In the long run, cheap homes are unhealthy, uncomfortable, and costly.

Affordable homes, however, use superefficient design and cutting-edge construction to reduce utility costs and maximize health, comfort, and livability for low-income households.

RMI’s regional Superefficient Housing Design/Build Competition challenges teams of university students and builders to innovate, design, and build affordable homes. In the “design” phase, teams of students and builders submit plans to a panel of sustainable housing experts. In the “build” phase, the five teams with the best design submissions will be awarded infill lots and seed funding to construct energy-efficient, affordable single-family homes. For the life of the project, each team will be required to document labor, construction, and equipment costs to ensure that each house is designed and built to be as energy-efficient and low-cost as possible. The houses will be judged not only on design and cost criteria but also on energy modeling and performance testing, once built.

Through partnerships with local public housing authorities, constructed houses will become homes to qualified low-income people and families. Each home will be monitored during its first year of occupancy, providing actual building performance and energy use data that can inform future design, improve modeling techniques, and educate communities on the benefits of superefficiency in designing, building, paying for, and living in affordable housing.

To learn more about the design/build competition, contact:

Jeff Wanner
Argosy Fellow and Engineering Intern
303-567-8627 or 970-927-7327
jwanner@rmi.org

Download the Competition Fact Sheet and Letter

Fact Sheet | Letter