The Living Building Challenge
The [Williams College] Class of 1966 Environmental Center was designed to meet the certifications of the Living Building Challenge. With under 100 current certified living buildings, the ambition of this challenge is unmatched in the world of green buildings. The LBC requires engaged participation of building occupants in the building operation, and the philosophy of the challenge is to generate good instead of mitigating harm like most other building certifications. It does so through a holistic approach to sustainability in the form of 7 petals.
The Seven Petals……
Four SOFT PETALS -
Health & Happiness - Optimize Well Being
Beauty - Uplifting the Human Spirit
Equity - Supporting a Just and Equitable World
Place - Restoring a Healthy Interrelationship with Nature
Three HARD PETALS -
Materials - Safe for all species through Time
Energy - Net positive energy use
Water - net positive water use
Live/ Work/ Eat/ Play/ Pray - an old-fashioned way of living, suddenly became “the way of living,” due to COVID-19.
Like flowers, some folks/ families/ organizations THRIVE, finding new purpose, new passion, new direction, peace and love.
Like flowers, other folks/ families/ organizations WILT, succumbing to physical and mental health issues.
During COVID, folks/ families/organizations became clear that the FOUR SOFT PETALS are the ones that matter. The suddenly QUARANTINED found ways to “MAKE IT WORK.”