LBC 4.1 – developed by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) – is the seventh version of the Living Building Challenge Standard. The Living Building Challenge is an ever-evolving program shaped by the incredible experiences of the project teams seizing the challenge as they continually break new ground, the vital insights of third-party auditors, and the invaluable expertise of Technical Advisory Groups, among others. Over time, feedback from a diverse array of stakeholders helps us understand how to refine and improve the program to have the greatest impact. New versions of the Living Building Challenge and periodic updates to the Compliance Details in the Program Manual both reflect the experience of project teams.
The just updated version of the Living Building Challenge 4.1 (July 2024) includes the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) as an equivalent path to the ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2019 calculation. Same has been done within the most recent version of the Zero Carbon Certification 1.1. This is a great achievement that makes it possible for projects in Europe to use the EPBD framework instead of the standard set by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.
“ILFI now recognizes international equivalency with the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) in Europe for energy reduction calculations, a significant step towards global operational energy reduction. This alignment fosters more innovative, energy-efficient building practices and accelerates our journey to a regenerative future.” – Lindsay Baker, ILFI’s CEO
The main objectives of the latest revision of the EPBD, are meant to support all new buildings to be zero-emission by 2030, and all the existing ones to be transformed into zero emission buildings by 2050. From 2030, all new buildings would be zero-emission buildings, noting that the target for the new buildings owned by public bodies would be 2028, with some exceptions.
Setting an equivalency path with the EPBD will ensure an easier implementation of Living and Zero Carbon buildings in Europe, facilitated by the fact that designers are anyway required to follow the EU directive. As the EPBD is a rigorous and ambitious framework, aiming to a full decarbonisation of the built environment for all 27 member states, using the EPBD will put these building projects at the top performance level of the European building stock.
“As the ILFI certifications are based on real data – over the course of at least a continuous 12-month performance period – we defined with this step the conditions for a new generation of buildings, which are compliant with the EU directives, and aligned with the regenerative approach LFE is promoting across Europe.” – Carlo Battisti, President of Living Future Europe
This has been possible thanks to the excellent analysis and comparison work performed by the LFE Technical Advisory Group (TAG) and fruitful collaboration with the LBC, Programs + Innovation team at ILFI (a special thanks to Jessica Bristow, Director and Jacqueline Hart, Senior Manager, Energy & Carbon).
“Incorporating the EPBD into ILFI program is a significant step forward for projects seeking certification in Europe, aligning them with the principles of a regenerative future.” – Zeinab Alameddine, Porsche Holding, Senior Consultant, Sustainability & Green Building Certification & LFE TAG Chair
The LFE Technical Advisory Group (TAG) aims to analyse, compare and produce documents & reports on
- specific regional standard changes for the adoption of ILFI certification
- crosswalk documents on ILFI programs and other standards or policies relevant to the European market
- harmonisation between ILFI programs and the existing / in progress regulations at a European or National level
LFE & ILFI are now working on comparing and accepting other relevant equivalent to LBC regulations and frameworks, references and resources valid for the European market, to be included in the next iteration of the standard, planned for release at the beginning of October.
If you want to know more on the LFE TAG activities, write to info@living-future.eu. The call for the LFE TAG happens annually in December, if you are interested, stay tuned for the opening of the 2025 TAG call by registering in our mailing list here.
Resources
- Living Building Challenge 4.1 Program Manual
- Zero Carbon 1.1 Program Manual
- Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EU/2024/1275, ‘EPBD’)
- Zero Carbon, Zero Energy. An accelerated path to the decarbonisation of the European built environment (a publication by the LFE TAG)
