Initiatives undertaken in the building and construction sector to counter environmental woes are by far the most effective. Studies have shown that the abatement costs of CO2 emissions in the building sector are in fact negative, i.e., sustainable design makes money for developers and owners. Yet, the industry has only begun to scratch the surface when it comes to making a real change. Building professionals have a real opportunity to make a difference.

The inaugural FuturArc Prize for sustainable design launched by BCI in 2008 chose the latter approach. Over 200 entrants from 15 countries submitted the most creative designs combining sustainability and architectural ingenuity. By popular demand BCI has decided to repeat FuturArc Prize. As in 2008, the FuturArc Prize 2009 aims to trigger continued change in the way we approach building, and showcase innovative ideas and solutions for sustainable design. We invite all professionals and students to contribute to a greener future by competing for the FuturArc Prize 2009. We look forward to your participation.

This year’s competition offers entrants a choice of two briefs. Option 1 is a hypothetical project set in the near future for which entrants may select a site in the cities in which they reside. The second is an actual project brief and site contributed by a developer in Indonesia.

http://www.futurarc.com/prize2009/