Earlier this month, ILFI proudly launched the latest iteration of our Just® program during the 2024 Living Future Conference in Atlanta, Georgia—Just 3.0!

Initially introduced in 2014, Just is a disclosure tool and framework for reflection, evaluation, and continuous improvement that helps organizations address social justice and equity throughout all aspects of their policies, practices, and culture. Just uplifts the understanding that it is people who make up businesses and communities and that people are the core of creating a Living Future.

Through Just, organizations publicly commit to an equitable and healthy workplace, examine their existing systems, culture, and practices, and then take meaningful action. While Just is primarily focused on organizations working in and adjacent to the building industry, the program is open to organizations across all industries.  

Taking a step back: why does justice matter for organizations?

While there has been ample research to show a strong business case for embedding social justice and equity into company policies and practices, the real reason for doing so is much simpler and more profound: it is the right thing to do. 

In recent years, there has been increased attention and awareness around workplace equity, showing a trend toward fostering more inclusive and diverse environments. However, there is still a long way to go to ensure equal opportunities and treatment for all employees. For example:

• 1 in 4 C-suite leaders is a woman, and only 1 in 16 is a woman of color
• In the U.S., women earn 84 cents for every dollar men earn
  • This gap expands to 69 cents for Black women, 59 cents for Native women, and 57 cents for Latinas
• Globally, women earn an average of 77 cents for every dollar men earn for work of equal value
• Only 33% of workers report being engaged at work (down from 36% in 2020)
• 84% of workers reported at least one workplace factor that negatively impacted their mental health and well-being

The good news is that organizations can play a role in reversing these trends. Many organizations in the building industry are waking up to equity issues and have a deepening desire to address them, but need a guiding framework to help them get started and keep growing. For individuals, the best place to start on this journey is with self-reflection and personal work. This holds true for organizations as well.

The best way for organizations to begin their social justice and equity journeys is by taking an introspective look inward. They can examine the current state of their own employee experience and operations and start transforming their internal policies and practices. That’s where Just can help: Just is a tool to help organizations better the lives of their employees and the broader community by providing measurable benchmarks to demonstrate commitment and action. 

How does Just work?

Just 3.0 is organized around 21 social justice and equity Indicators that are housed within six Categories: Diversity, Inclusion, Compensation, Health, Benefits, and Stewardship. It’s worth noting that overlaps and intersections inherently exist between both Categories and Indicators. For example, Gender Diversity affects Belonging, Accessibility affects Engagement, Workforce Empowerment and Living Wage affect Well-Being, and more.

The Categories and Indicators are not meant to convey defined boundaries or distinctions; rather, Just provides a framework for organizations to focus on specific actions that when taken together across all Indicators, help to collectively create more socially just and equitable workplaces. 

Each Just Indicator includes four levels of performance with associated metric criteria at each level, starting from the beginning of the journey of reflecting and assessing, all the way up to executed actions.

• Level 1 requires organizations to develop a policy. This focus on policy first is designed to prioritize codifying an organization’s commitments to equity and also makes participation in Just possible for all organizations.
• Levels 2 to 4 require actions of increasing effort toward embodying equity and justice related to the respective Indicator’s domain.
• Achieving Level 4 indicates an organization has demonstrated significant action toward “what good looks like” based on the current understanding of justice and equity and represents the highest performance level within the Just program.

ILFI encourages all organizations, including ones that achieve Level 4, to continually look at ways to further optimize equity, diversity, and inclusion within their organization. Our hope is that Just organizations partner with ILFI to work in tandem in evolving Just and the industry’s understanding and action plan for addressing health and equity. In the same way that ILFI will continuously seek to learn and push the bar further, organizations will similarly challenge themselves to take greater action to enhance equity in their workplaces.

A Just label provides basic information about an organization, such as organization type, location, and number of employees, as well as “at a glance” information about its progress across 21 social justice and equity Indicators.

An organization’s performance in the 21 Indicators is summarized on their Just label, which also includes high-level organizational information and a link to its individualized page on ILFI’s public Just database. This public disclosure of an organization’s achievement at the time of label publication:

• demonstrates an organization’s commitment to its equity and justice goals;
• facilitates transparency and accountability to its employees and prospective members of its workforce, clients, partners, and the rest of the industry; and
• provides a platform for showing continued improvement over time.

In the same way that ILFI will continuously seek to learn and push the bar further, organizations will similarly challenge themselves to take greater action to enhance equity in their workplaces.

What’s new in Just 3.0?

Just 3.0 is the result of a robust development process that took place over several years and involved conducting extensive research; collaborating with the 20 collective members of our Organizational Equity TAG; soliciting input from peer organizations, industry partners, and the public; and integrating feedback from our existing community of Just organizations. In an effort to encourage the further advancement of equity in the building industry, Just 3.0 includes additional and adjusted metrics to more holistically represent “what good looks like” as well as provide further guidance and clarity around how an organization can demonstrate its commitments and take action. 

Just 3.0 includes updates that apply across the program:

Just 3.0 introduces several new Indicators:

Other Indicators include significant refinements, resulting in a shift in focus and/or intent as well as impact:

For more details, including specific revisions made to existing Indicators to address challenge and gap areas, please visit our Resources page and review the Just 2.0 to 3.0 Program Update Summary. Note that the Program Manual itself will be your one-stop shop for all of the performance metrics and documentation requirements as well as supporting information and resources for organizations to undergo the process of pursuing a Just 3.0 label–we highly encourage you to review the Program Manual for full details of the current program requirements!

The Just journey

An organization’s Just label is a snapshot of the organization’s performance at the time of label publication. ILFI intends for the Just program to be a tool for organizations to use in their long-term journey toward holistically embodying social justice and equity. We encourage organizations to see their first label as a benchmark of where they are and to use the Just program to create a roadmap for where they want to go within each of the Indicators. We advocate for organizations to routinely reassess the relevance and impact of their policies, programs, and actions in order to understand what is working well and where changes can be made to increase the social justice and equity benefits for their employees and communities.

We invite you to join the Just community and start on your journey of growth and transformation toward social justice and equity in the workplace.

A Holistic Approach

In the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the City of Bridges Community Land Trust is tackling the affordable housing challenge in a holistic way. They are addressing the urgent demand for affordable and resilient housing and ensuring that the housing supports the health and well-being of residents, keeps operating costs affordable, and manages construction impact on the community. We talked to the Julie Nigro, who is Senior Real Estate Project Manager at City of Bridges Land Trust to learn how ILFI programs have supported these goals; the organization is participating in ILFI’s Affordable Housing Pilot Program and pursuing Living Building Certification for four units in Hazelwood. 

City of Bridges is a nonprofit developer of permanent affordable housing that has been operating for five years. “Ours is a pay-it-forward model,” Nigro says. “We retain the land and sell the homes to an income-qualified person, who buys it at a lower than market rate. The community retains land ownership and we are able to hold those below-market rates.” At present, the City of Bridges has 22 homeowners in a number of neighborhoods across the city. In Hazelwood, there was a lot of vacancy after years of disinvestment, and recently tech company interest had spurred some speculation. “We are trying to get ahead of that,” Nigro says, “to help increase the capacity of people to stay.” The developer was working with architect Rothschild Doyno Collaborative, who introduced them to ILFI programs and it was decided that they would pursue the Living Building Challenge (Core Certification). The four units have recently broken ground: These are modular, factory-built units.

