Category: Building Science

EAS-E Home Electrification Prize

Deadline: March 8, 2023 12:00 pm

Source: U.S. Department of Energy Building Technologies Office

Description: The goal of the EAS-E Prize is to support a suite of design solutions, tools, and/or technology innovations that make electrification more affordable and accessible in existing U.S. homes. The Prize consists of two phases: Phase 1 – Concept Paper (presenting proposed solutions); and Phase 2 – Demonstration (winning competitors from Phase 1 will demonstrate functional prototype solutions). See website for full details.

Award: Phase 1 winners receive $5,000 each and will be eligible to compete in Phase 2. Additionally, Phase 1 winners each receive a $75k voucher to work with DOE national laboratories and/or qualifying “connectors” from the American-Made Network. Up to three prizes will be awarded under Phase 2, with a top prize of $1 million.

Eligibility: Open to individuals; private entities (for-profits & nonprofits); nonfederal government entities such as states, counties, tribes, and municipalities; and academic institutions.

Deadline: Phase 1 submissions due 12 pm PST, March 8, 2023.

Architecture Building Science External Grant

GFO-22-305 – Advanced Prefabricated Zero Carbon Homes

Deadline: March 17, 2023 11:59 pm

Source: California Energy Commission

Description: The intent of this solicitation is to develop, test and demonstrate zero-carbon or near-zero-carbon (collectively “ZC”), cost-effective, modular and manufactured homes (collectively “prefabricated homes”) that can be readily deployed, particularly in under-resourced communities including California Native American Tribes. Projects must fall into one of the following project groups: Group 1 (Develop, test and demonstrate innovative manufactured homes); and Group 2 (Develop, test and demonstrate innovative modular homes). See website for full details.

Award: $7.5M available per group; minimum award: $2M. No match required.

Eligibility: Open to all public and private entities with the exception of local publicly owned electric utilities. Specific terms and conditions apply to projects and use of funding. See website for more info.

Deadline: 11:59 pm, March 17, 2023

Architecture Building Science Grant Landscape Architecture Urbanism USC

President’s Sustainability Research Award

Deadline: January 16, 2023 5:00 pm

Source: USC

Description: The President’s Sustainability Research Award will provide seed funding to enable researchers to submit highly competitive applications for federal funding, including large center and related programs, early career awards, and individual research projects. The goal of using these funds is to maximize the probability of obtaining federal research support for the proposed effort. This is a one-time solicitation. While this program may be repeated, currently there are no plans to do so. Topics include: Human Health & Well-Being; Infrastructure and Built Environment; Natural Environment/Ecosystem Services; Communications, Policy & Institutions; and Risk Analysis & Economic Impacts.

Award: There are two types of aware under this program: Large research awards: $1,000,000 in funding is available to fund 2-3 awards. Small research awards: $250,000 is available to fund 5-7 awards.

Eligibility: PIs/Co-PIs must be permanent, full-time faculty at USC. Tenure Track and non-tenure track faculty are eligible; visits and adjunct faculty are not eligible to apply.

Deadline: 5 pm PST, Jan. 16, 2023

Building Science External Grant

GFO-22-501 – Advancing Window Retrofits and Reducing Fireplace Air Leaks to Improve Energy Efficiency in Existing Buildings

Deadline: December 9, 2022 11:59 pm

Source: California Energy Commission

Description: The purpose of this solicitation is to fund energy efficiency research to advance high-performance windows in existing commercial buildings and reduce air and energy leakage in existing residential wood-burning and gas fireplaces. Addressing envelope retrofits in existing buildings to improve energy efficiency results in greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions and is necessary to help California meet its decarbonization goals. The goal of this solicitation is to reduce GHG emissions by reducing energy use for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC). The solicitation has two funding groups: Group 1 – High-Performance Window Retrofits for Commercial Buildings; and Group 2 – Strategies to Reduce Fireplace Air Leaks in Residential Buildings.

Award: Group 1: $1.2M – 2.4M; Group 2: $200,000 – $238,222.

Eligibility: Solicitation is open to all public and private entities. See website for full eligibility details.

