In May 2019, the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) released the Living Building Challenge (LBC) 4.0. This latest version of the world’s most impactful green building standard provides a vision for a new era in building and a framework to address the environmental and social challenges of our time.

Now, ILFI is pleased to announce the release of the first five LBC 4.0 Petal Handbooks. These Handbooks provide the guidance, rule sets, and tools needed to help project teams implement LBC 4.0 and Core and create communities that are socially just, culturally rich, and ecologically restorative. The Place, Water, Energy, Equity, and Beauty Petal Handbooks are available now to all Premium ILFI Members. The remaining two Petal Handbooks, Materials and Health + Happiness, will be available in March and April, respectively.

The LBC 4.0 Petal Handbooks are similar in intent and overall organization to the Handbooks from previous versions of the LBC Standard. However, this latest version also incorporates significant new features to make them more functional for project teams and improve the connections between the Living Building Challenge, CORE and other ILFI programs.

Below are some answers to commonly-asked questions.

What are Petal Handbooks?

Petal Handbooks are an essential reference for anyone interested in the Living Building Challenge. The LBC 4.0 Standard lays out the basic rules and requirements of the program. Each Petal Handbook digs into the details, provides explanations and examples, and lists all the published Exceptions for each Imperative. The Handbooks provide key information that those involved in an LBC project will need to know to successfully apply the Standard and achieve certification. 

What’s new in this version of the Petal Handbooks?

There are a number of significant updates to the LBC 4.0 Petal Handbooks. The most noticeable is the move to a digitally-accessed platform called Manula. This platform makes the Handbooks searchable, updatable, and able to connect information across multiple Imperatives. ILFI will update the Petal Handbooks quarterly to provide additional clarifications or exceptions that have come forward through the Dialogue or other interactions with project teams. ILFI will also be printing a PDF version of the Petal Handbooks every quarter.

In addition, there is a new consolidated glossary that ensures definitions are consistent throughout the Petals and Imperatives of LBC, as well as in related programs such as the Living Product Challenge, Living Community Challenge, Declare and Just.

Who should use the Petal Handbooks?

Project teams pursuing LBC 4.0, including owners, are the primary readers of the Petal Handbooks. The Handbooks include all the Core Imperatives of the Core Green Building Certification Program, and are also the key resource for Core project teams. The Handbooks are also helpful for vendors or manufacturers of healthy materials with potential for specification on an LBC or CORE registered project.

How do I access the Petal Handbooks?

Petal Handbooks are available to all Premium Members of ILFI. The Handbooks can be accessed through the member dashboard and then read online or downloaded as a PDF. Because the Handbooks are now a digital resource, they can be updated much more easily. While project teams will be held to the version that is current when their project is registered, teams are encouraged to reference, and have the option to use, information that is added to later versions at their discretion. Therefore, project team members will benefit from using the online version to ensure they are aware of all the latest Exceptions and other updates.

ILFI Premium Members will be able to access both the new 4.0 Petal Handbooks and the previous versions, 3.1 Petal Handbooks, as a benefit of membership.

Why should I use the Petal Handbooks?

The Petal Handbooks provide practical information critical to translating the inspiration and vision of the Living Building Challenge into a project that demonstrates change is possible. The Petal Handbooks are one key component of the pool of resources available to project teams. Other tools we provide to simplify the process of designing to the LBC and Core standards include: the Dialogue, Water Permitting Guidebook, materials tracking table, policy guidebooks and case studies as well as many other resources available on ILFI’s website.

If you are ready to spring into action and bring your values to life in your home, office, school, or your real estate portfolio, LBC 4.0, Core and these new Petal Handbooks show the way.

Written By

Kathleen Smith

As Vice President of the Living Building Challenge, Kathleen oversees all aspects of the program including its continued evolution as the most innovative green building standard in the world. In addition, she leads the Institute’s strategic and technical consulting services with projects, institutions, and governments working to adopt advanced measures of sustainability related to the Living Building Challenge. She also directs the Institute’s Education Work across all its programs including the Living Building Challenge, Living Product Challenge, and Living Community Challenge.