The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) is pleased to announce The Sustainable Home: Habitat for Humanity Student Design Competition for the 2011-2012 academic year. Administered by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) and sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and The Vinyl Institute (VI), the program is to engage young professionals in Habitat for Humanity’s effort to eliminate poverty housing by advancing the design of simple, decent, healthy, and affordable homes. Participants are strongly encourages to work in teams on the project. A separate prize for the best use of vinyl building materials will be awarded and vinyl building products and systems should be used in the design of The Sustainable Home whenever possible (required for the Vinyl Award).   

THE OPPORTUNITY
One of Habitat’s priorities is to improve the sustainability of the communities in which it works by supporting the development and delivery of innovative, sustainable building solutions. These efforts will minimize the negative impact of residential sector construction on the environment, reduce the energy and resource consumption of neighborhoods, and increase the economic sustainability of low-income families.