This Imperative may be attempted using the Scale Jumping overlay.
PROJECT AREA
Areas used for Scale Jumping are not included in, and do not affect, the Project Area or FAR. If a project jumps to an area within its own property that is not shared with other projects, it is not Scale Jumping and the additional land needs to be included in the Project Area.
OTHER IMPERATIVES
When Scale Jumping is implemented, all new components installed for the LBC project (e.g., storage cisterns, water treatment systems, pipes, and pumps) must meet the requirements of all other Imperatives pursued by the project. If the project is Scale Jumping by tapping into an existing small-scaled water supply or treatment system that serves other buildings not pursuing the Living Building Challenge, only those components added to the existing system, such as conveyance pipes and pumps to supply water to the LBC project, need to meet LBC requirements.
For example, all pumping energy needed to convey the project’s water must be included in the project’s energy budget and taken into consideration for the Energy Petal. If the project is part of a larger-scale system, only the apportioned energy serving the Living Building Challenge project needs to be included, and the project must install adequate sub-metering of energy to demonstrate compliance.
NET BENEFIT
Scale Jumping must result in a net benefit, including one or more of the following:
- Higher net efficiency
- Mutually beneficial water-sharing with other projects
- Preservation of existing trees/habitat
- Creation of a larger infrastructure strategy that benefits parties off the project site
Project teams are encouraged to submit Scale Jumping concepts as a Request for Ruling for preapproval early in the design phase to confirm that the proposal meets the intent of this Imperative.
EXAMPLES OF WATER PETAL SCALE JUMPING
- A residential development that collects rooftop-harvested rainwater from multiple buildings into a common cistern where the water is then pumped back to each home for use.
- A project in a campus setting that taps into a surface water or groundwater source located off the project site but within the campus boundary.
- A residential development with a single constructed wetland or other distributed sewage treatment system serving all homes within the neighborhood.
- A local-scale satellite campus sewage or water treatment facility that is off the project site but within the boundaries of the campus.
