are two Living Building Challenge Certified projects, highlighting just some of the many design decisions made to meet all Imperatives. For more information, click on the name of each project.

Smith College’s Bechtel Environmental Classroom

This classroom in Whately, Massachusetts (shown in the picture above) is a new 2,500 ft2, single story classroom building. The location is used as a field station and has an adjoining 233-acre forest and pasture property.

• Site: Designated the bulk of the existing 240 acres of field station land into conservation, protecting endangered species and the Northampton municipal water supply.
• Water: All water extracted onsite, recycled grey water system, composting toilets.
• Energy: Two pole mounted arrays of solar photovoltaic panels, with a total capacity of 9.6kW provide all energy.
• Health + Happiness: Low toxicity materials, operable windows, mechanical ventilation system, access to the outdoors.
• Materials: Mercury-free LED lighting, natural floor coatings from milk waste, mildewcide-free paint, sourcing from no more than 70 miles away.
• Equity: The college provides access to nature at the site for people other than the student population.
• Beauty: Native, natural elements are included in the landscaping and outdoor spaces

Omega Center for Sustainable Living

A wastewater filtration facility in Rhinebeck, New York designed to use treated water for garden irrigation. It also uses its greywater recovery systems as a teaching tool about ecological impact.

• Site: Previously a greyfield, Habitat Exchange project is Scenic Hudson.
• Water: Collects roof rainwater, returns well water after treatment back into ground.
• Energy: Roof, Trellis, and Wall mounted PV.
• Health + Happiness: Ducts protected during construction to prevent dust build up, low VOC materials, operable windows, green cleaning program to keep toxic cleaners out of the indoor environment.
• Materials: Low VOC paints and coatings, cellulose insulation, reclaimed lumber and plywood.
• Equity: Certified under v. 1.3, this petal was not added until v 2.0.
• Beauty: Native, natural elements are included in the landscaping and outdoor spaces. Large windows bring the natural environment inside.

Bertschi Living Building Science Wing

Located in Seatlle’s Capital Hill Neighborhood, the Bertschi project was one of the first to pursue Living Building Challenge v2.0 certification, and more impressively, the first to achieve it.

The building functions as an elementary school science wing, and was designed with input from the students. Students are able to access real-time monitoring of the building's electricity, and all sustainable features of the building are visible and function as ecological learning tools for the students.

• Site: This site was a greyfield prior to the project start. The building is 1,225 ft2 situated on a 3,888 ft2 plot. The campus is in an urban environment, and uses its outdoor space as a learning environment with access to natural elements and urban agriculture. Integration of storm water management allows water to return to the ecological flow after having been used within the building. It participates in a Habitat Exchange program with the Naches River.
• Water: Rainwater is harvested on site through roof collection. Greywater is collected and used as irrigation for the indoor green wall, and blackwater is treated by composting toilets. The project also features a green roof stormwater and greywater system. Low Impact Development strategies such pervious concrete allow for any excess stormwater to infiltrate the soil and recharge groundwater. The sites uses an estimated 56.3 gallons of water per day, assuming 20 students use the site each day.
• Energy: The site features a 20.1 kW rooftop mounted PV system with 225 W Sanyo panels, and Enphase micro-inverters. There is no cooling load, and the annual energy use is 48.1 kbtu/ft2.
• Health + Happiness: The design team focused on creating a space that provided healthy air and daylighting for occupants. A green wall of tropical plants provides air and water purification, and the use of materials that are Red List Free ensures that additional contaminants are not released into the air. Air quality testing performed during occupancy helps ensure that the building is operated up to the designed standard.
• Materials: The building was design pro-bono and constructed entirely through community fundraising. All materials used are natural, non-toxic and locally sourced, and at any time possible, materials were reused or reclaimed. Construction waste was kept to a bare minimum, and the building was designed with the ability to be deconstructed and reused if necessary. Wood was sourced from Forest Stewardship Council certified locations.
• Equity: Because the space was to be used to educated young occupants, designers focused on making spaces the right size for the intended use. In addition to serving students, it also offers tours to the public. The school is seen as a source of inspiration and education for the greater community and as well as other educational facilities.
• Beauty: This particular project aimed at changing the way educational facilities are perceived, and designed for the most aesthetically pleasing outcome. The inclusion of natural elements, daylighting and access to the outdoors all contribute to this.