“The pilot project has been great,” Nigro reports. “Monthly Zoom meetings with the whole affordable housing team have enabled our project team to connect with others around the country. This provides immense value to the project. It is tremendously helpful to have peer support while we seek to achieve affordable housing and reach really high energy and material standards.” Nigro says that they always strive for better than code energy and comfort standards, but “we want to be sure that our homes are affordable to purchase and affordable to live in, too. That’s crucial for our model and a very important part of the story. We, perhaps more than most developers, know that the building is not ‘done’ when it is occupied. That is just the beginning.” She adds that the Hazelwood neighborhood has historically had poor air quality. For this reason, the team was very focused on ensuring very high indoor air quality standards for these units. 

Everything we are doing here is replicable.

“The Living Building model is ideal for our goals and aligns with our values,” Nigro says. “We are focused on the impacts on residents. Another critical aspect is that this is not a one-off: everything we are doing here is replicable, and the more times we do it, the lower the cost can be. Part of our story is about tracking the bills and talking to the residents. We are excited to look at this long term, to show how these are so much more affordable to live in.” 

Cover image courtesy of Rothschild Doyno Collaborative.

Your donation supports community impact

Do you want to be part of making lasting change? Around the world, there is a community of people working towards a living future every day. In ways great and small, they are changing minds, overcoming obstacles, and bringing ambitious projects to life. Individually, they cause ripples that show what’s possible. Collectively, they envision the regenerative future that we all want. Will you join us in this transformative work? Your donation to the International Living Future Institute equips us to assist this community with programs, technical support, events,  education, and more.  Your donation will help us realize the possible together.

The International Living Future Institute is thrilled to celebrate the recent achievements from our Living Future Members in constructing buildings and communities, manufacturing products, and leading organizations that move us towards a future that is socially just, culturally rich, and ecologically restorative. Here are the milestones that have been accomplished so far in 2021!

Use the links below to jump to a section in this article.

Living Building Challenge

Zero Carbon Certification

Zero Energy Certification

Ready Recognition

Living Community Challenge

Just

Declare

Project Registrations

Living Building Challenge

Living Certification

Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design – Atlanta, GA, USA 

The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design is the first in the state of Georgia to achieve Living Certification. It is a multi-disciplinary education building located within the Georgia Tech campus. The building serves as a fully functional, working model of sustainable principles for a variety of audiences to access, study, and replicate.

Loom House – Bainbridge Island, WA, USA 

The Loom House is the first renovation of a single-family home to achieve Living Certification. It is also the fourth single-family residence anywhere in the world to achieve Living Certification and the first to do so under version 4.0 of the Living Building Challenge.

Petal Certification 

Burwood Brickworks – Melbourne, VIC, Australia

The Burwood Brickworks Shopping Centre is a large, mixed-use urban retail development that achieved Petal Certification, including the Place, Health + Happiness, Materials, Equity, and Beauty Petals. When asked why the team decided to pursue certification, they shared that they wanted to prove it was possible to develop an “ordinary” retail centre for “ordinary” people, in an extraordinary way. 

Cope Environmental Center – Centerville, IN, USA

The Cope Environmental Center is the first project in Indiana to achieve Petal Certification, accomplishing the impressive feat of meeting six of the seven Petals, all but Materials. Persevering through regulatory barriers on their Water strategy, the project uses non-potable water for toilet flushing.

The Green Point Project – Cowichan Bay, BC, Canada

This truly unique single-family home is the 4th to achieve Petal Certification in British Columbia. By utilizing an on-site well for water supply, and grey and blackwater systems for water treatment, this project has accomplished the impressive feat of achieving the Water Petal, along with Place and Beauty. 

Mesquite House – San Antonio, TX, USA 

Mesquite House is a single-family home that achieved the Place, Energy, Equity, and Beauty Petals. Located in a designated historic district, the project is designed to belong in the district while highlighting the modern strategies used to meet the Energy Petal requirements, including an 11.16 kW solar array with 36 panels. 

The Monarch School – Houston, TX, USA

The Monarch School serves as an environmental stewardship and educational tool to engage students and the larger Houston community, providing therapeutic education to individuals with neurological differences. Achieving the Materials, Equity, and Beauty Petals, the studio is the first Petal Certification within the state of Texas, and the first ILFI Certification in the city of Houston. 

MSR Design New Office – Minneapolis, MN, USA

MSR Design’s New Office in Minneapolis achieved the Materials, Equity, and Beauty Petals. MSR Design decided that Petal Certification was an excellent fit for their project since it aligned with their firm’s strategic goal of being a leading firm that achieves generative impacts across the board on all of their projects. 

Sonoma Academy – Santa Rosa, CA, USA

The Sonoma Academy Maker and Grange Studios is a learning facility with maker spaces, a cooking lab, a cafeteria, and indoor & outdoor classrooms. The project has achieved the Energy, Materials, Equity, and Beauty Petals, as well as Zero Carbon Certification. The school students were interested in an authentic project that told a story that was relevant to their region. 

Zero Carbon Certification

Civitas | archimania – Memphis, TN, USA 

Civitas is a 3,000SF single-family home which is the second project to achieve Zero Carbon certification and the first to achieve dual certification with Zero Energy. The architect worked closely with the team and their family to prioritize health and sustainability through modern design that valued transparency, efficiency, and resiliency. 

Sonoma Academy – Santa Rosa, CA, USA

Also achieved Petal Certification — See above for more info about the project. 

Zero Energy Certification

Adlai Stevenson High School East Addition – Lincolnshire, IL, USA

A Zero Energy Certified 54,000SF addition was built for Adlai Stevenson High School in order to cater to their expanding student body and diversifying educational needs. This new facility comprises classrooms, maker labs, and multi-purpose presentation spaces, in addition to physics and engineering labs. There is also roof space for teaching opportunities surrounding their greenhouse and gardens onsite.

Civitas | archimania – Memphis, TN, USA 

Also achieved Zero Carbon Certification — See above for more info about the project. 

North Coastal Live Well Center – Oceanside, CA, USA 

The three-story, 36,000SF North Coastal Live Well Center serves as a space for facility houses aging and independence services, a military and veterans resource center, community health promotions, regional administration, public health and behavioral health services. In order to support an enhanced quality of life for its occupants, this building values healthy, high-performing spaces that fits in with its natural surroundings. 

Electrical Training Institute – Los Angeles, CA, USA 

This 144,000SF training center achieved a net-zero energy profile by improving the performance of the building by 40% and installing on-site arrays on their roof and parking lot. The project took advantage of a utility microgrid and piloted smart battery technology to address peak load demand. Over 6,000 electrical workers and contractors are trained annually at this facility, so it is only fitting that they are given hands-on experience in a best-in-class building. 

