Solar design contest underway

A NEW solar design contest announced this week aims to encourage active and passive design and construction techniques for New England homes. Pictured is a solar photovoltaic panel installation. / BLOOMBERG FILE PHOTO/GEORGE FREY
A NEW solar design contest announced this week aims to encourage active and passive design and construction techniques for New England homes. Pictured is a solar photovoltaic panel installation. / BLOOMBERG FILE PHOTO/GEORGE FREY

PROVIDENCE – A new solar design contest announced this week aims to encourage active and passive design and construction techniques for New England homes.
The inaugural 2016 Home Design Contest is asking anyone who’s interested to submit a design of homes that use solar energy for electricity, heat and domestic hot water. Submissions should also follow traditional New England architectural design styles, according to a press release.
The grand prize winner will receive $1,000 and three other prizes worth $100 each will be awarded for various categories.
“Entrants will have access to tips from solar energy experts as to how to incorporate different solar energy technologies into their designs,” the release stated.
Two Rhode Island solar professionals, Bob Chew and Mike Smith, will judge the contest along with Gary Graham, founding partner of GMI Architects. Chew founded R.W. Chew Co. Inc. in 1977 and launched SolarWrights and Alteris Renewables, now Real Goods Energy. Smith, founder of M.F. Smith Associates in 1965, co-founded Solar Homes Inc. in 1978.
Newport Solar is providing the prizes and is a sponsor of the design contest.
“It is my hope that this contest will spur the increased use of photovoltaics, active and passive solar heating systems and solar heated hot water in homes being built,” said Douglas Sabetti, president of Newport Solar.
The environmental news organization, ecoRI News, is a presenter of the design competition and contest applications can be found on its website at ecori.org/solarcontest. The contest is open until Sept. 30 and winners will be announced by Oct. 15, according to the release.

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