11/21/2011

The University of Maryland won this year's Solar Decathalon, with Purdue University and Victoria University (New Zealand)  took second and third awards.  The teams had $250,000 to creat energy-efficient houses that could be transported and built on the Mall in Washington D.C.  Winners were also gauged on individual categories such as Architecture, Market Appeal, Engineering, Affordability and Energy Balance. Check out the interesting designs and lessons learned here.

11/17/11

Billings and the the Billings Public Library Bond Issue received some national press over the weekend.  On the National Public Radio Weekend Edition program, there was a report about Billings' ecomomy, civic pride and the passage of the Library Bond issue.  Go Billings!  Check out the text or listen to the report here.

11/10/11

We are pleased to announce that the Billings Public Library Bond Issue passed on Election Day November 8!  This means Billings will get it's long awaited new library.  Even in a down economy, 56% of the voters were in favor of funding the library.  The design by Will Bruder+ Partners is an energy efficient, daylight filled library full of features to please kids, teens and adults, for generations to come.  Find out more about the vote and future plans here.  Construction drawings are expected to be issued in March 2012.  Find out more about the design here.

In related news, the day before the vote the project was awarded a $200,000 grant from the Kendeda Foundation to help the project achieve LEED Gold certification.  The design team is weighing how best to allocate the grant, but ideas include a solar electric system and/or increased insulation to improve energy efficiency.