Sustainability@UIC

Bicycle Design Competition: Cycle the Circle

2012-12-11T17:29:00.000-06:00

Guest post by Brianna Ceglia, Office of Sustainability Graduate Assistant.

This fall semester, the Office of Sustainability and the UIC School of Architecture hosted an interdisciplinary design competition for students. This collaboration, the first of its kind, was an experiment in a new kind of partnership for the Office.

The competition challenged students to assess and provide improvements for biking on campus, a subject that has been the focus of Office member Kate Yoshida’s work for over a year. The Bike Advisory Committee, created by Kate and comprised of several capstone students, has conducted bike-mapping studies to better understand the needs of UIC cyclists, among other outreach activities.

Kate first approached the School of Architecture at the end of the Spring 2012 semester with the idea that students could create a broad, innovative vision for how biking could be enhanced at UIC. By working closely with the School and one of its premier student organizations, the Department of Urban Speculation (DeptUS), this vision was realized through a 10-day competition titled the “Cycle the Circle Competition”, which ran from October 26^th to November 5^th.

The competition was a wonderful success by all measures; initial student turn out for the kick-off event on the 26^th was beyond expectations, and totaled 11 teams of four. Students were enthusiastic and engaged at the event, enjoying a pizza buffet donated by Primo's Chicago Pizza as they listened to the competition overview, presented by Office members, students and faculty from the DeptUS and the School, respectively.

To keep the momentum going through the competition, and to provide students with knowledge resources, the School hosted a working lunch and feedback session on the 31^st. Students enjoyed a spread of sandwiches provided by Rapid Transit as they discussed their progress with an array of volunteers from the School, the Office, IDOT and Rapid Transit. Students asked questions, presented challenges they were facing and were able to get direction from a rich mix of individuals, representing the fields of public health, urban planning, bike planning, architecture and many others.

After turning in their submissions on the 5^th of November, students attended a reception and awards ceremony on the 9^th, generously sponsored by SRAM Corporation. A diverse panel made up of leaders in architecture, bike planning, urban design and public health judged the competition entries. The awards event was hosted in the 3100 Gallery of the School, and was attended by Alderman Solis, School faculty, Office members, students, representatives of Rapid Transit, and representatives from SRAM. The competition entries represented a diverse and exciting number of approaches to improving biking at UIC, with the student teams each approaching the challenge in a unique way.

As this semester comes to a close, the Office has been able to reach out to students and engage them in a new way; the design competition was a learning experience for both the Office and the students, and the outcomes have provided a variety of new insights on how bikes can and should work at UIC.

The winning competition entries will be on public display in the Daley Library at the start of next semester, from January 15^thto the 24^th. Please take this great opportunity to see what the creative minds of UIC have come up with!

UIC Wins Best University Recycling Prize in Illinois for 2011

2011-10-26T10:00:00.000-05:00

The Illinois Recycling Association(IRA) chose UIC to receive the Grand Champion award for Outstanding College and University Recycling Program for 2010-2011. UIC was acknowledged for demonstrating the greatest achievement in both source reduction and recycling among Illinois colleges and universities competing at RecycleMania. Recyclemania is a national competition of four year colleges and universities. In 2011, 660 schools were involved. UIC placed 9th in the nation in total tonnage of recyclables, with 719,354 pounds of paper, cardboard and bottles and cans captured in the recycling stream in an eight week period.

Michael Mitchell, Executive Director of IRA presented the award at UIC on Thursday, October 6th, at 10:00 am in the offices of Mark Donovan, Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services. Receiving the award together with Mr. Donovan was Cynthia Klein-Banai, Associate Chancellor for Sustainability.

Pictured above from left to right: Pablo Acevedo, Associate Director of Facilities Management; Clarence Bridges, Director of Operations and Maintenance; Michael Mitchell; Mark Donovan; and Cynthia Klein-Banai.

Clean Energy Challenge - $100k prizes

2011-10-17T17:12:00.001-05:00

Are you a graduate student? Do you and your friends have a great idea in your heads that'll make the world a better place? There is a new opportunity to make that idea happen with funding provided from The Clean Energy Trust!

Who: The Clean Energy Trust, an organization in Chicago that is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs start businesses in clean energy.

