CHICAGO, Jan. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) - Chicago Chapter in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity of McHenry County invites local students and young professionals to participate in the USGBC Natural Talent 2009 Design Competition.
The competition encourages students and young professionals to submit building designs that demonstrate the principles of the LEED(R) (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System, such as integrated design, sustainability, innovation, and social consciousness. Participants are challenged to design a prototypical affordable green home with a LEED for Homes Certified level or better while maintaining a strict budget.
The primary objective of the competition is to broaden environmental education in the building professions within the university system, empowering students and young professionals to become future leaders within the green building movement. The competition also connects participants with esteemed individuals from the USGBC community and green building industry; raises awareness of future designers; encourages the use of LEED as a guideline for building design and performance; and recognizes students and emerging green builders for their ongoing dedication, creativity, innovation, and commitment to sustainable design.
Participants will compete to be one of five local finalists, the top winner of which will move on to compete as a national finalist at Greenbuild 2009 in Phoenix, Arizona. The local jury will award first through third place, as well as two Honorable Mention Awards. The USGBC - Chicago Chapter will provide the local awards to winners from $250 - $1000, as well as travel support and registration to Greenbuild 2009 as the grand prize.
Eligibility for the competition is open to all university level students (of any discipline and level) and individuals with less than five (5) years experience in the building industry. Both individuals and teams are permitted to enter and multi-disciplinary teams are strongly encouraged. Teams are required to complete an online registration form by visiting www.usgbc-chicago.org; only one form is required per team.
For additional information and questions contact designcompetition@usgbc-chicago.org.
About the U.S. Green Building Council - Chicago Chapter
The U.S. Green Building Council - Chicago Chapter was formed in 2002 by a group of professionals in the building industry in the region who desired to further the work of the U.S. Green Building Council on a local and personal level. Membership in the chapter continues to grow with over 1,300 members from across the spectrum of the building industry including design professionals, contractors, manufacturers, real estate professionals, and local government officials, among others. The Chapter's mission is to lead the regional transformation of the built environment to ecologically sustainable, profitable, healthy places through education. The principal method of outreach is through education from the expertise within its diverse membership. For more information, please go to the Chapter website: www.usgbc-chicago.org
About USGBC & LEED(R)
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is the nation's leading coalition of corporations, builders, universities, federal and local agencies, and nonprofit organizations working together to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. The USGBC's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System is a voluntary third-party rating system where building projects earn credits for satisfying specified green building criteria. Projects are evaluated within five environmental categories: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality. Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels of green building certification are awarded based on the total credits earned. The LEED standard has been adopted nationwide by Federal agencies, state and local governments, and interested private companies as the industry standard of measurement for green building. For more information visit: www.usgbc.org.
