The 2016 Solar Home Design Contest challenges entrants to design homes that use solar energy to provide electricity, heat and domestic hot water and that fit in with traditional New England architectural designs styles. Entrants will have access to tips from solar energy experts as to how to incorporate different solar energy technologies into their designs. This contest will be judged by two Rhode Island solar pioneers: Bob Chew founded R.W. Chew Co., Inc. in 1977 and went on to launch SolarWrights and Alteris Renewables (currently Real Goods Energy). Mike Smith founded M.F. Smith Associates in 1975 and co-founded Solar Homes, Inc. in 1978 with Spenser Dickinson. Joining Chew and Smith as a judge is Gary Graham, FAIA founding principal of GMI Architects. Newport Solar is providing contest prizes. Douglas Sabetti, president of Newport Solar is proud to sponsor the solar home design contest. “It is my hope that this contest will spur the increased use of photovoltaics, active and passive solar heating systems and solar heated hot water in homes being built,” Sabetti said. ecoRI News is the presenter of the design competition and will co-promote the event. The contest application can be downloaded at ecoRI.org/solarcontest. The contest will close on September 30, 2016. Winners will be announced by October 15.

Contact: Bob Chew
E-mail: bob@rwchew.com
Phone: 386-299-7424
www.ecoRI.org/solarcontest