What: The Clean Energy Challenge student competition - student entrants will present business plans before a panel of judges and the winning teams will split a $100k prize to assist them in realizing their business plans.

When: The informational session is this Wednesday, October 19th from 4 - 6 P.M. Please RSVP to info@cleanenergytrust.org

Where: IIT Idea Lab

3440 South Dearborn
Idea Shop, Suite 050
Chicago, Illinois 60616

Extra: UIC professors are also encouraged to attend this event to meet with other area businesses, entrepreneurs, and academics from other Chicago-based institutions.

Clean Energy Student Challenge (December 5, 2011)

2011-10-06T16:40:00.000-05:00

The Clean Energy Trust (CET) is expanding the 2012 Clean Energy Challenge to include student business concepts from across the Midwest region. The $100,000 Student Challenge grand prize is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.

CET and its anchor partners, Cleantech Open, Nortech, University of Michigan, Purdue University, and Washington University St. Louis, will select 18 semi-finalists for the Student Challenge.

Semifinalists from each state will be matched with sector experts and experienced entrepreneurs to prepare for the $100,000 Student Challenge. The final event will be held March 1 in Chicago.

The Student Challenge winners will match up against winning teams from five other regional competitions at the U.S. Department of Energy's national student competition in Washington.

Interested applicants can learn more at the Clean Energy Challenge Roadshow. Events are scheduled to be held at the following locations:

October 7th at the University of Minnesota St. Paul Campus
October 17th at Purdue University
October 18th at Washington University St. Louis
October 19th at Illinois Institute of Technology

Complete rules and criteria are available here.

Plans may be submitted beginning November 1, 2011 online here.The application deadline is December 5, 2011.

2011 Biomimicry Student Design Challenge

2011-09-08T14:55:00.000-05:00

The 2011 Biomimicry Student Design Challenge is open to any student worldwide enrolled in a university degree program. The challenge is to use biomimicry to design a solution that results in more efficient energy utilization and ultimately reduces greenhouse gas emissions, ideally in your local environment. Teams must include at least two individuals and interdisciplinary teams are strongly encouraged.

This challenge also has a training component. Because most students are not trained in biomimicry, we’ll provide videos, lectures, access to Biologists at the Design Table, and other resources to help you apply biomimicry to your design process. Because of this training component and our desire to receive truly biomimetic submissions, each team will be required to pay a $25 registration fee. We’ll provide the training and tools; you’ll get an introduction to biomimicry, provide the solutions, and have the chance to win $5,000.

Read more at the Biomimicry Institute website.

WWF's Photo Contest - Win a Trip to See Polar Bears

2011-04-22T15:35:00.000-05:00

Happy Earth Day!

At WWF, wildlife and wild places have inspired us for 50 years as we've worked to protect threatened species, vital habitats and local communities around the world.

But this Earth Day we really want to know: What inspires you?

Share with us the natural things you think are truly precious, valuable gifts that need to be protected today and for future generations.

Today we are launching our 50th Anniversary Photo Contest, "Life Grows On." We invite you to enter up to 15 photos in these three categories:

Wildlife: Whether a polar bear in the Arctic or an eagle by the shore.
Wild places: From the mountains to the prairies.
People connecting with nature: Your favorite people in your favorite places on Earth.

The winner of each category will receive an all-expenses paid trip for two on the Classic Polar Bear Photo Adventure provided by Natural Habitat Adventures!

How it works:

Submit your photos from April 22, 2011 through June 17, 2011. There is a $15 entry fee to submit up to 15 photos.
WWF judges will select the top 50 photos in each category by July 1. That means there will be 150 finalists, and each will receive a WWF hat in recognition of their amazing photos.
Fans will vote for their favorite photo from July 2 through July 15. You can vote once per day. And everyone who votes has a chance to win a WWF reusable mug.

So let us know what about our natural world inspires you the most.Enter your photos of wildlife, wild places and people connecting with nature today!

Sincerely,

Your Friends at WWF

P.S. Want more information? You can view the complete contest rules and details here.

