July Forum Recap: Certified Living – Living Building Challenge
September 2, 2018
By Jennifer Urrutia

The LBC standard is comprised of three levels of certification: Certified Living, Petal Certified and Zero Energy Building certification. Achieving all seven petals earns the building a Living Certified achievement. Achieving three of the seven petals earns a buildingPetal Certification. In order for projects to attain Petal Certification, buildings must successfully implement one of the three following petals: Water, Materials or Energy.Petal Certification is monitored for months preceding occupancy to prove that achievement was met. The final type of certification is Zero Energy Building Certification, which certifies a building is demonstrating zero energy performance.
The Willow School Health Wellness and Nutrition Center, which Cullen-Woods helped to certify, achieved a Certified Living certification by incorporating strategies such as rainwater harvesting, a low energy wetland wastewater treatment system, and net positive energy through photovoltaic panel array. Additionally, the building incorporated biophilic elements into its design, by using the natural environment surrounding the school as inspiration for different design features throughout the building. Read more about how this innovative project achieved Certified Living on the International Living Future Institute website.

Both presenters highlighted the key characteristics of successful projects. They explained that companies who tend to be successful in achieving LBC certifications are pioneers whose brand fits the program intent and who strive to be among the first to carry out LBC’s net positive mission.
Photo credits:
International Living Future Institute, courtesy of Robert Faulkner
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