Living Future Buildings Certification: Audit Process

This document outlines the audit process for Living Future Buildings Certifications: Living Building Challenge, Core, Zero Carbon, and Zero Energy. Each project receives a two part audit performed by a third-party auditor. 

STEP 1: Submit project documentation and pay the certification invoice

Compile all of your project documentation and click submit in Portal. Ready Audit documentation includes all non-performance based project documentation and Final Audit documentation contains performance data (following a 12 month performance period). Please refer to the Program Manual for the documentation requirements for each audit. Audits can only start once the certification invoice has been paid.

STEP 2: Auditor review

One of our third-party auditors will review your documentation. Living Future will provide an audit report with clarification requests from the auditor.

STEP 3: Clarification requests 

Your team will have up to 90 to respond to the auditor’s clarification requests. Want to craft a great response narrative? Check out our Clarification Request How-To!

STEP 4: Auditor reviews clarification request responses

The auditor will review your responses to their Clarification Requests and determine their ruling.

STEP 5: Ruling

A successful Ready Audit results in a Ready Designation ruling. A successful Final Audit results in a Certification ruling.  Check out our guidelines for sharing the news about your Ready Designation here and check out our guidelines for sharing the news about your Certification here!

STEP 6: Celebrate!* 

You did it! Celebrate your journey to a living future!

Questions about Living Future’s building certification audit process?

Reach out to certifications@living-future.org.

*If the project fails to receive Ready Designation or Certification, the project may appeal up to two times for an additional fee.