"Wrap What You Love"

2011-04-18T14:23:00.000-05:00

I just received an E-mail that Chipotle Mexican Grill and FamilyFarmed have partnered together, creating a photo competition that will support FamilyFarmed's mission to provide new markets for sustainable, local farmers. For every person who gets online and votes for their favorite submission, Chipotle will donate $1 to FamilyFarmed. Participants who register are allowed to vote and upload their own photo's of things they love wrapped in gold!

Chipotle offers prizes for the most creative submissions, including five 24-karat gold Chipotle burrito coins and $10,000 in cash. The online campaign also raises money for the 501-c-3 non-profit FamilyFarmed.org in support of its programs to help family farmers bring more local food to market.

Chipotle was a proud sponsor of the 2011 FamilyFarmed EXPO. They have been celebrating their mission of high quality, freshest, local ingredients by wrapping their signature burrito's in gold. Now they ask you to wrap your signature items as well to share with the world!

The article states:

"We are grateful to expand our strategic partnership with Chipotle," said FamilyFarmed.org president Jim Slama. "This funding will help us to build our capacity to help local and sustainable food farmers to access companies like Chipotle and other large customers. It will also help us to expand the scope of our FamilyFarmed EXPO, a leading trade show and conference for local food farmers and artisan food producers."

Currently, "Wrap What You Love" has raised just over $30,000 with a goal of $150,000- so get on and vote!!!

CALL FOR PAPERS

2011-04-13T14:34:00.001-05:00

Invites submissions for its

TENTH ANNUAL

STUDENT PAPER COMPETITION

STPA invites undergraduate and graduate students who have written research papers related to transportation policy and administration during calendar year 2010 to submit their papers for consideration. Papers should be prepared according to a standard style such as APA. They should be between 15 and 25 pages in length and include citations and references. The review committee encourages students to submit copies of previously prepared research papers, conference papers, and journal article manuscripts. Literature reviews and review essays are not eligible for consideration. Papers co-authored with faculty members are not eligible, nor are papers written by groups of students. The committee will evaluate papers in a blind review process. Students are asked to limit self-references to a title page that can be removed prior to review by the committee. Papers should be submitted as an e-mail attachment using MSWord (.doc) or Rich Text Format (.rtf).

Reviewers will rate papers on:

· the relevance of the research to transportation policy and administration,

· the appropriateness of the chosen methodology,

· the clarity of the writing,

· and the overall quality of the paper.

The best paper will receive a $250 prize. At the discretion of the Committee, an honorable mention paper may be selected.

The deadline for receiving papers is April 29, 2011.

Send papers or questions regarding this call for papers to: John Bartle at jbartle@unomaha.edu.

STPA is a section of the American Society for Public Administration

ASHRAE: 2011 Design Competition

2011-04-04T13:10:00.000-05:00

ASHRAE sponsors this design project competition to encourage students to become involved in the dynamic profession of Heating Ventilating and Air Conditioning, to apply their knowledge to practical design use, and to promote team work.

In addition ASHRAE sponsors the third - interdisciplinary category inviting worldwide graduate and undergraduate students in diverse engineering and related disciplines (architectural, construction, building services, mechanical, electrical, environmental, technology, etc.) to become involved in one of the most challenging innovative engineering approaches today in searching sustainability - Integrated Sustainable Building Design – ISBD. ASHRAE will recognize the outstanding student design projects at the ASHRAE Winter Meeting to be held in Chicago, Illinois, January 21st – 25th, 2012.

The student design competition’s guidelines provide enough background information to enable the teams to design or select the HVAC system for the given building, or to design a sustainable building implementing an integrated building design process (the architectural and building design for sustainability, and its supporting mechanical and electrical systems) for the given program. ISBD category’s aim is to encourage students to extend their knowledge beyond the core mechanical systems. For the ISBD category, the final design level presented may be in a preliminary stage, as the competition’s basic intention is to challenge students' imaginative thinking and creative engineering approach to the building and all of its Systems.
Teams may compete in one of the three categories:

HVAC System Design
HVAC System Selection
Integrated Sustainable Building Design (ISBD)

ASHRAE recommends that the project groups consist of at least two members from an undergraduate engineering or architecture curriculum for the HVAC System Design and HVAC System Selection categories, and at least three members (architecture or construction, mechanical & electrical) for the ISBD category. Team members can be from multiple colleges. All team members must be enrolled in an undergraduate program during the semester/term in which they contribute to the design in the HVAC System Design and HVAC System Selection categories, or graduate and mixed graduate and undergraduate for the ISBD category. Graduate students may only participate in the Integrated Sustainable Building Design category.

