What is 'Living Building Challenge (LBC)'? What is its significance in Green Buildings Concept?

'LBC' or 'Living Building Challenge' is a rating system for green buildings which evaluates their overall design and construction efficiency by means of their actual performance indicators, and not just their projected or theoretical proficiency levels, unlike what LBC's counterpart LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) does.

In simpler terms, the basic difference Bricksnmortar Edesk has inferred between LBC and LEED ratings system is the following:
While LBC rates the buildings on their actual performance parameters upon usage in terms of energy efficiency, LEED rates them on projected performance efficiency parameters as well at design and construction phase also.

The datum for both the systems is though the same, i.e., both underline the need for buildings to be greener and more energy efficient.

For our readers who are not aware of the 'Green Buildings' concept yet, the simplest definition for them is-- Green buildings are the buildings that are conceptualized, designed, constructed and utilized in a manner that helps to increase the efficiency with which that particular building uses the available natural resources (like building materials, water, energy, other consumables, etc.) wisely and efficiently, thereby affecting the ambient and surrounding environment to the minimum extent possible.

Coming back to the main subject of today's post, LBC is one of the four initiatives of The International Living Future Institute, which is a non-governmental organization working towards catalyzing a global transformation toward true sustainability of green buildings. The rest of the three initiatives of this NGO are: Cascadia Green Building Council, The Natural Step Network USA and Ecotone Publishing.

Their website describes the Living Building Challenge (LBC) as:

• a philosophy, advocacy platform and certification program
• an evocative guide
• a beacon
• a unified tool
• a performance-based standard
• a visionary path to a restorative future

Those who would like to read more about LBC may go to their website clicking on the hyperlink - Living Building Challenge
Interested people may also surf through the story about their logo (why it is a 'dandelion')
---
Check out related links here at bricks-n-mortar.com:
-  What exactly are Green Buildings?
-  Getting the Buildings Designed and Dressed in "Green" to become Nature Friendly
-  5 myths about Going Green | Green Homes | Green Buildings

About Unknown

This is a short description in the author block about the author. You edit it by entering text in the "Biographical Info" field in the user admin panel.