Ready Recognition

In response to feedback from our project teams, we’ve established the Ready designation, where a 3rd-party auditor reviews all non-performance project documentation as well as modeled performance data at the end of the construction phase. This pre-certification audit confirms that projects are on the path towards certification and helps teams feel confident before they begin their performance period. Two projects have achieved Ready designation so far in 2021:  

City Services Building – Santa Monica, CA, USA – LBC Living Ready 

Marisol Lot 17 – Malibu, CA, USA – Zero Carbon Ready

Living Community Challenge

As Living Community Challenge projects are more complex and take a long time to move from idea to reality, we acknowledge four milestones: Vision Plan Compliance, Master Plan Compliance, Emerging Community Status, and finally Certification at the Zero Energy, Petal or Living level. So far this year, we celebrate two project achievements:

Vision Plan Compliance

Sacramento Valley Station – Sacramento, CA, USA

As our first municipal project achieving LCC Vision Plan Compliance, Sacramento Valley Station is genuinely leading the way. Consisting of 23 acres of city-owned land in an urban setting, the project serves as a regional transportation hub with rail and bus routes that serve populations far and wide. 

Master Plan Compliance

Reserva Santa Fe – Mexico

Located on 663 acres of land in the mountains between Mexico City and Toluca, Reserva Santa Fe is the largest project to receive LCC Master Plan Compliance, and the third project to reach this milestone.  With a goal of transforming the paradigm of real estate in Mexico, Reserva Santa Fe aims to create a sustainable, regenerative, and inclusive community. 

Just Organizations

So far this year, 34 organizations have received a Just label under version 2.0. There are now 127 active labels accessible on the Just database, and many more are in progress. Here are the organizations that recently received a new or updated label (please note that some database entries are in development and will be active soon):   

• Architectural Resources Cambridge / ARC 
• Ayers Saint Gross
• BCCI Construction LLC
• BranchPattern, Inc. 
• CallisonRTKL Inc. 
• David Baker Architects 
• Deborah Berke Partners
• Dillon Kyle Architects
• E2 Solar Inc.
• Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects 
• Graham Construction Company
• GreeNexus Consulting, LLC 
• Group14 Engineering, PBC 
• Guttmann & Blaevoet 
• Habitech – Distretto Tecnologico Trentino Scarl
• Herrera Environmental Consultants
• Holst Architecture
• Integral Global
• Kubala Washatko Architects
• LHTDesign Limited 
• Lord Aeck Sargent 
• LPA, Inc. 
• LRS Architects, Inc.
• Mahlum 
• MCG Explore Design
• McKinney York Architect 
• Noll & Tam Architects 
• O’Brien360
• Pure Architects
• SRG Partnership, Inc.
• Steinberg Hart 
• Studio 111 Architecture 
• VEIC 
• Woonerf

Declare Labels

The Declare database continues to grow with 886 active labels, which includes 95 new labels that were added so far this year from the following manufacturers:

• Advance Flooring Systems (3)
• AHF, LLC (4)
• Allegion (1)
• Arcoplast, Inc. (1)
• Aristech Surfaces LLC (1)
• Arktura, LLC. (1)
• Armadillo & Co (13)
• Armstrong World Industries – Ceiling & Wall Solutions (2)
• Aspecta N.A. (2)
• ASSA ABLOY Australia (1)
• Boss Design Limited (2)
• Congoleum (1)
• Corticeira Amorim (4)
• Dorken Systems, Inc. (1)
• ECOHouse (1)
• Element5 Co. (2)
• FACT Design (1)
• Frasch (1)
• Gruppo Concorde S.p.A. (5)
• Herman Miller Group (1)
• Humanscale (10)
• Interflex (1)
• Knauf GmbH Sucursal España (2)
• Knauf Insulation, Inc. (2)
• Lititz Flooring Company (1)
• Longboard Products (1)
• Luxes (1)
• Metro Performance Glass (1)
• Metroflor Corporation (1)
• Middle Earth Tiles Limited (1)
• Moll bauoekologische Produkte GmbH (1)
• Muraflex (1)
• Northern Facades Ltd. (1)
• Pacific Coil Coaters (2)
• pba S.p.a. (2)
• Philadelphia Commercial (1)
• Prysmian Group (1)
• Quarella (2)
• Roca (5)
• ROCKWOOL (2)
• Southwire Company LLC (1)
• Swegon (1)
• Technistone, a.s. (2)
• Tubelite, Inc. (2)

Registered Projects

Finally, we would like to celebrate the projects that have officially stepped up to pursue one of our building certifications. The following 38 projects have registered so far in 2021:

LBC Living

• Academy for Global Citizenship – Chicago, IL, USA
• Circlewood Village – Camano Island, WA, USA
• Island Grown Farm – Vineyard Haven, MA, USA
• King County Metro Bus Stop – Auburn, WA, USA
• Nexus Builds 1 – Salt Lake City, UT, USA
• Nexus Builds 2 – Salt Lake City, UT, USA
• Pā Reo – Ōtaki, WLG, New Zealand
• Vlahoke – Weogufka, AL, USA
• 3 confidential projects

LBC Petal

• Brown-Teal Residence at Deer Lake – Deer River, MN, USA
• Glendarrah CoHousing – Hazelbrook, NSW, New Zealand
• Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park at Rowan University – Sewell, NJ, USA
• 2 confidential projects

Core Green Building Certification

• Cape Cod Pavilion – Barnstable, MA, USA
• Environmental Education and Research Center – Kenmore, WA, USA
• FSi Engineers Seattle Office – Seattle, WA, USA
• Lovettsville – Lovettsville, VA, USA
• Muhlenberg College Parkway Community Building – Allentown, PA, USA
• Paremata Apartments – Porirua, WLG, New Zealand
• Swarthmore College Martin Building Renovation & Addition – Swarthmore, PA, USA
• Unison Networks Windsor Substation – Hastings, Hawke’s Bay, NZ
• Yee Chain International Co., Ltd. Headquarters – Taichung City, Taiwan

Zero Carbon

• Casa Adelante – San Francisco, CA, USA
• Kelso House – San Antonio, TX, USA
• Tree Haus – Wilson, WY, USA
• 4 confidential projects

Zero Energy

• Ardor Wood Farm – Red Rock, TX, USA
• City of Berkeley’s Adult Mental Health Clinic – Berkeley, CA, USA
• Lakeside Branch Library – Lakeside, CA, USA
• MC2 HQ Building – Abu Dhabi, UAE
• Navigate Office Center – St. Louis, MO, USA
• Stead Park Community Center – Washington, DC, USA

We would like to give a big round of applause to all of these milestones and achievements! 

If you are interested in pursuing a label or certification, we are happy to assist you. Schedule a time with ILFI’s Sales team to review the registration process: https://living-future.org/connections/.

Cover image: Cope Environmental Center, a Petal certified building. Photo courtesy of Cope Environmental Center

After seven years of operating its composting toilet system, the Bullitt Center made the decision in early 2020 to switch to a highly efficient vacuum flush system connected to Seattle’s sanitary sewer by December 31, 2020. 

To capture lessons learned and rationale for this decision, the Bullitt Center has developed a white paper, which you can read here.

The team at the International Living Future Institute has been engaged throughout this process, which is now complete. 

As Denis Hayes, CEO of the Bullitt Foundation, says in the white paper, “The Bullitt Center is a giant science experiment. We integrated lots of bleeding-edge technologies. If everything had worked perfectly, that might have meant we hadn’t been bold enough.”

The Bullitt Center remains Living Certified, having met the requirements of the standard – including the one-year performance period – in 2015. The Living Building Challenge offers multiple pathways to meet the Water Petal, including documented due diligence and advocacy. The Bullitt Center has certainly done its due diligence, and has been one of the most visible advocates for the Living Building Challenge, helping to move the entire industry forward. 

