The Living Building Challenge was created to inspire and certify buildings that go beyond sustainability, and are restorative in design. The Challenge leapfrogs the incremental improvements above code required by Energy Star, LEED, and other rating systems and aims to create the “greenest buildings anywhere… serving as role models for those that follow.” Living Buildings are required to achieve Net Zero energy and water use, and prohibited from using building materials known to cause cancer or disrupt hormonal systems. There are 20 “Imperatives” in the challenge, all mandatory, and certification is only awarded after a year occupancy, when it is certain that all have been achieved. WATERSHED has a Living Building Ambassador on staff and we are committed to ongoing volunteer presentations on the Living Building Challenge. Contact us if you would like to schedule a presentation or start a project!
