USBGC Innovation in Green Design Award Winners & Earth Day Party

On April 28th, 135 green building advocates and professionals joined the USGBC Mass. chapter to celebrate the 4th Annual Earth Day Party and the winners of the Innovation in Green Design Award. This year's special guest, Beth Holst, vice president of the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) welcomed the community and updated the crowd on how LEED buildings and LEED AP's are transforming the green building movement. The main program of the night was led by Jim Newman, vice chair of the USGBC Mass. chapter, who presented the 2011 Innovation in Green Design Award trophies to this year's winners. The annual Earth Day Party is the chapter's most fun networking and celebratory event and this year they were greatful to be hosted by their event sponsor, Hotel Marlowe, a green hotel in Cambridge. Hotel Marlowe provided appetizers, superior service and a fun atmosphere for their celebration. Guests were entertained by a local jazz group called Pure Imagination Trio. The event was also made possible by Hotel Marlowe. Each year in early April, Innovation in Green Design Award submissions are collected by the chapter. The project board submissions are displayed at the chapter's Annual Earth Day Party and the awards are presented at this event. If you are considering entering, the criteria is outlined below. These criteria are subject to change year to year so please make sure to check this site prior to submitting. Why Should I Enter? There are many benefits to entering your building project, technology or innovative product. * Recognition: Submissions will be put on display at the Earth Day Celebration as well as at various chapter events. Award entrants will be highlighted on the chapter's website and in the media surrounding the Earth Day Celebration. * Feedback: The submissions will be judged by a panel of 3-5 judges and a summary of responses will be available to entrants upon request. * Inspiration: the IGD Award is designed to highlight Massachusetts innovation in green design, building and practice. We encourage creativity and unique expressions of your project, product or technology. Your work will inspire others to further the green cause. What are the Entry Criteria? Entries will be grouped into two categories: Building Construction and Product/Technology. The project(s), product(s) or technology(s) must have been built, implemented or created in Massachusetts. Entrants however do not have to be from Massachusetts. Entries will at a minimum address the following criteria: * The innovativeness of the entry, does it break new ground? * The significance of the entry's positive impact on the environment, social equity and the economy. How much good does it do? * Replicability. Is the entry something that can be used as a model for others? It will be up to the selected jury to apply the criteria listed above. How Do I Submit my Entry? * Entries will be presented on a single 24" x 36" board of recycled or recyclable material. Feel free to be creative! * Content may be in text, diagram, photos or other media. The presentation of the content shall not require expending electrical or other energy other than for normal illumination for viewing. * A 3" x 5" rectangular area shall be left blank on the lower right corner of the board for placement of the identification information. The identification information for the entrant shall be on a 3" X 5" card in a sealed envelope affixed to the back of the board to ensure anonymity during the judging period. * Information on board shall include the name and location of the entry. For products or technologies, indicate where it was built, designed or implemented in Massachusetts. * The registration form and payment should be submitted as soon as possible. * Final project boards will be mailed or hand delivered. Entries will be due sometime in late March or early April, 2012.