To learn more about the Living Building Challenge and the Water Petal, join us at Living Future 2021: Inclusion and Unity where the program includes a virtual tour of the PAE Living Building – which integrates lessons from the Bullitt Center into its newly installed composting system – and a session on “Taking the Plunge: Water Petal Lessons from the Field.” 

You can also sign up for Inbox Inspiration, our monthly newsletter, to stay up to date on the latest news and progress on Living Buildings and other efforts to promote regenerative water use. 

If you have questions, please email lbc.certifications@living-future.org. 

Globally recognized human rights advocate, strategist, and writer of Nigerian-American descent brings international focus to the organization

JANUARY 26, 2021 (SEATTLE) – Opal Tometi has joined the Board of Directors for the International Living Future Institute, the organization announced today. Known as an award-winning human rights defender and one of three women co-founders of Black Lives Matter, Tometi was recently named one of the most influential people of 2020 by TIME magazine.

“Social justice has long been at the core of our programs, so we are thrilled to have Opal joining our board,” said Anthony Guerrero, Board Chair of the Institute and Chief Real Estate and Sustainability Officer at Natural Resources Defense Council. “It is obvious that a future filled with Living Buildings must rest on a foundation of equity and inclusion for people too often pushed to the margins today.”

The Institute’s mission is to lead the transformation toward a civilization that is socially just, culturally rich, and ecologically restorative. The organization is best known for the Living Building Challenge, the world’s most advanced, holistic performance standard for buildings.

“The Institute offers an important international vehicle to both advance social justice and grow the community of those committed to building a sustainable future,” Tometi offered. “I am happy to serve on this Board and help extend the organization’s reach and impact.” 

In addition to the Living Building Challenge, the Institute operates a suite of programs such as Zero Carbon Certification, Declare, Just and the Living Product Challenge, which have been embraced by many of the world’s leading companies, including Google, McDonald’s, Microsoft, and Salesforce. For more information, visit https://living-future.org/.

About Opal Tometi 

Opal Tometi is one of the most influential human rights leaders of the century according to TIME magazine. As one of the three women co-founders of Black Lives Matter digital platform and chapter-based network, her name is etched in history. Hailed as a feminist freedom fighter, Tometi is respected for her track record of uniting communities, and for her thought leadership on race, immigration, and gender. In early 2019 she completed nearly a decade of service as the Executive Director of the Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI), the first immigrant rights organization for people of African descent in the United States. Opal is a trusted advisor and serves on the board of  Atlantic Fellows for Racial Equity and the International Living Futures Institute. She has graced the cover of magazines because of her achievements and received numerous recognitions including an honorary PhD, being named most influential women of the century by USA Today, TIME Magazine, and Most Influential People by Forbes, Marie Claire, Glamour and Cosmopolitan magazines. Tometi was also honored by the City University of New York (CUNY) with a scholarship in her name to support immigrant students pursuing law degrees. In 2019 she also received the Coretta Scott King Center Award and Douglass 200 Award, and is currently featured in a video installation at the Smithsonian’s National Museum for African History and Culture for her contributions in thought-leadership for the betterment of the diaspora. As the daughter of Nigerian immigrants, Opal has set her movement sights on an even bigger struggle: uplifting Black lives worldwide. In 2020 she founded Diaspora Rising, a new media and advocacy hub dedicated to strengthening the bonds amongst members of the global Black family. Additionally she’s focused on other social enterprises. With nearly two decades as a human rights champion, she still feels her work has only just begun. Learn more at www.opaltometi.org. 

About the International Living Future Institute

The International Living Future Institute is a global nonprofit organization committed to advancing communities that are socially just, culturally rich, and ecologically restorative. The Institute operates the Living Building Challenge, the world’s most ambitious, advanced, and holistic performance standard for green, resilient, and healthy buildings. It is also a hub for many other visionary programs that support the transformation toward a living future. The Institute believes that providing a compelling vision for the future is a fundamental requirement for reconciling humanity’s relationship with the natural world and one another. Learn more at www.living-future.org.

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Media Contact:

Brad Kahn

+1-206-419-1607

brad@groundworkstrategies.com

ILFI retains Koya Partners

JANUARY 5, 2021 – NEW YORK – The International Living Future Institute (ILFI) is pleased to announce that its CEO search committee selected Koya Partners, a leading executive search and strategic advising firm dedicated to connecting exceptionally talented people to mission-driven clients. Koya Managing Director, Kara Teising, will lead the search process and candidate recruitment effort on behalf of ILFI.

2020 marked a year of reflection, assessment, and adjustment for the Institute, leading the organization to a position of hope, optimism, and financial strength to launch the search for the next CEO. The ILFI Board of Directors created a CEO Search Committee dedicated to finding the Institute’s next leader, whose members include: Ibrahim Abdul-Matin, Paolo Bevilacqua, Tom Bland, Beth Heider, Jason McLennan, Margaret Montgomery, and K C Gauldine.

“Given the importance and global reach of the organization and the expanding ecosystem of programs that ILFI is engaged in order to advance its mission to create a Living Future, we feel it is important for the Search Committee to consider a pool of candidates that reflects the communities which we serve,” Committee Chair Anthony Guerrero said.  

To date, the ILFI CEO Search Committee, in partnership with Koya, has prioritized early effective methods for broad and inclusive consultation and stakeholder engagement with the Living Future Community. This input will inform the Candidate Profile that the ILFI Board hopes to announce in early February, with the completion of the search and announcement of the next ILFI CEO before the summer of 2021.

About the International Living Future Institute

The International Living Future Institute is an environmental NGO committed to catalyzing the transformation toward communities that are socially just, culturally rich and ecologically restorative. The Institute is premised on the belief that providing a compelling vision for the future is a fundamental requirement for reconciling humanity’s relationship with the natural world. The Institute operates the Living Building Challenge, the world’s most ambitious, advanced, and holistic performance standard for buildings. It is a hub for many other visionary programs that support the transformation toward a living future. Learn more at www.living-future.org.

Media contact: media@living-future.org

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(SEATTLE, December 1, 2020) – PCC Community Markets (PCC), the largest community-owned food co-op in the U.S., in collaboration with the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), today announced that the PCC Community Markets in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle is the first Living Building Challenge (LBC) Petal-Certified grocery store in the world. To obtain the certification, PCC met stringent requirements for the Materials, Place and Beauty Petals in pursuit of ILFI’s LBC Petal Certification, the world’s most rigorous green building standard.

“PCC is setting the standard for grocers around the world — showing the possibilities of building for a better future,” said Shawn Hesse, Director of Business Development at the International Living Future Institute. “We look forward to seeing how PCC continues to drive positive impacts in their community as they pursue the Challenge with their future locations.”

The Ballard PCC certification comes after years of effort to reimagine store design. Built with an eye to reducing environmental impact, the store creates a unique space that nurtures a deep sense of connection to nature and the local community. The Ballard location is the first of PCC’s stores to be LBC Petal Certified. Two others were built for certification and are going through evaluations — West Seattle and Bellevue — and the co-op will develop the upcoming Downtown, Kirkland (relocation) and Madison Valley stores to meet LBC requirements. PCC is participating in ILFI’s Volume Pilot Program, which increases efficiency when certifying multiple projects by evaluating store design and materials at a portfolio scale.

