U SGBC’s 2010 Natural Talent Design Competition will for the first time be one national project challenge, focusing on LEED for Homes, affordable housing, universal design, and functionality for elderly occupants. The competition will have 2 categories: students and emerging professionals. Qualifying submissions should not exceed 880 square feet, $100,000 in construction costs, and must meet the requirements of LEED for Homes Platinum certification. Up to four designs will be selected from the local competition finalists and, for the first time, designers have the chance to see their designs built in New Orleans’ Broadmoor Neighborhood.

Through its EnviRenew initiative, The Salvation Army is kicking off a large-scale residential green building campaign in five neighborhoods in New Orleans, facilitating the construction of 125 new homes and the renovation of 125 existing homes over the next three years through the provision of grant financing to homebuyers and homeowners. EnviRenew identifies sustainability as a critical component of comprehensive neighborhood recovery and engages green building issues within broader discussions regarding affordable housing, community capacity, neighborhood renewal and storm-resilience.

Both the U.S. Green Building Council and The Salvation Army recognize that financially vulnerable individuals, families, and neighborhoods are particularly in need of the benefits that sustainable design and green building practices bring. This design competition challenges entrants to design homes that demonstrate both short-term and long-term affordability, a high quality of life for their residents, and replicable strategies that contribute to our understanding of how to build affordably, efficiently and with minimal impact on the environment.

Registration begins January 2010. For more information visit or contact us at:
www.usgbc.org/designcompetion or designcompetition@usgbc.org