Dow kicks off 'near-zero' energy home design challenge

Chemical giant Dow on Tuesday launched an international competition challenging architecture, design and engineering students and professionals to develop near-zero energy homes.

The "Design to Zero" challenge asks students to incorporate solar technologies, sustainable construction and more with the ultimate goal of developing a near-zero energy multi-family dwelling for global scale.

That includes things like:

• Three connected residences for families of two, four and six members, respectively;
• Incorporate all activities: cooking, working, dining, thinking, washing, playing, entertaining, storing, sleeping, arriving, hygiene, building functions, transportation and sharing.
• Recyclability, product lifecycle and environmental impact and performance of all products should be incorporated into the design;
• The goal of the competition should balance energy efficiency, the economic premium it carries and the functional and aesthetic values it may compromise.

The prize: $20,000 for first place, $10,000 for second, $5,000 for third and three Honorable Mentions. Winners will be determined by a three-stage progressive peer-review process that involves all contestants.

(Why Dow, you ask? The challenge is a part of its 2015 sustainability goals, which include developing technologies that further sustainability. Although intellectual property rights remain with contestants, entry grants Dow an unlimited, royalty-free license to the work.)

Registration is now open for the competition; it's $10 per person or $30 per team, due by Sept. 25. Registration closes on Oct. 2 and judging goes on from there, with winners announced on Jan. 27, 2012.

This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com