Living Building Challenge
The Living Building Challenge (LBC) is another advanced green building rating system that goes above and beyond LEED Platinum certification. The LBC was created by the International Living Building Institute and challenges us to ask the question, What if every single act of design and construction made the world a better place?
The LBC is comprised of seven performance areas: site, water, energy, health, materials, equity and beauty. Nothing in the building can be toxic in production, use, or disposal (so called “cradle to grave” responsibility). More specifically, none of the products used in the building may contain:
- Cadmium
- Chlorinated Polyethylene and Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene
- Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
- Chloroprene (Neoprene)
- Formaldehyde
- Halogented Flame Retardants
- Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)
- Lead
- Mercury
- Petrochemical Fertilizers and Pesticides
- Phthalates
- Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
- Wood treatments containing Creosote, Arsenic or Pentachlorophenol
Materials used in the building also have to pass a “food miles” test. For example, dense materials such as steel or concrete must come from less than 1,000 miles away and wood from 3,000 miles away.
