SBIC Announces a Call for Entries for 2006 Awards Program

Washington, D.C.—The Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC) is now soliciting submissions for the 2006 Awards Program which recognizes professionals who are making exceptional contributions to sustainability in America's built environment. The two main award categories to be recognized are: "Best Sustainable Practice" (open to SBIC members only) and "ExemplarySustainableBuilding" (open to all). Federal, state and private sectors are welcome to submit entries. Commercial, institutional and residential buildings are all eligible. Appropriate applicants would include trade associations, researchers, architects, engineers, consultants, universities and educators, builders, product manufacturers and suppliers, marketing and media experts, and utilities-related personnel. Now more than ever, sustainable building and green issues have reached the top tier of consciousness in the national media and, consequently, in the minds of the general public. With coverage in top national newspapers such as The New York Times, the LA Times and the Washington Post, as well as cover stories in magazines including Newsweek, sustainability is now undeniably a mainstream topic. SBIC has championed sustainability since its inception in 1979, and developed the annual Awards Program—now in its sixth year—to recognize the excellent innovations and ongoing contributions SBIC members and other industry professionals are making toward building a sustainable future. To be considered for the ExemplarySustainableBuilding category, projects must be built within the last five years, occupied for at least one year, and must also be either built within the United States, or, if built on foreign soil, must be funded by U.S. companies or government agencies. To enable others to learn from this process, winning projects will be published as case studies on the SBIC Web site (www.sbicouncil.org) and possibly on the Whole Building Design Guide Web site (www.wbdg.org). This site is receiving close to a million page views per month and will provide winners with outstanding visibility if their project is approved for inclusion onto the WBDG. Entries for the ExemplarySustainableBuilding category will be evaluated and awarded based on the following criteria: 1) whole building design objectives; 2) unity; 3) building benefits; and 4) innovation. To be considered for the Best Sustainable Practice category, entrants must be SBIC members. Non-members interested in participating in this competition are encouraged to first consider joining SBIC (visit www.sbicouncil.org for membership details). The judging for this category will consider the following: 1) sustainable policy/program initiatives; 2) sustainable research, development, construction process, and demonstration activities; 3) educational initiatives; and 4) stimulating demand through increased consumer awareness. Attention to the relationship of sustainable design features and the increased health, comfort and productivity of the occupants will be of particular concern this year in both categories. For more details of the awards criteria and information about SBIC please visit the website at www.sbicouncil.org.Entries must be submitted no later than Friday, October 27, 2006. Entry fees range from $150 to $250 depending on the category. Full details, including the call for entries, submission guidelines and applications are available online at www.sbicouncil.org/prog_bpawards.htm. Winners will be announced on Thursday, December 7, 2006 at the SBIC Awards reception at the Washington, D.C. Convention Center.