As a design-build firm committed to reversing climate change, we see tremendous value for our clients in creating healthy buildings that are third-party certified as being built to a high standard. To achieve Living Building Challenge certification, a project must meet 20 imperatives, including net-zero energy, over a minimum of 12 months of continuous occupancy. Green Hammer is committed to bringing the Living Building Challenge to the Portland and Ashland regions in Oregon. Green Hammer designed and built Oregon’s first Living Building Challenge-certified commercial building.
Incorporating salvaged materials in sustainable construction is an excellent way to offset the pressure on our natural resources. We always take the traditional green construction approach: reduce, reuse, and repurpose first. Then, when purchasing new products, we make every effort to source toxic-free healthy building materials. We are members of the International Living Future Institute and advocates of the Living Building Challenge (LBC). The LBC’s Materials Red List helps ensure that we select healthy building materials for healthy houses and buildings.