ALL SUBMISSIONS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY via the ASHRAE FTP site. Only those teams that register will get the FTP site information and instructions for uploading.
The submission for the HVAC System Design Category must be in PDF format only! No separate visual aids will be accepted (PowerPoint, YouTube, etc). Deliverable presentation should consist of a 25 page maximum technical report in PDF format only.
The submission for HVAC System Selection Category is limited to 15 minute visual aid (PowerPoint, Youtube, etc.) ALONG with a 30 page maximum technical report in PDF format.
The submission for the Integrated Sustainable Building Design Category is limited to 15 minutes (PowerPoint, Youtube, etc.) ALONG with a 35 page maximum technical report in PDF format.
The presentation should include, at a minimum, the following:

Statement of category criteria and major goals
Descriptions of how the design satisfied these criteria and goals
A review of all major assumptions
Descriptions of how and why the final HVAC system or integrated sustainable building design was selected
Supporting calculations, and
Relevant drawings and/or schematic diagrams. Teams entering the Systems Design Competition should submit their design drawings or other directly relevant attachments in PDF form along with the PowerPoint presentation. Attachments must be limited to design drawings, equipment schedules, calculation worksheets, and tables of calculated parameters, as created by the Team. Extraneous or reference information such as vendor cut sheets, external codes, standards, and specifications, or other external information are not permissible attachments, as they do not represent the Team’s work.

In order to conserve our resources we require that all entries be submitted electronically. Information on how to submit entries will be provided to only those teams that register for the competition. The deadline for receipt of entries is May 6, 2011.

Register Online

The Green Awards

2011-02-28T11:49:00.000-06:00

The Green Awards brought to you by Green Giant-

This award gets people involved by:

Submitting your ideas for the chance to win $25,000 by March 6th
Voting for the greenest ideas from March 12-27th
Connecting with other green thinkers and spreading the word
Celebrating the winners

Submissions can be in one of four categories:

Green Civic Leader
Green Entrepreneur
Local Organizer
Green Parent

Submission Checklist:

A complete entry includes a video (1-minute or less) and short essay (100 words or
less). Be sure that your video and essay answer these questions:

What is your initiative or idea?
How does it positively impact the environment?
How does it impact your community?
How does it inspire others to take their own steps to sustainability?
How would $25,000 help you and your idea make a giant difference?

Other tips:

Do not reference any non-profit organization affiliation
Do not feature any logos or images that you do not have ownership of
Do not exceed 1 minute in your video submission or 100 words in essay
Do not feature any other individuals in your video unless you have confirmed
permission from them or their parents, if minors.
Confirm that you are available to attend The Green Awards Presentation on May
13, 2011 in Los Angeles, CA

Check on the Website for complete rules.

RecycleMania 2011 at UIC!

2011-02-04T12:06:00.005-06:00

Starting Monday February 8, over the next 10 weeks universities all over the country will be competing to beat their rival in the biggest challenge we face! Recycling!

Universities serve as small cities within their communities, meaning they produce a significant amount of waste. The biggest in mind- paper, is one of the most recycle-friendly products we use today. School's have the potential to recycle much more than they do and RecycleMania provides a fun way for recycling coordinators, student green teams and faulty to get the campus community involved.

RecycleMania creators knew that the best way to increase participation was not a simple environmental message, but a competition between rival schools to prove who is best at taking on a big challenge. This challenge incorporates more than just recycling. It requires full energy and participation from the UIC community to reduce their waste and recycle as much as they can- even from home for those who commute!

Participating schools are required to measure their output of recycled materials. However, all you have to do to be active in the competition is put as many recyclable material in the recycling bins provided on UIC's campus! Here are the past results since the first RecycleMania in 2002.

