Washington, D.C. -- The Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC) announced the results of its 2009 Beyond Green High-Performance Building Awards on Capitol Hill today. The event was held in partnership with the High-Performance Buildings Congressional Caucus Coalition (HPBCCC) and showcased high-performance buildings and initiatives. The event also kicks off an educational outreach program for policymakers, building trade professionals and the general public.     

"The days of under-performing and cost-ineffective homes and buildings are waning," said SBIC Executive Director, Bud DeFlaviis. "The Beyond Green Awards honor forward-thinking professionals who are creating a new generation of buildings that are mindful of the people they serve and the environment they impact."    

The 2009 Beyond Green High-Performance Building Awards attracted more than 40 entries from projects across the country. Entries were judged based on the eight design objectives which define a high-performance building: Sustainability, Accessibility, Aesthetics, Cost-Effectiveness, Functionality, Productivity/Health, Historic sensitivity, and Safety and Security.   

The competition challenged public and private sector practitioners to demonstrate the successful application of the whole building approach by showing how they integrated the eight design objectives into their projects. The program is open to both SBIC members and nonmembers.   

"Our jury was impressed by the range and quality of submissions received for the 2009 competition," said Gregg Ander, FAIA, chair jury and chief architect for Southern California Edison. "Clearly the number of high-performance building practitioners has increased. And while this made our task particularly arduous, thoughtful deliberations allowed us to select a number of exciting projects."     

Congressman Russ Carnahan (D-MO) and Congresswoman Judy Biggert (R-IL), co-chairs of the High Performance Buildings Congressional Caucus, were on hand for the event and praised the winners for their work.   

"Investments in high-performance buildings pay dividends in reduced energy costs, higher building values and improved working environments," said Congressman Carnahan. "I am especially proud to have a local St. Louis company, Emerson Electric, be recognized for their state-of-the-art Global Data Center, as well as their continued drive to deliver energy-efficiency solutions for our built environment."  

Submissions were entered in two categories: High-Performance Buildings and High-Performance Initiatives. High-Performance Building entries included commercial, government, institutional, residential, and school buildings. High-Performance Initiatives included policy programs, educational initiatives, consumer awareness efforts, research product development, and new construction processes.  

The recognized projects will be featured on SBIC's web site, described in depth as case studies on the Whole Building Design Guide (www.WBDG.org), and integrated into a variety of SBIC educational programs.  

SBIC's 2009 Beyond Green High-Performance Building Award Winners

Category A - High-Performance Buildings

First Place

Empire State Building, Integrated Energy Efficient Retrofit, New York, NY
Submitted by: Rocky Mountain Institute, Jones Lang LaSalle, Clinton Climate Initiative, Johnson Controls

Citations

Emerson's Energy-Efficient Global Data Center, St. Louis, MO
Innovative Solution for a Niche Market Application
Submitted by: Emerson Electric Company

Charlotte Vermont House, Charlotte, VT
Unique Regional Design Response
Submitted by: Pill - Maharam Architects

Kroon Hall, School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, CT
Integrated Design Process
Submitted by: Centerbrook Architects and Planners

Category B - High-Performance Initiatives

Citation

Water Independence in Oregon's Buildings, Portland, OR
Stewardship of Water Resources
Submitted by: SERA Architects & Interface Engineering

The 2009 Beyond Green High-Performance Building Awards Jury:

The 2009 jury was comprised of industry members whose commitment to excellence is longstanding and well documented. The jury included:  

Mr. Gregg Ander, FAIA, Chief Architect for Southern California Edison (Chair);
Ms. Caroline Alderson, U.S. General Services Administration;
Mr. Gary Bailey, AIA, owner Innovative Design;
Mr. Henry L. Green, Hon. AIA, President and CEO of the National Institute of Building Sciences;
Peter A. Stratton, Senior Associate with Steven Winter Associates, Inc.; and
Ujjval K. Vyas, Ph.D., J.D, principal of Alberti Group.  

The 2009  Beyond Green Program Sponsors:

The Platinum level sponsor is Southern California Edison - www.sce.com.   

Additional financial support was provided by: 

National Institute of Building Sciences - www.nibs.org;
AECOM - www.aecom.com;
Portland Cement Association - www.cement.org;
Green Building Pages - www.greenbuildingpages.com;
Polyisocynurate Manufacturer's Association - www.pima.org;
American Iron and Steel Institute - www.steel.org;
Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance - www.sprayfoam.org;
Innovative Design - www.innovativedesign.net; and
Infineco - www.infineco.com.


The Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC) is an independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to unite and inspire the building industry toward higher performance-through education, outreach, advocacy and the mutual exchange of ideas. Council Membership is open to private and public organizations and individuals who share this mission. For more information about the Council's products, services, and members, visit www.SBICouncil.org or call 202-628-7400.