Deadline: 11:59 pm PST, Dec. 9, 2022

Architecture Building Science Competition External Landscape Architecture Urbanism

2022 SOM Foundation Research Prize

Deadline: December 5, 2022 3:00 pm

Source: SOM Foundation

Description: Intended to cultivate new ideas and meaningful research that addresses the critical issues of our time. Each year, two prizes are awarded to faculty-led interdisciplinary teams based in the United States to conduct original research that contributes to the SOM Foundation’s current topic. This year’s topic is a prompt to investigate the impact that air has in our world, from the unequal way pollution affects communities to the way it shapes spatial conditions and material innovations. How can air be considered while exploring new architectural environments, structural solutions, ecological strategies, and urban policies? See website for more info.

Award: $40,000 (two prizes awarded)

Eligibility: Open to faculty currently teaching at a professionally accredited bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or PhD program in architecture, landscape architecture, interior architecture, urban design, or engineering in the United States. The research must be developed in a studio and/or seminar within the academic institution. The lead faculty member(s) will be expected to work in a collaborative manner with faculty from other disciplines, leading professionals, nonprofit organizations, and/or community representatives in addition to students enrolled in the studio and/or seminar. Collaborator(s) can be based worldwide. SOM Foundation affiliated members and SOM employees should not be included as part of the proposals. Faculty from previously awarded proposals are not eligible.

Deadline: 5 pm CST, Dec. 5, 2022

Architecture Building Science Competition External Grant Landscape Architecture Urbanism

MIT Solve Climate Ecosystems + Housing Challenge

Deadline: March 31, 2022 12:00 am

Source: MIT Solve

Description: MIT Solve’s 2022 Sustainability Challenges will focus on the following two areas: Protecting Ecosystem Carbon and Decarbonizing Housing. The MIT Solve community is looking for eight technology-based solutions that help communities thrive with either high-carbon ecosystems or good low-carbon homes at scale. To that end, Solve seeks solutions that: support local economies that protect high-carbon ecosystems from destruction, including forests, peatlands, and mangroves; develop new value chains for mass creation of inexpensive and low-carbon housing, including changes to materials, designs, or construction methods; and decarbonize heating and cooking systems in existing homes while improving efficiency. See website for more info.

Award: All selected solutions will receive $10,000. Additional prizes will be granted to solutions fulfilling additional parameters.

Eligibility: Open to all.

Deadline: March 31, 2022

Architecture Building Science Design Grant Landscape Architecture Urbanism USC

USC Stevens Technology Advancement Grants

Deadline: February 4, 2022 5:00 pm

Source: USC Stevens Center for Innovation

Description: Technology Advancement Grants (TAGs) support technologies invented at USC through validation or proof-of-concept development. The awards add value to unlicensed USC owned technology, aiming to increase the probability of obtaining a license in the future. These awards are not intended to fund basic research or app development. TAGs have a competitive two-step application process comprising an initial review by USC Stevens’ staff and an external advisory board, and a final review and recommendation by a second external advisory board of industry experts. The final presentations will be held via Zoom. It is anticipated that part of the award may be spent on outside organizations that will work with the principal investigator and USC Stevens to further develop the technology. Areas of Interest: Innovations created at USC in any discipline that demonstrate strong potential for commercialization and taken to the next level through additional investment on the scale of $100,000 or less. TAG prioritizes projects that are not eligible for and which have not received funding from other USC technology advancement programs.

Award: Up to $100,000 for a project duration of no more than one year. USC Stevens has a budget of $300,000 available to fund up to 6 projects in 2022.

Eligibility: The application must be based on existing Intellectual Property (IP) developed at USC with the rights assigned to USC. The IP cannot be licensed, optioned, or subject to any third-party rights at any time during the application or review process. The principal investigator must be a USC employee eligible to serve as principal investigator, other than a term employee or visiting employee. See call for full eligibility details.