The Chicago Clean Air Design Challenge

2011-01-19T13:51:00.004-06:00

Design Makes Change, a Chicago design initiative, is hosting The Air We Breathe: The Chicago Clean Air Design Challenge.

This contest is aimed to challenge participants to a regional design addressing issues of air quality in two Chicago's most affected neighborhoods- Little Village and Pilsen. Living in close vicinity to the Crawford and Fisk coal-powered plants, these residents, along with the rest of the Chicago region, have high rates of asthma and other illnesses.

This is the critical environmental concern of the moment in your city and you are the designer. What will you do about it?

Design Makes Change is looking to see what designers in industrial design, graphic design, interior architecture and public space design will envision to raise awareness, address the health issues and improve overall quality of life for the people who live in these coal-polluted neighborhoods.

To create the best design, Design Makes Change encourages cross-disciplinary collaboration. Submissions can come from a class, group, partnership or individual.

Project Scope:

(taken from the Project Brief PDF)

Show your design phases from concept to resolution. If your solution is an object, structure, or space, show us your finished design through detailed drawings, 3-D renderings, and/or prototypes and physical models. If your solution is a graphic one, present all print, interactive media, or packaging materials with a plan for implementation.

Take a local viewpoint to the issue of poor air quality in the neighborhoods of Pilsen, Little Village, and/or an adjacent Chicago community that is most affected by the coal powered plants.

• Make your project relevant to the issue of clean air as this relates to health, the environment, and quality of life in these communities.

• Focus on design solutions that are viable means to solving the problem.

Project essentials

• Show depth of thinking and quality in your design

• Communicate the feasibility of your concept

• Show supporting evidence to prove relevance and importance. Tell us why your idea is the best idea.

• Show a strategy for implementation

The Jury

• Submissions will be judged by a multi-disciplinary team of jurors from the fields of design, environmental policy and advocacy, community development, and medicine. This will offer a holistic perspective in identifying the designs with the greatest potential for implementation and success. All submissions will be judged together regardless of discipline, professional, or academic. We are looking for the best solutions.

Important Dates

All submissions due April 18, 2011

Top entries announced May 6, 2011

Exhibition T.B.D

Exhibition Details & Awards

• Outstanding entries will be selected to be in a juried exhibition at a gallery spacein Chicago.

Awards will be given to 3 of the top entries with a grand prize of $2,000 in seed money for the most outstanding entry. The recipient of the grand prize will also receive professional assistance to help further develop and implement their design.

More details can be found on www.designmakeschange.com or by E-mailing info@designmakeschange.com.

2010 METROPOLIS Next Generation® Design Competition (Jan 31, 2011)

2010-11-16T11:09:00.000-06:00

CALL FOR ENTRIES

Metropolis Magazine believes that now more than ever great design must be applied to make all our spaces and everything we use more functional and sustainable, without sacrificing aesthetic appeal. Get Zero challenges you to prove them right--whether you are an architect, interior designer, product designer, landscape designer, graphic designer, communication designer. For the first time in the eight-year history of our annual Next Generation Design Competition, they've supplied an actual site as a test case for entries: an existing eight-story, 1960s-era office building in downtown Los Angeles, owned by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), a partner in this year's competition and one of the world's biggest landlords. Recently the GSA charged itself with bringing its enormous stock of buildings--more than 9,600--to zero environmental impact. Metropolis now brings that challenge directly to you: Get Zero. The winning entry will receive $10,000, but the potential impact of this year's competition is even more exciting and far reaching, as all the top entries will be innovative design ideas that could be applied to scores of similar buildings across the country and around the world.

To enter, provide design "fixes" that will bring the building to the highest level of sustainable performance in a memorable, beautiful, original way. Transform the entire structure and its surroundings, or tackle one or two individual elements such as facade, roof, fenestration, interior furnishings, or signage. Concentrate on what you know best, and apply immense skill and creative energy in ways that will fully deploy your training and imagination.

DEADLINE: January 31, 2011

For details, registration, and to submit entries visit
www.metropolismag.com/nextgen

JUDGES:
Michelle Addington, Professor, Yale School of Architecture

Brian Collins, Chief Executive Officer, COLLINS

Lawrence Scarpa, AIA, principal at Pugh + Scarpa Architects

Leslie Shepherd, AIA, chief architect at GSA

Facilitator
Susan S. Szenasy, Editor in Chief, Metropolis magazine

Clean Energy Challenge

2010-10-25T13:28:00.001-05:00

Get ready to power up the future of business and energy.

