The Energy Office has sponsored two design competitions. The first was in 2002 and the second was in 2004.  Accredited architectural colleges in the State of Michigan were invited to participate in a competition to design a Zero Energy Home.  Individual students or teams of students competed for three prizes: 1^st - $8,000, 2^nd - $6,000, and 3^rd - $4,000.  A Zero Energy Home was defined as a house that does not use non-renewable, fossil fuels on a net annual basis.  Energy to be used in the house was to be provided by passive solar designs, a photovoltaic system, active solar heating systems, and/or bioenergy systems.  The house on an annual basis had to produce as much electricity as it used.  The house could use electricity from the utility electric grid as long as it provided an equal amount back to the grid.

Design parameters included: 1,600 square feet of habitable space, inexpensive as possible, energy calculations using Energy-10 software would document that the house will meet all state building code requirements during a 7,000 HDD winter, provide hot water for a family of four, and power a refrigerator, microwave oven, lights, television, stereo, computer, and clothes washer and dryer. 

An evaluation committee comprised of builders, architects, and home energy raters reviewed and evaluated the entries based on the following criteria: accuracy and adequacy of energy calculations, plans based on a systems approach, creativity of building design, completeness of material specification list,  cost of building the house, and the use of Michigan products (the product is made in Michigan or manufactured by a company that has its headquarters in Michigan).

2004 Winners

First Place – Lawrence Technological University

Jessica Slomka

Second Place – Lawrence Technological University

Steven Bugyi

Third Place – Lawrence Technological University

Paul Eland

Honorable Mention

Michael Oranchak, Lawrence Technological University

Anne Shishkovsky, Lawrence Technological University

2002 Winners

First Place - Lawrence Technological U.

Emanuele Arguelles, Christopher Hornbeck & Christina Snyder, Adjunct Professor

Second Place - Lawrence Technological U.

Adam Dalide, Eric Schmitt & Christina Snyder, Adjunct Professor

Third Place - Andrews U.

David Johnson, Keith Ockerman & Thomas Lowing, Associate Professor

                        Honorable Mention

                        Daniel Malott, U. of Detroit-Mercy

                        Lisa Green, Lawrence Technological U.

                        Michael Tyler, Lawrence Technological U.