The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced the dates for its third annual Race To Zero design competition in 2016. Architecture, engineering, and building science college students will compete in teams to develop cost-effective, sustainable homes that meet the Zero Energy Ready Home program requirements. The competition, which spans four home categories, is an initiative to further students' interests in creating real-world solutions in the clean energy industry.
Thirty-three teams entered the 2015 competition to design zero-energy homes for conventional builders; the winning teams were announced in April. The grand winner was the University of Minnesota's Opti-MN with its Impact Home.
Included in the 2016 competition is a chance for participants to interact with industry leaders about future housing innovations, as well as a two-day building science training led by experts. Although this year's guidelines will be made available in August, several important dates were announced. On September 3, faculty leaders will be asked to send their intent to participate along with a summary of plans to include the competition into their building science courses. On November 19, teams must register and submit their design concepts.
The guidelines will be available in August on the competition website.