Living Building Challenge 101: Design Regenerative Buildings for the Future
Living Building Challenge 101: Design Regenerative Buildings for the Future
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Membership
Connect with a global community of passionate changemakers and advocates who are leading the future of regenerative buildings, products, and organizations. As a member, you’ll unlock benefits designed to enhance your knowledge, expand your network, and support your impact in the field.
Course Description
Imagine a building that generates its own energy, captures and treats all water on site, and supports the health and wellbeing of its occupants. That’s the vision behind the Living Building Challenge® (LBC), Living Future’s flagship program for regenerative design. In this self-paced course, you’ll explore the structure, philosophy, and certification pathways of LBC 4.1, the most advanced green building standard in the world.
This course provides a clear introduction to the program’s seven Petals, explains how projects achieve certification, and shows how LBC sets a new benchmark for climate, health, and equity in the built environment. You’ll also explore real-world applications across building types and geographies.
What You'll Learn
- The purpose and mission of the Living Building Challenge 4.1
- What sets LBC apart from other green building certifications
- The seven performance categories (Petals) and their intents
- Certification pathways and compliance approaches
- How LBC addresses equity, biophilia, water, and energy use
- Special initiatives such as Affordable Housing and Biophilic Design
By the end of this course, you’ll understand how LBC 4.1 enables regenerative design and be ready to explore certification for your own projects or advocate for its principles.
Course Details
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Learning Activities
Watch video lessons, complete readings, and test your knowledge with a multiple-choice quiz
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Length & Format
2 hours
Online, self-paced
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Continuing Education Credits
2 LU|HSW AIA CES credits
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Member Perks
Professional Living Future Members receive complimentary enrollment
Common Questions
Is this course right for me?
It depends on your goals, but we're here to help you find the perfect fit.
- New to Living Future programs? Start with an introductory course like Living Building Challenge 101: Design Regenerative Buildings for the Future to explore the fundamentals of regenerative design, healthy materials, and social equity frameworks.
- Looking for advanced learning? Our in-depth, expert-led courses cover specialized topics with real-world case studies, ideal for professionals ready to deepen their knowledge and impact.
- Seeking professional recognition? The Living Future Accreditation (LFA) program offers a comprehensive understanding of regenerative design and sustainability leadership. Earning your LFA signals your expertise in transforming buildings and organizations into forces for climate justice and regeneration.
- Need continuing education credits (CEUs)? Most of our courses offer AIA Learning Units (LUs). Explore our curated, value-packed curated course bundles designed to help you meet your professional development goals.
Still unsure? Browse our course catalog or contact us for guidance!
Do I need to be a Living Future Member to take a course?
No, our courses are open to everyone!
However, Professional Living Future Membership offers complimentary access to introductory courses and course bundles, discounts on LFA and advanced courses, and additional continuing education opportunities, like live webinars and the chance to connect with a passionate, values-aligned community of regenerative design leaders.
Become a member! Join our community today to receive your member discount code and apply it at checkout.
Do I need to create an account to enroll in a course?
No, you do not need to create an account in order to enroll in a course. However, an account will be created for you during checkout using the name and email address you provide. Once enrolled, you'll receive an email to set up a password for your account. Already have an account? Simply log in after purchasing to start learning.
For details on logging in, resetting your password, or accessing different Living Future platforms, please visit ourAccount & Login help article.
If you enrolled in a course between January 1, 2024 and April 1, 2025 your account and eligible course enrollments have been migrated from our old platform to this platform. Read here for more information.
How does course access work?
Our courses are on-demand and self-paced to fit your schedule! Once you enroll, you’ll receive an email with login details to access your course. You can start anytime, move at your own pace, and revisit materials anytime during your 1 year access period.
Do courses count toward continuing education credits?
Yes! All of our courses offer AIA Learning Units (LU|Elective and LU|HSW). Check the course details for specific credit information. After successfully completing a course, you’ll receive an email with a credit reporting request form to submit for us to report your completion to AIA on your behalf.
The International Living Future Institute (Living Future) is a registered provider of AIA-approved continuing education under Provider Number R306.
Will I receive a certificate of completion?
Yes! Once you’ve completed all course requirements, you’ll be able to claim a certificate of completion to download and share on LinkedIn and other profiles.
Do you offer any discounts?
Yes! Professional Living Future Members enjoy discounts on LFA and courses, with additional savings for teams and nonprofit organizations. International learners can also access discounted enrollment pricing through our International Pricing Policy.
Can I enroll my team?
Yes! We offer options for teams to enroll together. Learn more about group enrollment and team pricing here and reach out to us to explore your options.
How does my course purchase support Living Future?
Your course purchase directly supports the International Living Future Institute's mission and our ability to offer our educational programming. If you'd like to further contribute, please consider making a one-time or recurring donation. The International Living Future Institute (EIN #27-1791162) is a tax-exempt public charity recognized by the IRS under Section 501(c)(3).
What is your refund policy?
We want you to have a great learning experience! Please review our refund policy or reach out to us if you have questions.
How can I get support if I have technical issues?
If you experience any technical difficulties, please contact us. We’re happy to help!
