1. What is the Living Building Challenge

The Living Building Challenge (LBC) is a U.S. and internationally recognized green building third-party certification program and sustainable design framework developed by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI). The Living Building Challenge goes beyond other green building certification programs, such as LEED, by aiming to create a net-positive impact on the environment and society.

© International Living Future Institute. For more information, visitliving-future.org/lbc

The Living Building Challenge has seven performance categories, or Petals, that a building must meet to achieve certification: Place, Water, Energy, Health and Happiness, Materials, Equity and Beauty. Within each Petal, there are a number of Imperatives that must be met. For example, within the Energy Petal, buildings must be designed to produce more energy than they consume over the course of a year, while the Materials Petal requires the elimination of all toxic materials from the building. There are a total of 20 Imperatives.

The Living Building Challenge is based on actual rather than modeled or anticipated performance. To achieve Living Building Challenge certification, a building must meet all the Imperatives in each of the seven Petals for at least 12 consecutive months of operation and then be evaluated through a rigorous audit process to ensure compliance.

It addresses all buildings at all scales, whether the project is a single building, a renovation, an infrastructure project, or a park; the Living Building Challenge (LBC) provides a framework for the design, construction, and improvement of the symbiotic relationships between people and all aspects of the built and natural environment.

2. History and presence in the world

Since it was launched in 2006, the Living Building Challenge has inspired and motivated rapid and significant change: projects have sprouted up all over North America and beyond—currently, there are efforts underway in a dozen countries with hundreds of Living Building Challenge projects in progress. As of April 2019: 563 Registered Projects In 29 Countries.

© International Living Future Institute. For more information, visitliving-future.org/lbc

Projects can be built in any climate zone anywhere in the world, as shown in this map highlighting countries where projects are certified.
Currently, no project has achieved this certification in Japan. Therefore, the first LBC project achievement is available for any entity willing to take up the challenge to show leadership in Japan.

3. Certification Options

4. Other International Living Future Institute certifications

© International Living Future Institute. For more information, visit living-future.org/lbc

5. Structure and applicability

The Living Building Challenge is versatile and can apply to any building project. These include but are not limited to new construction, existing buildings, interior projects, single-family residential, multi-family residential, commercial, institutional, or medical & laboratory

© International Living Future Institute. For more information, visit living-future.org/lbc

Living Building Challenge projects come in all shapes and sizes and consist of new construction and renovation projects—including historic preservation. Requirements can vary based on project context and conditions, but the intent of the Imperatives remains the same, regardless of project type.

6. Fees

Fee payment occurs in three phases：
25% at Registration,
50% before Construction,
and 25% prior to the preliminary Ready Audit.

Note: All listed fees are in United States Dollars. The fee structure shown is as current as of March 2023. More details are available https://living-future.org/projectregistration

• LEED
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• SITES
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• Living Building Challenge
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