The inaugural Look Green Home Design Awards showcase Australia’s best designers, architects and builders dedicated to developing innovative green homes.

This award responds to the growing interest in green projects by new homebuilders and buyers.

Sustainability, affordability and innovation are the criteria for selecting the best new-custom built home, best display or demonstration home and best renovation.

Awards will be judged by a panel of experts from the design, real estate and architecture industries, who will review all entries according to stringent guidelines.

Achieving an energy rating of at least 5 stars or being Basix-compliant (NSW) is imperative, as is the incorporation of lightweight construction. The embodied energy of materials and their energy efficiency will also be a key factor, in particular in relation to their impact on the site and health of the occupants. Construction and maintenance affordability as well as an innovative design approach will set the entrants apart.

Online applications are open from 1 April – 24 July 2009, and winners will be announced in October.

The three successful candidates will receive a trip for two to the world’s biggest green building conference, Greenbuild 2009 in Phoenix, US in November, as will the winner of the People’s Choice Awards. Voting is available online.

lookgreenhomeawards.com.au