David & Lucile Packard Foundation Headquarters - Net Zero Certification

The David and Lucille Packard Foundation headquarters is located in Los Altos California. The organization works towards conservation and restoration of Earth’s natural systems.

It is the largest Net Zero energy office building in California, and has also achieved LEED certification, having earned LEED Platinum, the highest rating.

• Limits to Growth Imperative: This site was built on a site that was previously developed.
• Energy: This project features roof-mounted PV panels with a 285 kW capacity. Because the building’s orientation is not optimized for solar collection, the size of the renewable system had to be specified accordingly. They used high efficiency SunPower panels in order to meet the anticipated energy demand. The building is heated before occupants arrive, and then relies on the heat from the occupants themselves to maintain a comfortable temperature. The building is cooled by running air across chilled beams carrying water from an underground cooling tower. Natural ventilation through open windows and doors is also chosen above the HVAC system whenever possible.
• Equity: The building grants access to fresh air, sunlight and natural waterways. It also does not shade any of the adjacent facades.
• Beauty: One of the goals of this project was to stimulate senses and enrich the staff’s ability to work together. Another was that the building fit into the architecture of Los Altos. The design emphasizes connectivity between indoor and outdoor spaces. There is plenty of daylight that reaches the indoor space, and there is ample access to the outdoors. The beauty of natural materials is also incorporated throughout the entire space.

Beijing Natural Resources Defense Council - Certified ‘Petal’ (Materials)

The NRDC Beijing office is located in the central business district of Beijing, China. The building contains several interior offices, open workstation areas, meeting spaces, and a pantry.

While the project went for the Materials petal certification, it also features high energy efficient design choices.

Simple lighting, daylight, and motion sensors contribute to a lower energy demand. Additionally, low flow fixtures were installed in the pantry, and exposure to any toxins and/or pollutants in the indoor space has been severely limited. The project had a tight budget and time constraints, as is typical in Chinese construction.

• Site: The site was an existing building, and is located within the Taiking Financial Center, a 38 story tower. This project was exempt from the Habitat Exchange project, as the inherent advocacy and funding provided by the organization has been instrumental in the conservation of 340,000 acres within the Laguna San Ignacio Wetland Site, of which 75,000 acres are part of a larger World Heritage Site. There were several considerations that had to be made based on the uniqueness of the Chinese construction environment. Quick decision making and easily removable fixtures were necessary to accommodate the building practices.
• Materials: The design build firm MMoser was chosen for this project based on their previous experience with sustainability and office projects. Additionally, Shanghai based materials expert GIGABASE was chosen as the materials expert. The NRDC chose to reuse as many materials as possible to the short nature of leasing in Beijing. Materials were also chosen based on cultural significance, as with the inclusion of bamboo elements. Deconstructability was also a major consideration; Floors are not fixed, and glass doors and windows are modular. All materials are Red List compliant. Wood products used were certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and harvested onsite, but as the FSC is unreliable in China, no timber was used. The project participated in the North Songshan Wind Power Project in order to carbon offset.
• Beauty: This project aimed at embodying the beauty and spirit of NRDC China. The organization names six priorities: curbing global warming, reviving the world’s oceans, defending endangered wildlife, protecting health by preventing pollution, ensuring safe and sufficient water, and fostering sustainable communities. The project’s design focused on creating an aesthetically pleasing atmosphere that fosters collaboration and productivity. It features open floor plans, and access to daylight and exterior views. Design decisions contribute to a calm atmosphere that has significant connection to natural elements.

A full PDF description of the Beijing office may be downloaded from NRDC.

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images from:

MMoser Associates
http://living-future.org