What is the Living Building Challenge?
The Living Building Challenge is a building certification program administered by the International Living Future Institute. Unlike rating systems that award points for implementing green building strategies, the LBC requires actual, verified performance: net-zero energy, net-zero water, and complete avoidance of toxic materials.
Philosophy of Living Buildings
The LBC envisions buildings that function like flowers—rooted in place, powered by the sun, producing more than they consume, and creating conditions for life to thrive. This regenerative vision goes beyond reducing harm to actively improving environmental and human conditions.
Certification Types
The LBC offers several certification pathways:
- Living Certification: Full compliance with all applicable requirements—the highest achievement
- Petal Certification: Achievement of at least three Petals, including Water, Energy, or Materials
- Zero Energy: Buildings achieving 100% of energy needs from renewable sources
- Zero Carbon: Buildings achieving 100% carbon-free operations
Performance-Based Verification
Unlike LEED, which can be certified based on design intent, LBC certification requires 12 consecutive months of actual performance data. Buildings must prove they achieve net-zero energy and water goals in practice, not just on paper. This performance requirement ensures certified buildings actually deliver on their sustainability promises.
History and Growth
The LBC launched in 2006 with just six pilot projects. Today, over 600 projects worldwide have registered for certification, with completed Living Buildings across North America, Europe, and Australia. While still a small fraction of construction, these projects demonstrate what's possible and push the industry toward higher performance.
The Seven Petals Framework
The LBC organizes requirements into seven performance areas called "Petals," each containing specific "Imperatives" that must be achieved.
Place Petal
Ensures projects contribute positively to their communities and ecosystems:
- Limits to growth: Can't build on prime farmland, near wetlands, or on greenfields
- Urban agriculture: Projects must support food production
- Habitat exchange: Conservation offset for project site impact
- Human-powered living: Promotes walking, biking, and transit access
Water Petal
Requires buildings to be entirely self-sufficient for water:
- Net positive water: Supply all water needs through captured precipitation, recycled water, or closed-loop systems
- Treat all wastewater on-site to standards allowing discharge or reuse
Energy Petal
Demands 100% of energy come from renewable sources:
- Net positive energy: Generate more renewable energy than consumed annually
- No combustion: Prohibits fossil fuel use on-site
Health & Happiness Petal
Focuses on occupant wellness:
- Civilized environment: Quality air, thermal comfort, acoustics
- Healthy interior environment: Low-emitting materials, operable windows, connection to nature
- Biophilic environment: Design incorporating natural elements
Materials Petal
The most challenging petal for many projects, covered in detail below.
Equity Petal
Addresses social justice:
- Human scale and humane places: Design for people, not just efficiency
- Universal access to nature: Outdoor spaces for all
- Equitable investment: Support just labor practices and community benefit
Beauty Petal
Requires buildings to inspire:
- Beauty: Projects must contain design features intended solely for human delight
- Inspiration: Educational components sharing sustainability lessons
The Materials Petal and Red List
The Materials Petal contains the LBC's most distinctive and demanding requirements. It goes far beyond other green building standards in restricting toxic materials and requiring complete transparency.
Red List Chemicals
The Red List identifies the worst-in-class chemicals that cannot appear in Living Building projects. Categories include:
- Alkylphenols and derivatives: Endocrine disruptors found in some adhesives
- Asbestos: Known carcinogen
- Cadmium: Toxic heavy metal
- Chlorinated polyethylene and chlorosulfonated polyethylene: Some waterproofing materials
- Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and HCFCs: Ozone-depleting substances
- Formaldehyde (added): Common in composite wood adhesives
- Halogenated flame retardants: Found in some building materials
- Lead (added): Heavy metal toxin
- Mercury: Neurotoxin
- Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs/PFAS): "Forever chemicals" in some coatings
- Phthalates (various): Plasticizers in some vinyl products
- Polyvinyl chloride (PVC): Significant for flooring as many vinyl products contain PVC
- Wood treatments containing creosote, arsenic, or pentachlorophenol
Implications for Flooring
The Red List significantly constrains flooring options:
- Vinyl flooring: Traditional LVP and sheet vinyl contain PVC, making them ineligible
- Carpet: Must verify no PVC backing, no Red List flame retardants, no PFAS treatments
- Composite underlayment: Must avoid formaldehyde adhesives
- Adhesives: Must be Red List-free
Red List-Compliant Flooring Options
- Solid hardwood: With water-based, Red List-free finishes
- Natural linoleum: Made from linseed oil, not vinyl
- Ceramic and porcelain tile: With compliant grout and mortar
- Natural stone: Inherently Red List-free
- Cork: From certified sources with compliant finishes
- Carpet: From manufacturers producing specifically for Living Building projects
Declare Labels and Material Documentation
The LBC's transparency requirements have driven development of the Declare label program, creating a pathway for product compliance documentation.