Deadline: LOI: 5 pm, Feb. 4, 2022

Architecture Building Science Design External Grant Landscape Architecture Urbanism

Climate Change and Human Health Seed Grants

Deadline: August 30, 2023 12:00 am

Source: Burroughs Wellcome Fund

Description: Program will award small, early-stage grants to promote growth of new connections between scholars, practitioners, educators, and/or communicators working to understand, communicate, and mitigate the impacts of climate change on human health. Topics of interest include linking basic/early biomedical science to climate-focused thinking; sustainability in healthcare systems, healthcare delivery outside institutions, and biomedical research; health impacts and health systems impacts of extreme weather events and other crises; and outreach, communication, and education around climate and human health. The fund is interested in activities that build connections between basic/early biomedical scientific approaches and ecological, environmental, geological, geographic, and planetary-scale thinking, and population-focused fields including epidemiology and public health demography, economics, and urban planning. Also of interest is work to launch new approaches or interactions toward reducing the impact of health-centered activities, for example, developing more sustainable systems for health care, care delivery, and biomedical research systems. Another area of interest is preparing for the impacts of extreme weather and other crises that can drive large scale disruptions that will immediately impact human health and delivery of health care. Public outreach, climate communication, and education efforts focused on the intersection of climate and health are also appropriate for this call.

Award: $2500-$50,000

Eligibility: Applications must be submitted by nonprofit organizations or degree granting institutions in the United States or Canada. Applicant organizations may submit multiple proposals, but an individual may only serve as a principal investigator/project director on one application during each review period.

Deadline: Proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis through August 30, 2023.

Architecture Building Science Design External Grant Landscape Architecture

LACMA Art + Technology Grant Program

Deadline: February 25, 2022 12:00 am

Source: Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Description: The Art + Technology Lab supports projects that explore artistic applications of emerging technologies and ideas related to technology and culture. The program offers artists and artist collectives financial and in-kind support for new projects, with the help of expert partners from the fields of science, technology, and engineering. While there is a preference for projects that explore emerging technology, prior technological experience or knowledge is not required. Artists who have not used advanced technology in their practice are encouraged to consider how technology applications might build upon and expand the trajectory of their work. Recipients need not be located in or near Los Angeles. The Lab welcomes proposals for projects that are presented outside of the bounds of the museum campus, including conceptual projects and projects that unfold in virtual, online, extraterrestrial locations. See RFP for more info.

Award: Grants may provide financial support of up to $50,000 per project to cover artist fees and direct costs, including materials. Recipients may also receive in-kind support, such as mentorship, coaching, advice, and exposure to technologies in development at partner organizations, including Hyundai, Snap Inc., YouTube Learning, and SpaceX as well as independent artists and academics working in art and technology from the MIT Media Lab Space Exploration Initiative, and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Eligibility: Open to individuals and collectives located anywhere in the world.

Deadline: Feb. 25, 2021

Architecture Building Science Design External Fellowship Heritage Conservation Landscape Architecture Urbanism

Loeb & Loeb/ArtLab Fellowship

Deadline: January 5, 2022 12:00 am

Source: Harvard GSD

Description Loeb Fellows are accomplished practitioners, influential in shaping the built and natural environment, whose work is advancing positive social outcomes in the US and around the world. In the middle of promising careers they step away from their hectic professional lives for one academic year. Fellows audit classes at the GSD and throughout the vast network of Harvard and MIT. They engage with faculty and students, participate in Fellowship events, and collaborate with their peers. They become part of a powerful growing network of colleagues passionately committed to revitalizing communities. The Loeb/ArtLab Fellowship is open to any artist or person with an artistic practice who applies for a Loeb Fellowship and meets the requirements thereof. The intention of a joint Loeb / ArtLab Fellowship is to give practicing artists the same Fellowship experience they would have as Loeb Fellows, with the added benefit of being granted studio space in the ArtLab building, research support and networking resources through the ArtLab community, as well as potential funding for proposed programs and/or projects over the course of the year.

Award: Academic-year fellowship; stipend; housing in Cambridge; and tuition-free auditing of classes at Harvard & MIT.

Eligibility: Mid-career professionals with 5-10 years of experience (minimum). The Fellowship is for practitioners. It is not a sabbatical program or an artist residency.

Deadline: Jan. 5, 2022