“For decades, PCC has worked to build sustainable and organic food systems so that we could sell food with less harmful chemicals in our stores. Through our partnership with ILFI, we were able to reduce the harmful chemicals in our stores themselves,” said Brenna Davis, PCC’s VP of Social and Environmental Responsibility. “In our pursuit of the Petals, we built a stunning store with sustainably sourced and less toxic building materials; energy-efficient systems that lower climate impact; and beautiful public art with the sole intent of celebrating the Ballard neighborhood.”

Materials Petal: Safe Materials & A Focus on the Local Community

One of the most critical and resource-intensive elements of the Certification was ensuring Ballard PCC eliminated building materials that contain chemicals on the LBC “Red List.” LBC works to eliminate the use of the “worst-in-class” materials and chemicals on their Red List — an extensive list of over 800 toxic substances that have the greatest negative impact to human and ecosystem health. PCC spent thousands of hours over the course of two years reviewing hundreds of building materials and pieces of equipment, down to individual components, to confirm that materials were LBC and Red List compliant for the Ballard store.

To meet the rigorous demands, PCC had to find new vendors, in some instances including new suppliers, for Red List-free interior finishes, such as drywall, concrete finishes, and paints. PCC also worked with some existing manufacturers to change their process and deliver custom designs:

• Checkstand Belts: The initially proposed conveyor belt contained polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a Red List substance deemed harmful to human and environmental health. After an extensive search for materials, the manufacturer identified a urethane/polyester belt alternative, making the belt that PCC staff, members and shoppers come in contact with safer for them and their groceries.
• Lighting: Initially, one of the lighting manufacturers was using a powder coating that was on LBC’s Red List. PCC worked with this manufacturer to customize their fixtures with a safer material so that they could be used in the store. The Ballard store was also designed to maximize the use of natural light — depending less on electricity during daylight hours. When natural light is insufficient, the co-op uses light emitting diode (LED) fixtures that consume 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than traditional incandescent fixtures.

In the build of this store, PCC also looked to invest in the local economy and minimize the environmental impacts associated with transportation of goods during construction. More than one-third (33%) of the building materials (by material budget) were sourced within 500 km (311 mi) of the store and 97% of building materials (by material budget) were sourced from within the U.S. Additionally, the project team advocated for the elimination of toxic substances in the marketplace by writing more than 300 letters to manufacturers promoting safe building products.

Place Petal: Protecting Thriving Ecosystems

The ILFI’s Habitat Exchange Program — under the Place Petal — works to protect existing, thriving ecosystems from compromise as a result of development. With the build of the new store, the co-op contributed funds to protect, in perpetuity, an area of land equivalent to Ballard PCC’s building footprint of approximately 27,000 square feet. For context — with this support, PCC is helping to protect land half the size of a professional football field.

Beauty Petal: Inspired Art

Meeting the needs of the Beauty Petal ensures that Ballard PCC is more than just a location that co-op members and shoppers can feel good about; it was also designed to elevate their spirits as soon as they enter. PCC partnered with Seattle illustrator and artist, Kyler Martz, to create a stunning entryway installation that showcases art that aims to enrich the lives of those who pass by.

Martz’s work pays homage to the nautical roots of the Ballard neighborhood and the Puget Sound, home to the world’s largest species of octopus. The installation features a 16-foot-tall octopus and an underwater-themed mural — all of which also avoid Red List materials. To do this, Kyler had to adjust his standard process of using Styrofoam for the initial model and instead worked with wood. He used reclaimed materials wherever possible — including 448 used ramekins from a local restaurant supply store for the octopus’ tentacles.

Ongoing Commitment to Sustainability

In addition to the copious work done to meet the standard for LBC Petal Certification, PCC also made design decisions that were outside of the Petal requirements and beyond what traditional grocers use, including:

• Water Conservation: Compared to standard models, Ballard PCC’s steam cookers use 90% less water and the store’s dishwashers use 40% less water. The co-op also selected faucets that use 60% less water than standard faucets yet achieve the same water pressure.
• Sustainable Refrigeration: PCC installed a carbon dioxide refrigeration system, which boasts 3,000 times less of a global warming potential than the synthetic refrigerants used in most grocery stores.

Ballard PCC opened on November 13, 2019 and is the co-op’s 13^th of 15 locations. It is the first PCC location to be Petal Certified; West Seattle and Bellevue locations are going through the same certification process as will the Downtown, Kirkland and Madison Valley stores once they open.

About PCC Community Markets

Founded in Seattle in 1953, PCC Community Markets (PCC) is the nation’s largest community-owned food market with an unmatched enthusiasm for making food from scratch. PCC is a haven for those who share a dedication to fresh, organic, seasonal food that is sustainably sourced from local producers, farmers, ranchers and fishers. With an active membership of just over 86,000 households, PCC operates 15 stores in the Puget Sound area, including the cities of Bellevue, Bothell, Burien, Edmonds, Issaquah, Kirkland, Redmond and Seattle. Seattle stores are in the neighborhoods of Ballard, Central District, Columbia City, Fremont, Green Lake, View Ridge and West Seattle. The co-op also plans to open new stores in Downtown Seattle and Madison Valley and relocate its Kirkland location.

In 2019, PCC gave more than 65% percent of pretax earnings to members and the communities it serves, including nonprofits around the Puget Sound area such as Washington Farmland Trust, FareStart, Ventures, and Long Live the Kings.

About the International Living Future Institute
The International Living Future Institute is an environmental NGO committed to catalyzing the transformation toward communities that are socially just, culturally rich and ecologically restorative. The Institute is premised on the belief that providing a compelling vision for the future is a fundamental requirement for reconciling humanity’s relationship with the natural world. The Institute operates the Living Building Challenge, the world’s most advanced, holistic performance standard for buildings. It is a hub for many other visionary programs that support the transformation toward a living future. Learn more at www.living-future.org.

Makes progress as it works to become the first arena in the world to receive certification by the International Living Future Institute

SEATTLE – Nov. 12 — Climate Pledge Arena and Oak View Group today announced that the arena has submitted its registration to the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) as it works to become the first arena in the world to be net Zero Carbon certified.

ILFI, a leading non-profit organization dedicated to advancing sustainable building practices, will now begin reviewing documentation provided by the arena, as well as twelve consecutive months of performance data once the building opens in 2021, to ensure it meets the net Zero Carbon standard.

“Registration with ILFI represents the next big step for Climate Pledge Arena on its road to achieving a net Zero Carbon certification,” said Jason F. McLennan, Founder of the International Living Future Institute and CEO of McLennan Design. “The arena is making major strides in energy efficiency, elimination of natural gas from the building and both on-site and off-site renewables that should achieve net zero carbon operating status in its first year of operation.”

“Climate Pledge Arena shows beyond a doubt that buildings of all sizes and uses can pursue net Zero Carbon certification,” said Shawn Hesse, Director of Business Development at the International Living Future Institute. “With this move, the project team is raising the bar for professional and collegiate sports arenas – and for other global organizations – by embracing independent verification of their climate commitments.”