What is Declare?
Declare is a transparency platform and label created by ILFI requiring manufacturers to disclose all product ingredients at 100 ppm or above. The program provides:
- Complete ingredient disclosure
- Red List status identification
- Life expectancy and end-of-life options
- VOC content and emission testing
Declare Status Levels
- Declared: Full ingredient transparency provided, regardless of Red List status
- LBC Red List Free: Product contains no Red List chemicals at any level
- LBC Red List Approved: Product contains Red List chemicals but has received a temporary exception
Using Declare for Product Selection
The Declare database allows project teams to search for compliant products:
- Search by product category (flooring, adhesives, etc.)
- Filter by Red List status
- View complete ingredient disclosure
- Download documentation for certification
Beyond LBC: Declare in Other Projects
While Declare was created for Living Building Challenge, its transparency value extends beyond LBC projects:
- LEED recognizes Declare labels for Building Product Disclosure credits
- Health-focused projects use Declare for ingredient transparency
- Organizations with chemical avoidance policies find Declare documentation valuable
Learn more about building product disclosure options including Declare, EPDs, and HPDs.
Living Building Challenge vs. LEED
While both programs advance sustainable building, they differ significantly in approach and rigor.
Fundamental Differences
| Aspect | LEED | Living Building Challenge |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | Points-based rating system | Performance-based certification |
| Verification | Design documentation | 12 months actual performance |
| Energy goal | Efficiency above code | Net-positive energy |
| Water goal | Reduction from baseline | Net-positive water |
| Materials | Transparency and optimization | Red List elimination |
Market Positioning
LEED is designed for mainstream market adoption with achievable requirements that can apply to most projects. The Living Building Challenge represents an aspirational standard for projects willing to push boundaries regardless of cost or complexity.
Complementary Relationship
The programs complement rather than compete:
- LEED provides an accessible entry point to green building
- LBC demonstrates what's possible at the highest performance levels
- Innovations proven in Living Buildings often influence future LEED requirements
- Many Living Buildings also achieve LEED Platinum certification
Choosing Between Programs
Consider LBC when:
- Net-zero performance is a non-negotiable goal
- Budget and timeline allow for innovative approaches
- The project aims to be a demonstration or education facility
- Eliminating toxic materials is a priority
Consider LEED when:
- Third-party certification is required but budget is limited
- Code restrictions prevent net-zero water or other LBC requirements
- Mainstream market recognition is important
- Performance verification over 12 months isn't feasible
Pursuing Living Building Challenge Certification
Living Building certification requires extraordinary commitment from project teams, owners, and manufacturers. Here's what pursuit involves.
Project Team Requirements
LBC projects typically require:
- Experienced consultants: Professionals who have completed LBC projects before
- Committed owner: Understanding of timeline, cost, and complexity
- Integrated design: All disciplines working together from project start
- Manufacturer engagement: Direct work with product manufacturers on compliance
Cost Considerations
Living Buildings typically cost 10-30% more than conventional construction due to:
- On-site renewable energy systems
- Water treatment and harvesting systems
- Premium for Red List-free materials
- Extended design time for integrated solutions
- Documentation and certification fees
Timeline Expectations
Beyond typical construction timelines:
- Extended design phases for integrated solutions
- Material research and vetting for Red List compliance
- 12 months of occupancy before certification can be achieved
- Performance tuning during the first year of operation
Material Selection Process
For flooring and all building materials:
- Check Declare database for Red List-free products
- Contact manufacturers directly if products aren't in Declare
- Request complete ingredient disclosure to 100 ppm
- Evaluate alternatives if products contain Red List chemicals
- Document all materials for certification submission
Getting Support
ILFI provides resources for project teams:
- Technical guides for each Petal
- Dialogue process for unusual situations
- Ambassador network of experienced practitioners
- Declare product database
For projects in the Gulf Coast region requiring Red List-compliant flooring, contact our Pensacola team for assistance identifying appropriate products.