The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) promotes sustainable design and building practices across the country and has developed the LEED certification system for rating sustainability in homes and buildingsÜthe national standard. They are also educating the next generation of college students on sustainable building practices, part of their Natural Talent Design Competition.
The 2010 competition, in partnership with Salvation Army's EnviRenew Initiative, is focused on the rebuilding effort in New Orleans, Louisiana. The USGBC Hawaii Chapter's team "Greenboy Productions," from U.H. at Manoa, is one of four team finalists from 360 applicants. For the final phase of the competition, their LEED design will be erected in New Orleans' Broadmoor neighborhood. Once the home is built, it will be subjected to a rigorous verification process and graded on energy and water efficiency and indoor air quality among other categories. The winner will be announced in October, at Greenbuild 2011.
Team Greenboy created an affordable, adaptable and accessible home elevated to eight feet above ground level, allowing the space below the home to serve as a carport. A ramp and stair system quickly brings the owner and visitors to the side entry where the structure splits, creating an inviting side patio with integrated local fauna at an elevated level, allowing passive ventilation to draw in the cool air from below the structure. Satisfying a cultural aspect of the design, the home aims to bring a contemporary and sustainable solution to the historic neighborhood. The narrow rectangular residence calls back directly to the shotgun layouts of New Orleans' past with aspects both eclectic in look and affordable in today's construction market.