The 18,100-seat multi-purpose venue located at Seattle Center is expected to host 200 events each year, including the NHL’s 32nd and newest expansion team Seattle Kraken, four-time WNBA world champion Seattle Storm, live music and entertainment from the world’s biggest stars, and City of Seattle community events. It is currently undergoing a transformation to construct a brand-new arena under the landmark Paul Thiry-designed roof.

“Amazon has an ambitious goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions across our own business by 2040, and we are thrilled to support the arena on its journey,” said Chris Roe, Head of Sustainable Operations at Amazon. “We’re excited by the arena’s progress, which will inspire climate action and set a new bar for sustainability in the sports and entertainment industry.”

The Climate Pledge, announced in 2019 by Amazon and Global Optimism, calls on signatories to be net- zero carbon across their businesses by 2040—a decade ahead of the Paris Climate Agreement. In securing the naming rights of the historic arena in June 2020, Amazon named it Climate Pledge Arena as a regular reminder of the importance of acting to fighting climate change.

Construction on the arena is on track to hit major milestones by the end of 2020 in reaching its goals to be net Zero Carbon certified, including:

-Completing design and preparing for installation of solar panels on-site at the arena and at the Kraken Training Center at Northgate.

-Installation of the first all-electric dehumidifiers in the National Hockey League, keeping the moisture in the rink low for optimum ice conditions.

-Installation of all electric boilers to serve the full arena.

To learn more about Climate Pledge Arena visit www.ClimatePledgeArena.com.

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About Climate Pledge Arena

Climate Pledge Arena, located at Seattle Center, will be the first net Zero Carbon certified arena in the world. It will serve as a long-lasting and regular reminder of the urgent need for climate action. The Climate Pledge, which was founded by Amazon and Global Optimism in 2019, is a commitment from companies globally to be net zero carbon by 2040. The complete redevelopment of this historic landmark, originally built for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, will be an industry first. Home to the NHL’s Seattle Kraken, WNBA’s Seattle Storm, and the world’s biggest performers of live music and events, Climate Pledge Arena will open in 2021. Learn more at www.climatepledgearena.com.

About Oak View Group (OVG)

Oak View Group (OVG) is a global sports and entertainment company founded by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff in 2015. OVG is focused on being a positive disruption to business as usual in the sports and live entertainment industry and currently has 8 divisions across 4 global offices (Los Angeles, New York, London, and Philadelphia). OVG is leading the redevelopment and operations of Climate Pledge Arena as well as arena development projects in Belmont, NY, Austin, TX, Manchester, England and Milan, Italy. OVG Global Partnerships, a division of OVG, is the sales and marketing arm responsible for selling across all OVG arena development projects.

About the International Living Future Institute

The International Living Future Institute is an environmental NGO committed to catalyzing the transformation toward communities that are socially just, culturally rich and ecologically restorative. The Institute is premised on the belief that providing a compelling vision for the future is a fundamental requirement for reconciling humanity’s relationship with the natural world. The Institute operates the Living Building Challenge, the world’s most advanced, holistic performance standard for buildings. It is a hub for many other visionary programs that support the transformation toward a living future. Learn more at www.living-future.org.

About Amazon

Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit https://www.aboutamazon.com/ and follow @AmazonNews.

About McLennan Design

McLennan Design is one of the world’s leading multi-disciplinary, regenerative design practices, focused on deep green outcomes in the fields of architecture, planning, consulting, and product design. The firm uses an ecological perspective to drive design creativity and innovation. McLennan and his team bring substantial knowledge and unmatched expertise to projects of all types around the globe. McLennan is the founder of the Living Building Challenge, winner of the Buckminster Fuller Prize and ENR’s National Award of Excellence. For more information see www.mclennan-design.com.

PRESS RELEASE: Regenerative Retrofit: California’s First Living Building

New book from industry leader in green building performance explores building reuse, water and energy independence, biophilic design, and a carbon-free future. 

SEATTLE, WA., September 23, 2020—Ecotone Publishing, the industry’s original green architecture and design publisher, today announced the release of the seventh book in the Living Building Challenge Series titled Regenerative Retrofit: California’s First Living Building, researched and written by Juliet Grable.

Regenerative Retrofit details the journey of the renowned architecture firm, Architectural Nexus, and its experiences designing, constructing, owning, and operating California’s very first Certified Living Building. The Arch Nexus Sacramento (SAC) building, a 1950s-era warehouse located in Sacramento’s bustling R Street Corridor, produces more energy than it consumes, is capable of running solely on captured rainwater, and exemplifies resilient design that connects people to nature and the human community.

Following the success of Arch Nexus SAC, Arch Nexus is also announcing plans to transform its corporate headquarters in Salt Lake City to Utah’s first commercial Living Certified Building. The new project builds upon the firm’s achievement of creating the first Living Certified Building in California, detailed in Regenerative Retrofit. 

Speaking about the new project, Kenner B. Kingston, Arch Nexus President and 2018 Living Building Challenge Hero, said, “When we embarked on the Arch Nexus SAC project, one of our many goals was to harvest regenerative design philosophy and knowledge from California and bring it to the Intermountain West.” He continued, “We have been able to do that by working with Community Rebuilds, an outstanding affordable housing group in Moab, Utah, to build four incredible homes that are now in the performance period for Living Building Certification. 

“Today we are pleased to announce that we are ready to realize our goal in the commercial realm–Arch Nexus SLC, our 30,000 square foot headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah is pursuing Living Building Challenge 4.0 certification! With bidding complete and permitting in progress, please wish us luck as we take this meaningful journey for a second time,” Kingston finished.

Chronicling the Arch Nexus SAC office project, Regenerative Retrofit follows a design process rooted in biophilic relationships to place and the collaboration among a stellar team of architects, engineers, builders, and artists who together created a remarkably resilient, low-carbon solution to today’s critical climate challenges. It also highlights the key role of “high-performance occupants” who, as stewards of one of the greenest buildings in the world, can make a significant impact to optimize building performance. 

Beautifully illustrated and enlivened with the many voices of those who contributed to the project, Regenerative Retrofit provides inspiration for teams embarking on their Living Building projects, as well as a roadmap for how to preserve and regenerate our legacy buildings for future generations. 

Regenerative Retrofit: California’s First Living Building (ISBN 978-0-9972368-9-7) is available online and can be ordered through architecture and building bookstores throughout North America. For more information or to order the book, please visit https://store.living-future.org

About the Author

Juliet Grable is a freelance writer whose work covers a range of topics related to sustainability, regenerative design and construction. She has served as the Managing Editor for Green Builder Magazine, and has contributed to many national and regional publications including Earth Island Journal, Sierra, Audubon, and Home Power.

About Arch Nexus

Architectural Nexus is a multi-disciplinary, people-driven design firm practicing throughout the western United States. By focusing on people rather than buildings, we design projects and create places that not only work well, but also help people be healthy, happy, and productive. Through purposeful design, people are inspired to achieve greatness and be more active stewards of the built and natural environments.

About Ecotone Publishing

Ecotone Publishing is the non-profit publishing arm of the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) and a key component of ILFI’s strategy for sharing expert information about green building technologies and design innovations to create a Living Future. As a publisher, Ecotone produces educational case studies, technical knowledge on renewable energy and regenerative and biophilic design, and is the leading source of published information about Living Buildings worldwide. Ecotone also offers professional publishing services to help design firms and organizations document and share their stories, lessons learned, and design solutions with others who are also seeking to address the climate crisis and have a positive impact on their communities.

