Over the past couple of decades, architects and builders looking to green their projects turned to the addition of various piecemeal elements to save water here or cut down on electricity there. While these efforts have been laudable—essentially launching the green building industry as we know it today but sadly merely touching the surface of the concept of the Living Building. Where as Eco friendly buildings today strives to minimize today's impact - Living Building generates complete off grid solutions.
DESIGN FOR THE FUTURE
With a Living Building you can create buildings that are:
Regenerative spaces that connect occupants to light, air, food, nature, and community.Self-sufficient and remain within the resource limits of their site. Living Buildings produce more energy than they use and collect and treat all water on site.Healthy and beautiful.
Living buildings give more than they take, creating a positive impact on the human and natural systems that interact with them.
The Living Building Challenge is for anyone who wants to invest in a healthy and sustainable future.
Image Credit: Omega Centre
CASE STUDY
Let’s look at the Omega Center for Sustainable Living, in Rhinebeck, NY. The 575 sqm, one-level building, which serves as headquarters for the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, features a geothermal heating and cooling system, solar panels, a rain gardens that direct water run-off to irrigate plantings, a 419-sqm-greenhouse that helps filter wastewater for reuse, “day-lighting” design that brings natural light indoor to minimize electric light usage, and Eco-friendly building materials all around. It was designed to be “net-zero,” meaning it uses no more energy than it uses.
Photo Credit: Omega Centre