An Overview of Living Future's Building Programs

New to our building programs? Start here with this 5-minute overview.

IN THIS ARTICLE

Living Building Challenge
Zero Carbon Certification
Zero Energy Certification

Living Building Challenge

Founded in 2006, the Living Building Challenge (LBC) is Living Future’s flagship program. It is a holistic, performance-based building certification program designed to promote positive, regenerative outcomes across seven categories. We call these categories “Petals” in honor of the flower, which has served as a symbol and guiding metaphor for the Living Building Challenge since its inception.

The program requirements are grouped into related sets called Imperatives. Each of the seven Petals contains between two and five Imperatives. There are twenty Imperatives in total.

Under the LBC 4.1 (the most current version of the program), projects may choose between one of three certification pathways:

Core Certification: Ten of the twenty LBC Imperatives have been designated “Core” (see graphic below). To achieve Core Certification, a project must meet all ten Core Imperatives.
Petal Certification: Projects may become Water Petal Certified, Energy Petal Certified, or Materials Petal Certified. To achieve Petal Certification, a project must meet all ten Core Imperatives plus all Imperatives under their chosen Petal. For example: A project pursuing Water Petal Certification would need to meet all ten Core Imperatives plus I06 Net Positive Water.
Living Certification: Full Living Certification is the fullest expression of the Living Building Challenge. To achieve Living Certification, a project must meet all twenty Imperatives.

For the full program requirements, please refer to the LBC 4.1 Program Manual.

The Living Building Challenge has three pathways to certification. Core Certification requires achievement of the 10 Core Imperatives. Petal Certification requires achievement of the 10 Core Imperatives plus all Imperatives under Water, Energy, or Materials. Living Certification requires achievement of all 20 Imperatives. The Place Petal Imperatives are I01 Ecology of Place (a Core Imperative), I02 Urban Agriculture, I03 Habitat Exchange, and I04 Human-Scaled Living (a Core Imperative). The Water Petal Imperatives are I05 Responsible Water Use (a Core Imperative) and I06 Net Positive Water. The Energy Petal Imperatives are I07 Energy + Carbon Reduction (a Core Imperative) and I08 Net Positive Carbon. The Health + Happiness Petal Imperatives are I09 Healthy Interior Environment (a Core Imperative), I10 Healthy Interior Performance, and I11 Access to Nature. The Materials Petal Imperatives are I12 Responsible Materials (a Core Imperative), I13 Red List, I14 Responsible Sourcing, I15 Living Economy Sourcing, and I16 Net Positive Waste. The Equity Petal Imperatives are I17 Universal Access and I18 Inclusion (both Core Imperatives). The Beauty Petal Imperatives are I19 Beauty + Biophilia and I20 Education + Inspiration (both Core Imperatives). — The Living Building Challenge is organized into twenty Imperatives. Core Imperatives are highlighted here in orange.

Zero Carbon Certification

Founded in 2018, Zero Carbon Certification (ZC) is a performance-based building certification program focused on reducing both operational energy use and embodied carbon. The requirements of ZC 1.1 (the most current version of the program) are closely aligned with those of the LBC 4.1 Energy Petal.

For the full program requirements, please refer to the ZC 1.1 Program Manual.

Pilot Opportunity 📢 Living Future is currently piloting a version update for Zero Carbon Certification, which includes a new certification pathway for existing buildings with no construction scope. Learn more here.

Zero Energy Certification

Zero Energy Certification (ZE) was founded as the Net Zero Energy Building (NZEB) Standard back in 2013. In 2018, the program was streamlined and given its current name. Today’s Zero Energy Certification is a performance-based building certification program that is exclusively focused on operational energy use. The requirements of ZE 1.1 (the most current version of the program) are closely aligned with the operational energy requirements of the LBC 4.1 Energy Petal.

For the full program requirements, please refer to the ZE 1.1 Program Manual.