About the International Living Future Institute

The International Living Future Institute is an environmental NGO committed to catalyzing the transformation toward communities that are socially just, culturally rich, and ecologically restorative. The Institute is premised on the belief that providing a compelling vision for the future is a fundamental requirement for reconciling humanity’s relationship with the natural world. The Institute operates the Living Building Challenge, the world’s most ambitious, advanced, and holistic performance standard for buildings. It is a hub for many other visionary programs that support the transformation toward a living future. Learn more at www.living-future.org.

Title: Regenerative Retrofit: California’s First Living Building
Release: September 23, 2020
Series: Living Building Challenge Series (LBCS) 7th book.
Author: Juliet Grable
Foreword: Kathleen Smith
Publisher: Ecotone Publishing (Imprint of the International Living Future Institute)
ISBN: 978-0-9972368-9-7
List: $36.95
Pages: 176
Specs: Softcover, Full Color, Perfect bound, 9”x 9”

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The International Living Future Institute (ILFI) is excited to introduce a new approach to building certification programs, including the Living Building Challenge, Core Green Building Certification, Zero Carbon, and Zero Energy. Our updated structure is designed to provide newly registered project teams with greater communication and technical support to ensure a successful certification process, while offering a simplified fee structure and competitive rates..

Under this new structure, registration includes the following benefits:

• Project Team Coach: A dedicated coach will be assigned from our Technical Support Services team based on subject matter, building typology, and program expertise. This coach will proactively reach out to the project teams to check on status and answer technical questions throughout the design and construction phases. 
• Project Status Calls: The project team’s coach will host 3 conference calls with the project team and appropriate ILFI staff: (1) after project registration, (2) during the Design Development phase, and (3) at completion of Construction Documents (prior to the start of construction). These calls will be an opportunity for ILFI staff to share important updates and resources with the project teams and for the project team to ask questions of ILFI staff at key project milestones.
• Community of Registered Projects: The Technical Support Services team will build an active community with all registered projects by hosting regular calls and facilitating networking opportunities to encourage cross-sharing of lessons learned by certification program and pathway, building typology, owner type, and/or project location.
• Included Ready Audit: A fundamental attribute of our programs is that they are based on actual performance over a consecutive 12-month period, which is critical to demonstrate that buildings achieve their intended targets. Over the years, project teams have also requested a review upon construction completion, which we now call the Ready Audit, to receive preliminary sign-off on certain Imperatives while all team members are still actively engaged in the project. The Ready Audit provides teams with assurance that the project is on the right track for certification, and recognition from ILFI that can be used for marketing. In order to provide consistency, this two-part audit is now standard for all new projects.

As a way to make our program costs straight-forward, one comprehensive fee is calculated for a project that is inclusive of registration, technical support, two-part third-party audit, and certification. The total fee is calculated on a gross square area basis as shown in the tables below. Single Family Residences are charged a flat fee.

Fees based on square foot range:

Fees based on square meter range:

NOTE: All fees listed in United States Dollars

Fees will be invoiced in three installments: 25% at Registration, 50% prior to Construction, and 25% prior to the preliminary Ready Audit.

To get started, schedule a virtual meeting or call 971-420-1590. Existing registered projects will be vested under the previous fee structure. For existing projects that want to modify their registration to take advantage of the new offer, contact us today at sales@living-future.org with your project title. 

More detailed information about the program fees and services are available on our Program Registration Details page.

In the weeks since the killing of George Floyd sparked national protest, we have been both inspired by the growing chorus of voices calling for racial justice and disheartened by continuing acts of brutality and bigotry; the shooting of Jacob Blake and the subsequent murder of protesters are the latest in an endless stream of violence directed at the Black community. 

We are saddened, angered and still committed to dismantling white supremacy. It is with heavy hearts but renewed resolve that ILFI reaffirms its support of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color by supporting the “Commitment March: Get Your Knees Off Our Necks” today, August 28. It is the commemoration of the 57^th Anniversary of the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom led by Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1963. It was at this event where Dr. King delivered his famous “I Have A Dream” speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, calling for an end to racism in our country.

ILFI supports the National Action Network, the National Urban League, the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and others in calling for the elimination of systemic racism and for comprehensive police reform. As part of the ILFI community, we hope you are inspired to participate – in-person and/or virtually – at this inclusive gathering to recommit to Dr. King’s dream. If you cannot attend the march in person, you can follow the virtual 2020 March on Washington, organized by NAACP, here.

Equally importantly, we urge you to heed the event’s calls to action: to participate in the 2020 Census, register to vote, and serve as a poll worker or volunteer in other ways in this election.   

Now more than ever, we must inspire action and stay true to Dr. King’s dream of equality, freedom and social justice. His Dream informs and inspires our vision of a Living Future. At the center of these visions is the embrace and love and reverence for one another regardless of our skin color or gender or sexual preference. 

We call on you, the ILFI community, to push onward toward that vision. It will take all of us to realize a living future that is socially just, culturally rich and ecologically transformative.

With Respect and Commitment,

ILFI Board of Directors

JULY 15, 2020 (SEATTLE)—Climate Pledge Arena aims to be the first International Living Future Institute Zero Carbon certified professional sports venue in the world. 

“NHL Seattle, Oak View Group, and Amazon are showing the world what ambitious climate action looks like,” said Jason F. McLennan, CEO of McLennan Design, founder and board member of the International Living Future Institute, and sustainability advisor to the new arena. “If an 18,100-seat redeveloped arena can earn Zero Carbon Certification, any project can—as long as action on climate change is made an urgent priority.”

The Institute’s Zero Carbon Certification requires 100 percent of the energy used to operate the building to be offset by new renewable energy. In addition, 100 percent of the embodied carbon emissions associated with the construction and materials of the project must be disclosed and offset. It is the first worldwide program to independently verify claims about “net zero carbon” and “carbon neutral” buildings. 

“As a co-founder and signatory of The Climate Pledge, we’re committed to meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement 10 years early and reaching net zero carbon by 2040,” said Kara Hurst, Vice President of Sustainability, Amazon. “Climate Pledge Arena will become a landmark in the Seattle community and serve as a constant reminder of the importance of fighting climate change through real, sustainable changes to our built environment and better experiences for all attendees.”

Climate Pledge Arena is likely the first professional sports venue not to rely on fossil fuels, as Zero Carbon Certification requires projects to avoid or minimize onsite combustion. The arena will have all-electric operations and be powered with 100% renewable electricity, both from on-site solar panels and off-site renewable energy. 

“Climate change is the most pressing issue for our generation,” said Tim Leiweke, CEO of Oak View Group, the arena developer. “By choosing the International Living Future Institute’s Zero Carbon Certification, we are making climate action a centerpiece of Climate Pledge Arena; it will be a platform to inspire thousands of fans each year.”

In addition to Zero Carbon Certification, the Institute operates a suite of programs such as the Living Building Challenge, Declare, Just and the Living Product Challenge, which have been embraced by many of the world’s leading companies, including Google, Microsoft, and Salesforce. For more information, visit https://living-future.org/.

