TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2013
Dozens of builders, contractors, researchers, national laboratories and building science organizations across America have been awarded Housing Innovation Awards by the U.S. Department of Energy for achievements in energy efficiency research, innovation and success.
DOE says the new awards program recognized 46 leading industry players that are “bringing the best in energy-efficient building technologies and design to new and older homes across the country.”
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©Tom Bassett-Dilley / Weiss Building & Development LLC / DOE |
A variety of energy-efficient building technologies, including 19-inch thick walls, are featured in the Passive House in River Forest, IL. The home earned Weiss Building & Development LLC of South Elgin, IL, a U.S. DOE Systems Award. |
The winners, including Weiss Building & Development LLC, Preferred Builders Inc., New Town Builders and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, are further serving as catalysts leading the way to net-zero energy ready homes, according to the DOE.
Contest Details
The competition, coordinated by the Energy Department's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, offered rigorous application criteria within four building categories: DOE Challenge Home Builders; Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® Participating Contractors; Excellence in Building Science Educator of the Year; and Building America Top Innovations.
The Housing Innovation Awards support the Energy Department's commitment to help harness American ingenuity to commercialize and deploy cutting-edge technologies, as well as to promote improving the energy efficiency of the U.S. housing stock.
The winners were honored during the DOE’s 2013 Solar Decathlon on Oct. 4 in Irvine, CA.
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Building Science Corp. / DOE |
Window replacement, rehabilitation, and repair guides for homeowners and contractors prepared by the Building Science Corp. for the DOE's Building America Solution Center were recognized as a Building America Top Innovation. |
DOE’s award descriptions and its list of winners follow. Additional details and photos are available by clicking on the name of the award winner or system innovation below.
DOE Challenge Home Builder Awards
The DOE Challenge Home Builder Awards are presented to builders who are changing the way homes are designed and constructed.
“Only a select group of the top builders in the country meet the extraordinary levels of excellence and quality specified by Energy Department guidelines,” the DOE says.
Systems Builders
Custom Builders
Production Builders
Affordable Builders
Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Participating Contractors
The award is presented to participating contractors who have demonstrated innovative business practices that mark them as leaders among their peers.
According to the DOE, they exhibit “outstanding professionalism, build strong customer relationships, and apply building science solutions to improve homes.”
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Energy Efficiencies Solutions / Energystar.gov |
Energy Efficiencies Solutions of Windsor, CT, was recognized for its innovative business practices, specifically customer relations and market leadership. |
Only contractors that take part in rigorous training, apply the whole-house approach, adhere to program requirements, and continuously improve their workmanship through quality assurance measures can engage with Home Performance with ENERGY STAR as participating contractors.
Excellence in Building Science Education Award
The Excellence in Building Science Education Award is presented jointly by the National Consortium of Housing Research Centers (NCHRC) and the Energy Department to advance the state of building science curricula across the U.S. and Canada.
Patrick Huelman, an Associate Extension Professor in the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering at the University of Minnesota, is being recognized for his exemplary work teaching building science and preparing a generation to produce buildings that are energy efficient, healthy, comfortable and durable.
Building America Top Innovations
Recipients were acknowledged for their game-changing Building America research achievements. These innovations are helping to guide residential building professionals in moving toward more energy-efficient, healthier and durable homes.
Advanced Technologies and Practices
House-As-A-System Business Case
Effective Guidance and Tools
Infrastructure Development
Tagged categories: Building Envelope; Contractors; Designers; Energy codes; Energy efficiency; Energy Star; Home builders; Net Zero Energy ; Residential Construction