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. 

Written By

ILFI Staff

The International Living Future Institute’s mission is to lead the transformation toward a civilization that is socially just, culturally rich, and ecologically restorative.