2011 BETTERBRICKS AWARDS
 ONLINE NOMINATION FORM

 

WELCOME


Award Welcome to the BetterBricks Awards nomination site! The BetterBricks Awards celebrate the efforts of standout individuals who lead the way in building, designing, operating and advocating for high performance, commercial buildings in the Northwest. These professionals have championed the way within their organizations and throughout the community. The result: a greater number of buildings that offer improved energy efficiency, bottom line benefits and a reduced carbon footprint.

SAVE THE DATE

Save the date for the BetterBricks Awards:

Idaho: October 20, 2010
Nominations closed

Oregon/SW Washington: February 11, 2011
Nominations due: December 22

Puget Sound: February 17, 2011
Nominations due: December 22


NOMINATE SOMEONE TODAY (OR YOURSELF!)

The judging panel will be assessing individuals or teams involved in the design, operations or management of high performance commercial structures. Please remember that these awards recognize people, not projects. High performance buildings are commercial structures, both existing and newly constructed, that have achieved a substantial level of energy savings. These buildings offer other high performance features such as a more productive work environment, occupant comfort, water savings and an abundance of natural light, to name a few. We are looking for leaders who use and promote the following best practices:

  • New buildings: For new projects an integrated design strategy is used. This collaborative process brings the team together early and takes advantage of climate resources, looks at a building's pattern of use, minimizes loads and then integrates efficient systems. The design incorporates daylighting and minimizes the need for electric lighting. It utilizes passive systems such as natural ventilation and may incorporate other advanced strategies such as radiant cooling and under floor air systems. Energy goals are set early. During the design phase energy modeling is typically used. During construction, a commissioning process is in place and often a post occupancy evaluation is done after the project is complete.

  • Existing buildings: Better building performance strategies are used to achieve significant savings. Buildings are benchmarked, systems are tuned-up and enhanced building operations procedures are put into place. Building operations staff are trained and rewarded. The building managers work closely with local utility programs to incorporate high efficiency equipment.

  • For those who own buildings, achieving high performance may mean leading a culture shift across the organization that looks at business practices that impact energy savings opportunities in all areas of the business: equipment purchases, occupant behaviors, financing, staff training to name a few.

Guidelines and Tips:

  • Click here to review an example of a winning nomination.

  • Please save your work often as you fill out the electronic form.

  • Incomplete nomination forms (or those providing insufficient information) will be returned for resubmission if time permits, or excluded from consideration entirely.

  • A judging committee of regional experts on energy efficient, green, high performance buildings will review the nominations. The committee may move entrants to a different category if appropriate. The committee may award no awards in a category. The committee's decisions are final.

  • It is helpful to judges to have as much detail as possible to understand the depth of a nominee's work. For example, a past winner stated his work "resulted in energy savings that saved the school district the equivalent of 12 teaching positions."

  • All nominators and nominees will be notified of the results in advance of the event.

  • Winners agree to have their work profiled in the sponsoring publications, the BetterBricks web site and partnering trade organization websites.

  • Winners agree to provide a short "words of wisdom" speech at the event to inspire other building professionals.

  • Previous award winners are not eligible to be nominated in the same category he or she won in.

  • Finalists from previous years are encouraged to reapply.

  • Email Kyle Stuart at Kyle@CoatesKokes.com if you have questions.