PG&E and AIA Foundation Announce Opening of Zero Net Energy Design Competition

SAN FRANCISCO and BAKERSFIELD, Calif., June 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- When the energy industry and cutting-edge architects get together with a single purpose, creating buildings that essentially power themselves, the results are impressive. Last year's Architecture at Zero competition was fierce and it spurred state-of-the-art designs for a 150-unit mixed-use residential apartment building in the Tenderloin neighborhood in San Francisco. This year will be no different. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) joins the American Institute of Architects Foundation (AIA) and East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC) to announce the opening of the fourth annual Architecture at Zero competition for zero net energy (ZNE) building designs.

The Architecture at Zero competition is open to designers, academics, researchers and students. Contestants will design a Zero Net Energy (ZNE) building at a mixed-use site in Oakland. Up to $25,000 in total prizes will be awarded by a panel of international experts in December, 2014. ZNE buildings produce as much clean energy as they use during a year through a combination of energy efficiency and on-site renewable energy generation.

"The American Institute of Architects Foundation is excited to see the hard work and thought that go into this year's ZNE building design entries," said AIA Foundation Executive Director Sherry-Lea Bloodworth Botop. "The winning designs will be those that are not only aesthetically interesting, but also create ZNE spaces that help EBALDC continue its leadership in driving community change through innovative design solutions."

This is the fourth year that PG&E has sponsored the Architecture at Zero competition. The intent is to generate new, innovative ideas for ZNE construction to help achieve the California Public Utilities Commission's goal for all new residential construction in California to be ZNE by 2020 and all new commercial construction to be ZNE by 2030.

"PG&E is once again proud to sponsor Architecture at Zero, a competition that has pushed forward our thinking and demonstrated that great design and zero net energy use are not only possible, but available to us today," said Steve Malnight, Vice President of Customer Energy Solutions for PG&E. "I'm sure this year's contestants will bring their A-game to the competition."  

Competition entries will be juried by the following international experts: Bob Berkebile, FAIA, Principal, BNIM Architects; Ned Cramer; Editor-in-Chief, Architecture Magazine (invited); Ed Mazria, Founder, Architecture 2030; Paul Torcellini, Principal Engineer with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Allison Williams, FAIA, AECOM.

The deadline for entries is October 31, 2014.To register or learn more, visit http://www.architectureatzero.com/

About the American Institute of Architects Foundation
The AIA Foundation preserves, honors and advances excellence in design for the benefit of the public. As a nonprofit, the AIA Foundation is the preeminent voice and advocate for architecture and design in America and works closely with the American Institute of Architects on areas of mutual interest. The AIA Foundation is dedicated to the belief that good design is good for all and plays an essential role in transforming lives and building a better world.

About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation PCG, is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation's cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/ and http://www.pge.com/about/newsroom/.

About East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation
East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC) is a nonprofit community development organization that builds healthy, vibrant and safe neighborhoods in Oakland and the greater East Bay. We develop and manage high quality affordable apartments and homes, retail spaces for local small businesses and community centers, while fostering increased economic opportunities for low-income families and individuals. These comprehensive programs help families and individuals begin a path toward financially security and access the resources they need to lead healthy, stable and fulfilling lives. 

Since 1975, we have invested more than $190 million in assets that have had substantial physical and social impact in the community, including a total of 1,918 homes and more than 300,000 square feet of commercial space that bring street-level vitality and critical services to our neighborhoods. Our Neighborhood and Economic Development programs serve 4,000 low-income people annually, through resident services at our buildings, financial education and counseling, youth and senior programming, and free tax preparation and assistance.

For more information, visit www.ebaldc.org.

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SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)