Certified: Living -- A state-of-the-art water-reclamation facility and environmental education center in New York, the OCSL is the first green building in the United States to receive both LEED Platinum and Living Building Challenge certification.
Omega Center for Sustainable Living —
Certified: Living -- A state-of-the-art water-reclamation facility and environmental education center in New York, the OCSL is the first green building in the United States to receive both LEED Platinum and Living Building Challenge certification.
Copyright Assassi
One of the criteria for the LBC is that the OCSL operates with net zero energy -- all energy necessary to operate the building must be generated on site. Skip Backus, CEO of the Omega Institute, says: "I think the certifications encourage creative thinking that fuels new technology and perspectives. We are all learning how to build in a way that is truly sustainable."
Net Zero Energy —
One of the criteria for the LBC is that the OCSL operates with net zero energy -- all energy necessary to operate the building must be generated on site. Skip Backus, CEO of the Omega Institute, says: "I think the certifications encourage creative thinking that fuels new technology and perspectives. We are all learning how to build in a way that is truly sustainable."
Courtesy of Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, Rhinebeck, NY, eOmega.org
Certified: Living -- Hawaii Preparatory Academy Energy Lab is a high school science building dedicated to the study of alternative energy. The building is fully certified by the Living Building Challenge and runs as a zero net energy, completely sustainable building.
Hawaii Preparatory Academy Energy Lab —
Certified: Living -- Hawaii Preparatory Academy Energy Lab is a high school science building dedicated to the study of alternative energy. The building is fully certified by the Living Building Challenge and runs as a zero net energy, completely sustainable building.
Copyright Matthew Millman/ Courtesy Hawaii Preparatory Academy Energy Lab
Some of the green credentials of the Energy Lab include the use of salvaged or recycled materials in its construction, an insulated roof made of soy with solar panels on the outside, steel piping instead of PVC piping, a freshwater catchment system tank and a cooling system tank.
Inside a sustainable school building —
Some of the green credentials of the Energy Lab include the use of salvaged or recycled materials in its construction, an insulated roof made of soy with solar panels on the outside, steel piping instead of PVC piping, a freshwater catchment system tank and a cooling system tank.
Copyright Matthew Millman/ Courtesy Hawaii Preparatory Academy Energy Lab
Certified: Living -- Located at Tyson Research Center, an environmental field station for Washington University in St. Louis, the Learning Center fosters indoor/outdoor education with a large multi-use classroom that opens directly out to a white oak deck. All materials used in construction were sourced locally.
Tyson Living Learning Center, St Louis —
Certified: Living -- Located at Tyson Research Center, an environmental field station for Washington University in St. Louis, the Learning Center fosters indoor/outdoor education with a large multi-use classroom that opens directly out to a white oak deck. All materials used in construction were sourced locally.
Copyright Hellmuth &Bicknese Architects, L.L.C./ Courtesy Tyson Living Learning Center
Net zero energy is created by photovoltaic panels mounted on the roof and two horizontal trackers in the front of the building. A rainwater harvesting system provides potable water and graywater is treated in an infiltration garden. Within the building, composting toilets eliminate waste.
Solar panels on-site —
Net zero energy is created by photovoltaic panels mounted on the roof and two horizontal trackers in the front of the building. A rainwater harvesting system provides potable water and graywater is treated in an infiltration garden. Within the building, composting toilets eliminate waste.
StraightUp Solar/ Courtesy Tyson Living Learning Center
Partially-certified by the LBC -- This sustainable home in Victoria, Canada, uses earthen architecture made of cob (clay, sand and straw).
Eco-sense, Victoria, Canada —
Partially-certified by the LBC -- This sustainable home in Victoria, Canada, uses earthen architecture made of cob (clay, sand and straw).
Courtesy Ann and Gord Baird
LBC founder Jason F. McLennan highlights the VanDusen Botanical Gardens in Vancouver, Canada, as a project currently under certification that illustrates the philiosophy of the challenge. The building is inspired by the shape of an orchid. Water is captured and treated on site and energy needs are looked after by themal and solar power.
VanDusen Botanical Gardens —
LBC founder Jason F. McLennan highlights the VanDusen Botanical Gardens in Vancouver, Canada, as a project currently under certification that illustrates the philiosophy of the challenge. The building is inspired by the shape of an orchid. Water is captured and treated on site and energy needs are looked after by themal and solar power.
Raymond Chan, Photomedia/Courtesy VanDusen Botanical Gardens