What is a Living Building anyway? Site Petal

In a nutshell, a Living Building is a building that has a footprint (water, energy, pollution, asthetics, etc... ) of as close to zero as possible.

In  the heavily rule intensive and regulated world bureaucracy that we live in, a Living Building is a building that complies to all 7 "Petals" with 20 related "Imperatives"  of the Living Building Challenge 2.0. administered / created / overseen by the International Living Building Institute (ILBI). 

The standard is explained in all its glory in the following document:
     http://www.clark.wa.gov/environment/sustainability/documents/LBC2-0.pdf

Today's post will cover the Site Petal

Site Petal:  Restoring a healthy coexistence with nature.

•  Limits to Growth  =  Projects may only be built on greyfields or brownfields – previously developed sites that are not classified as any of the following:
  

  On or adjacent to sensitive ecological habitats such as:
      • wetlands: maintain at least 15 meters, and up to 70 meters of separation
      • primary dunes: maintain at least 40 meters of separation
      • old-growth forest: maintain at least 60 meters of separation
      • virgin prairie: maintain at least 30 meters of separation
      • prime farmland
      • within the 100-year flood plain
  
  Project teams must document conditions prior to the start of work. On-site landscape may only include native and/or naturalized species planted in such a way that emulates density and biodiversity of indigenous ecosystems and supports succession.

  
  
• Urban Agriculture = All projects must integrate opportunities for agriculture appropriate to the scale and density of the project using its Floor Area Ratio (F.A.R.) as the basis for calculation.
  
  
• Habitat Exchange =  For each hectare of development, an equal amount of land must be set-aside in perpetuity as part of a habitat exchange.
  
  
• Car Free Living = Each new project should contribute towards the creation of walkable, pedestrian-oriented communities.
  
  

You may be scratching your head about now because this seems pretty tough. You're right!! That's why there are hardly any of these homes built anywhere. I guess the phrase, "Go Big, or Go Home." comes to mind. Luckily for us here in Clark County, we have a hybrid of sorts. A pilot project where we don't have to adhere to all of the Imperatives. 

You see the people in Clark County have enough vision to realize that it's not an all or nothing game that we are playing. Some of the Imperatives are so far out of most peoples boxes that there is no way it has a chance of catching on with Joe Public, not to mention Joe Legislator or even Josephine City Official.  That's why this pilot project is so awesome. We are going to get to try out some stuff that would never, ever fly in this day and age.  Remember when everyone had a clothesline? In my mind, it's the same era as when you could swim in the river without worrying about getting sick?  We are going back to stuff that makes sense. I hope that you keep coming back here. 

The next post will cover the WATER PETAL. That one's really going to blow your mind

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