Applications for the Clean Energy Challenges are now being accepted. Winners will receive up to $100,000 in cash prizes provided by the Department of Energy, plus select business services. This exciting new opportunity is looking for Illinois entrepreneurs' tranformative business ideas in:

* Renewable energy
* Next generation transportation
* Smart grid
* Advanced batteries
* Green buildings
* Carbon abatement
* Water conservation and contaminant mitigation
* Energy information systems
* Energy efficiency
* Alternative fuels

The application deadline is December 3rd, 2010. Finalists will compete for the grand prize on March 3rd, 2011.

For information on eligibility and submission details go to:
http://www.cleanenergytrust.org/events/

IAE Sustainable Creativity Design Competition

2010-09-29T13:00:00.001-05:00

The Institute for Arts Entrepreneurship (IAE) is hosting the First Sustainable Artist Competition!

About the Competition:

The theme is Sustainable Creativity. We are looking for our designer clothing items, scarves and belts to be used in the creation of a work of art that reflects the theme of sustainable creativity.

The IAE's first artistic competition has been created in honor of the memory of Lea Argiris, the mother of our Executive Director, Lisa Canning. " Lea's talents as an artists were enormous and yet she was never able to sustain her creativity in a way that gave her the rudder she needed to live a happy, successful, meaningful, creative life. In her honor, I would like you to incorporate the beautiful designer clothes she left behind in the art you will create for this competition."

Prizes & Competition Guidelines:

Select up to three items you will transform into a work of art for The IAE's first Visual Arts Competition. Items include jackets, pants, skirts, belts and scarves from designers that include: Gucci, DKNY, Channel, Christian Dior, Valentino, Yves Saint Lauren and more.

One grand prize winner will receive a $5,000 scholarship to attend the IAE's 2 year program. Second and third place winners will receive a $3,000 scholarship.

All participants work will be auctioned off at a fundraiser for The Institute for Arts Entrepreneurship in the spring of 2011. All proceeds of each piece will be split 50/50 between the artists and The Institute for Arts Entrepreneurship. All entries must be delivered to Flourish Studios@ 3020 N Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, no later than Tuesday January 18, 2011 at 5pm.

Designed to Empower Artist Giveaway

All artists from any medium welcome to participate!

" If you are like most artists I know, you likely shop for clothes when they are either on sale or when you find something you love at a second hand clothing store. You never pay full price for anything or own expensive designer clothes. And yet the clothes you buy, love and wear can empower you tremendously; giving you the confidence you need to take bold new steps forward in life and your career as an artist. My goal in giving these clothes away is for you to know how devoted the IAE is to helping empower your creative life forward."

Are you a perfect size 8?

You must have a scheduled appointment and bring a business card to be admitted. Select up to two pieces of designer size 8 clothing you can wear for inspiration and empowerment.

RSVP ONLINE: www.sustainablecreativity.eventbrite.com

All of the designer clothing we are asking you to use for the competition will be available for viewing on Thursday October 7th from 7-9pm at The Flourish Artisan Boutique Grand Opening Party. We are proud to announce we have over 15 emerging local art entrepreneurs in this new innovative program.

All competition designer clothing you can select by appointment only on Saturday, October 9th from 10 am to 3pm at Flourish Studios. You must register in advance at http://sustainablecreativity.eventbrite.com/

The Flourish Artisan Speaker Series/Networking is the 2nd Thursday of every month from 7-9pm at Flourish Studios 3020 N Lincoln Avenue Chicago. The Flourish Artisan Program is a joint effort of The IAE and Flourish Studios.

Institute for Arts Entrepreneurship

NWF Chill Out Competition

2010-09-28T15:01:00.000-05:00

Are you taking climate action on campus? Are you a hard-core grassroots organizer? Chair of the Sustainability Committee? Have you spurred an initiative on your campus that reduces its carbon footprint?

