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Authors note: Embodied carbon is now part of the Declare label! To learn more about embodied carbon and the Zero Carbon Certification read below and contact us at zc.support@living-future.org. In recent decades the building sector’s focus on creating energy-efficient buildings run by renewable energy has been essential in pushing the building industry towards more sustainable practices. We believe the building…

Mohawk Group was excited to collaborate with Jason McLennan who is considered one of the world’s most influential individuals in the field of architecture and the green building movement today. He is the recipient of the prestigious Buckminster Fuller Prize (the planet’s top prize for socially responsible design). Jason has been called the ‘Steve Jobs’ of the green building industry,…

The Third Edition of ILFI’s Affordable Housing Materials List is now available! Based on feedback from dedicated users, we implemented several updates to make it more expedient to find and source Red List Free products. Manufacturer’s contact information, including contact name, email, and phone number, has been included so that those researching and specifying products know who to reach out…

Header Image: E+Highland, courtesy of Studio G Architects Author’s Note: ILFI has just registered our 50th affordable housing project! To learn more about these projects and our Affordable Housing Program, read below. The latest cohort of ILFI’s Affordable Housing Pilot Projects was selected to join the program in October 2020, after an unprecedented number of applicants responded to the Call…

Projects pursuing Core and Living Building Certification are required to meaningfully integrate universal design into their structures. This project is a fantastic case study of prioritizing universal design and integrating it with broader environmental and health goals. The Kelsey is a Bay Area non-profit organization dedicated to advancing ‘disability-forward’ housing options. The Kelsey has found that while 26% of Americans…

Cover photo: Humanscale Float® tables in use. Photo: Humanscale Humanscale is the global leader in office ergonomic products. We manufacture products that promote movement throughout the workday and allow people to adjust their workspace to fit their bodies, instead of the other way around. Each product we make is viewed through the lens of “will this keep people healthier?” and…

Ecotone Publishing’s Editor Michael Berrisford sat down (virtually) to talk with architect, author, and father, Jason F. McLennan about his thoughts on how “love” can nourish the built and natural environments, address climate change, right social injustices, and heal the planet. Michael Berrisford (MB): What inspired you to create the book LOVE+GREEN BUILDING: You and Me and the Beautiful Planet?…

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…

WHO WE ARE: Original, sustainable, healthy Looking on a map of Upper Austria in central Europe, you will find a vibrant and healthy river no bigger than most fly-fishing streams that I frequent in my home state of Maryland. The banks are gently sloping, carefully cradled by nature’s design where a buffer of perennial vegetation protects them from undue erosion…

Earlier this year, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) launched its 2020 Plan of Work, a comprehensive guidance document that organises the process of briefing, designing, constructing, and operating buildings into eight stages. The most significant revision in the 2020 plan is the inclusion of a Sustainability Project Strategy that is linked to the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge. While…

When leaders at Yellowstone National Park decided to update the Youth Conservation Corps Campus, they had all of the typical challenges of a multi-building commercial project — plus the added obstacles of a harsh winter climate, views that needed to be both embraced and protected, and even wildlife. Hennebery Eddy Architects navigated these challenges to win the project. The Pacific…

Cover photo: 3form sources unique materials from around the world by working with skilled artisans and ensuring equitable, healthy, and transparent workplaces. Courtesy of 3form WHO WE ARE: Making Substantive Change Today, we find ourselves in a time of extraordinary challenges in the United States and around the globe, making the subject of who we are as individuals somewhat irrelevant….

Cover photo: As part of its commitment to support the communities where employees live, work and play, Mohawk Group and its associates participate in events like renovation builds with Habitat for Humanity. Photo: Mohawk Group About the author: Rami Vagal is the senior manager of sustainability at Mohawk. With a strong background in corporate sustainability and architecture, Rami has a…

One of the ways to sustain hope during a time of crisis is to lead by example. This is an especially valuable method for raising expectations and optimism when it comes to a precious resource like water. Editor’s Note: We’re excited to share this story from guest author Heidi Creighton, AIA, LEED Fellow, WELL Faculty, Fitwel Ambassador, and Associate Principal…

This message was sent by ILFI Board Chair Anthony Guerrero to the ILFI community over email on June 8, 2020. If you’d like to receive updates like this, sign up for our monthly newsletter, Inbox Inspiration. To learn more about Anthony, read his March 2020 Q&A here. To our entire ILFI community, ILFI stands in solidarity with the Black community at this time….

ILFI issued this statement on June 1, 2020. For more details on how you can help and what ILFI is doing to address equity and racial injustice, read Board Chair Anthony Guerrero’s message from June 8, 2020. ILFI stands in solidarity with the communities of Black, Brown, and Indigenous people suffering from and protesting against the structural and individual racism…