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U.S. EPA, partners kick off green building design challenge

Contest to reward reuse designs that save resources, costs

SAN FRANCISCO - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and partners are calling on the nation's architects, builders and others to participate in a competition seeking designs that facilitate reuse and minimize waste.

The “Lifecycle Building Challenge” - co-sponsored by the Building Materials Reuse Association, the American Institute of Architects and West Coast Green - invites professionals and students nationwide to submit designs and ideas by May 15 that support disassembly and anticipate the future use of building materials. Architects, reuse experts, engineers, builders, educators and environmental advocates are encouraged to apply for the web-based competition.

The challenge, open to built and un-built work, has three main categories:

* Building-an entire building from foundation to roof
* Component-a single building assembly, system, or connector
* Service-a tool, method, or other idea

Outstanding entries in each category will be recognized and publicized, and top student designs will receive cash awards. All winners will be honored at the West Coast Green Conference in San Francisco in September. For more information or to enter the competition, visit http://www.lifecyclebuilding.org/.