About the International Living Future Institute

The International Living Future Institute is an environmental nonprofit committed to catalyzing the transformation toward communities that are socially just, culturally rich and ecologically restorative. The Institute is premised on the belief that providing a compelling vision for the future is a fundamental requirement for reconciling humanity’s relationship with the natural world. The Institute operates the Living Building Challenge, the world’s most advanced, holistic performance standard for buildings. It is a hub for many other visionary programs that support the transformation toward a living future. Learn more at www.living-future.org.

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This vignette is piece of a multi-part series that will highlight the work being done surrounding Washington State Executive Order 20-01. The International Living Future Institute (ILFI) has been working closely with Washington State for nearly two years to support agencies in their development of Zero Energy projects. ILFI has developed a toolkit of resources for project teams in the state to help them understand definitions around Zero Energy, build powerful teams, and set appropriate targets in order to make designing and building to Zero Energy a feasible goal. Each vignette will shine a light on a project, meeting, or event wherein Zero Energy work was the forefront of the conversation as teams work diligently to implement the Executive Order and achieve their Zero Energy goals.

Project Name: Campus Loop Training

Program: Zero Energy (+ Zero Carbon)

Event: Low Carbon Campus “Brownbag”, Zoom, 4/20/20

Keywords: decarbonization, campus, electrification

Highlights: State agencies came together to collaborate on how to usher campuses into a low-carbon future. Representatives discussed a 2050 end state where district systems are combustion-free; the goal is for these systems to be cost-effective, operationally efficient, and offer long term benefits for both building operators and users. Attendees discussed a four-part, 30-year strategy to get to this vision: (1) Reduce total heat demand; (2) Reduce peak demands; (3) Convert steam to hot water; and (4) Electrify heating systems. Concerns were voiced around handoff from design to operation teams, coordination of maintenance, replacement, and phase-out schedules, and financing of these capital projects. 

Next Steps: Attendees were encouraged to use strategies such as: using lifecycle cost analysis to show the benefit of these systems over time; identifying key intervention points where it can be rolled into already-planned upgrades; and vocalizing these wants into budgeting and planning conversations in order to continue the awareness of this as a pressing need for the State to take active measures in working towards a sustainable future.  

This vignette is piece of a multi-part series that will highlight the work being done surrounding Washington State Executive Order 20-01. The International Living Future Institute (ILFI) has been working closely with Washington State for nearly two years to support agencies in their development of Zero Energy projects. ILFI has developed a toolkit of resources for project teams in the state to help them understand definitions around Zero Energy, build powerful teams, and set appropriate targets in order to make designing and building to Zero Energy a feasible goal. Each vignette will shine a light on a project, meeting, or event wherein Zero Energy work was the forefront of the conversation as teams work diligently to implement the Executive Order and achieve their Zero Energy goals.  

Project Name: Labor and Industry (L&I) / Department of Agriculture (WSDA) Safety & Health Lab & Training Center

Project Stage: Schematic Design

Event: Owners Workshop 1

Date: February 13, 2020

Agency Contacts: Reuben Amamilo (LNI), Maurice Perigo (LNI)

Attendees: Design Team, Agency project manager, Facilities, Agency Staff

Keywords: zero energy, local government

Summary: LNI kicked off its owners workshop series by introducing: Lab Modules/Layouts, Structural, LEED, Energy Options, Water, and Site/Parking Configurations.

Highlights:

• The workshop began by clearly stating the Executive Order requiring achievement of Zero Energy and reductions in embodied carbon, and how these goals apply to the project

• The design team shared examples of existing projects with high-performance systems in the same geographic region

• The group identified opportunities related to specific conditions of the building program

• The group reinforced the need to maintain cost balance, constructability and health/safety in any decision

• The group provided information in different forms, which made it accessible to different thinking/learning types: diagrams, photos, metrics, pro/con lists, tables, narratives, physical models

• Agency representatives vocally validated the State’s goal of achieving zero energy, stating that it is possible and shall be pursued.

“In this project, we have an opportunity to marry a state-of-the-art lab facility with the State’s highest sustainability goals.”

Maurice Perigo, LNI

Next Steps: The next workshop will take a deeper dive into the building program and site layout to better understand the operational functions and site conditions that must be addressed.

This vignette is piece of a multi-part series that will highlight the work being done surrounding Washington State Executive Order 20-01. The International Living Future Institute (ILFI) has been working closely with Washington State for nearly two years to support agencies in their development of Zero Energy projects. ILFI has developed a toolkit of resources for project teams in the state to help them understand definitions around Zero Energy, build powerful teams, and set appropriate targets in order to make designing and building to Zero Energy a feasible goal. Each vignette will shine a light on a project, meeting, or event wherein Zero Energy work was the forefront of the conversation as teams work diligently to implement the Executive Order and achieve their Zero Energy goals.

Project Name: SEEP Governing Council

Event: Council Meeting: Zero Energy Toolkit Presentation

Date: October 22, 2019

Agency Contacts: Hanna Waterstrat (SEEP), Donna Albert (DES)

Keywords: toolkit, zero energy, energy targets, local government

Highlights: ILFI was invited to present at the October Governing Council to share with Governor Jay Inslee Zero Energy (ZE) resources we have been developing for state agencies to follow his Executive Order 20-01. ILFI has developed an FAQ, project document templates for Owner Project Requirements and Request for Proposals, Embodied Carbon guidance documents, and a website for project teams in order to help them achieve ZE.

Next Steps: A handful of projects are in pre-design, so upcoming steps involve creating resources for upcoming design stages. Additionally, ILFI will continue to be integrated in the design process for projects that are in progress.

This vignette is piece of a multi-part series that will highlight the work being done surrounding Washington State Executive Order 20-01. The International Living Future Institute (ILFI) has been working closely with Washington State for nearly two years to support agencies in their development of Zero Energy projects. ILFI has developed a toolkit of resources for project teams in the state to help them understand definitions around Zero Energy, build powerful teams, and set appropriate targets in order to make designing and building to Zero Energy a feasible goal. Each vignette will shine a light on a project, meeting, or event wherein Zero Energy work was the forefront of the conversation as teams work diligently to implement the Executive Order and achieve their Zero Energy goals.  

Project Name: Washington Secretary of State (OSOS) Archives Building

Event: Project Kickoff + Design Charrette

Date: October 22, 2019

Keywords: design charrette, local government

Highlights: The design team presented LBC concepts and took a deeper dive into the Energy and Water Petals to show what could be incorporated into the OSOS Archives Building. ILFI participated in the charrette activities as Miller Hull led the presentation and facilitated the discussions. The design team discussed energy targets they are aiming to meet through a rigorous design process (Image 1). The group used Post-It notes to write their vision for the Archives Building, focusing on high-level goals derived from the Executive Order and elsewhere (i.e. Zero Energy capable) (Image 2). Major categories that arose during this discussion were historical preservation/storytelling, resilience, healthy materials, and zero energy. The building owners had many questions answered and the charrette provided important alignment by bringing together many different parties, including ILFI, Miller Hull, OSOS, structural engineers, civil engineers, an archive facility designer, and more. 

Next Steps: The project team at Miller Hull will synthesize and distill what was discussed at this meeting and apply it to various design concepts for the Archives Building. The team will focus on non-tangible goals (storytelling to highlight this facility) as well as more technical goals (net-positive energy, water). As they move into Schematic Designs, the team will reach out to agency members for additional feedback as a part of their integrated design process.