If you answered YES to any of those questions, Chill Out is the competition for you! National Wildlife Federation is looking for campus projects that reduce global warming pollution, including projects in green jobs, students in action, innovative design, campus actions, green sporting events and projects taking place at high schools.

HOW TO ENTER:
1. Create a 2 minute video about your project
2. Fill out the entry form with info about your project
3. Upload your video to http://www.gogreentube.com/groups/NWFChillOut2010-2011
Entries are due by December 19.
WINNERS WILL RECEIVE:
* Grant money
* National publicity
* Your campus video featured in nationwide webcast

Students, faculty and staff are eligible to compete!
For contest rules and entry form, go to
http://www.campuschillout.org/

EPA- P3: People, Prosperity and the Planet Student Design Competition for Sustainability

2010-06-17T15:51:00.002-05:00

Opening Fall 2010- This competition is focused on benefiting people, promoting prosperity, and protecting the planet through innovative designs to address challenges to sustainability in both the developed and developing world. The competition has two phases. Initially, interdisciplinary student teams compete for $10,000 grants. Recipients use the money to research and develop their design projects during the academic year. Then, in the following spring, all P3 grant recipients attend the National Sustainable Design Expo featuring the EPA's P3 Award competition in Washington, D.C. Wide range of categories. Learn more.

Foundation for Urban and Regional Studies 2010 Essay Competition

2010-04-23T15:28:00.000-05:00

The Foundation for Urban and Regional Studies is organizing a fifth international essay competition for the best essay on urban and regional themes by young (under 35) scholars.

A prize of £1,000 will be awarded to the overall winner. Second prizes of £500 and third prizes of £250 will be awarded respectively for essays written in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish. Learn more.

Climate Action Video Competition (Deadline April 12, 2010)

2010-03-22T14:58:00.004-05:00

The Chicago Climate Action Plan (CCAP) team has launched an innovative video contest aimed at encouraging college students in the City of Chicago to submit creative, 90 second videos that illustrate how they take part in one or more of the Plan's 35 mitigation or adaptation actions of the CCAP.

Nine winners in three categories will be announced on April 22—Earth Day—at Daley Plaza. First place winners will receive $2,000; second place winners will receive $1000 and third place winners will receive $500 to be used for educational purposes.

More about the Video Competition; Chicago Climate Action Plan.

Chicago Dept. of Enviro. Birdhouse Design (April 16, 2010)

2010-02-15T12:16:00.004-06:00

The City of Chicago and its partners invite you to participate in an exciting bird house design and build competition: Tweet Home Chicago. Design and build a bird house for your favorite bird-friendly spot in Chicago! Win cash and exciting bonus prizes. Bird house submittals will be displayed at public venues, installed in parks, or auctioned to raise money for bird conservation efforts in the city. The registration deadline is April 16, 2010 and bird houses are due April 29 - May 1, 2010. Find out more.

Clinton Global Initiative U- Awards

2010-02-12T16:41:00.000-06:00

Applications are now being accepted to the 2010 Outstanding Commitment Awards. Winners could receive from $1,000 to $10,000 to support their commitment to action. Learn more and apply.

USGBC's 2010 Natural Design Competition (March 1, 2010)

2010-02-01T15:11:00.002-06:00

Small, Affordable, Green: The Salvation Army joins the U.S. Green Building Council this year in hosting USGBC‘s 2010 Natural Talent Design Competition. Entrants will design an affordable, 800 square foot green home for an elderly client in the Broadmoor, New Orleans neighborhood. Winners will be announced after the top four entries have been constructed, inhabited and evaluated. Student category for individuals or teams. Read more.

Architectural League Prize (Deadline Feb. 8, 2010)

2010-01-21T15:18:00.000-06:00

Call for Entries
Young architects and designers are invited to submit work to the annual Architectural League Prize Competition. Projects of all types, either theoretical or real and executed in any medium, are welcome.
This call for entries asks: In what ways is our discipline proving itself resourceful in the face of these challenges? How have young practices redefined themselves, from new models of professional practice, to emergent theoretical approaches or techniques of construction? Are architects and designers by necessity becoming better at sourcing materials and techniques to meet both a heightened environmental consciousness –looking ‘beyond the green’– and the current economic sobriety? Details.