The Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC) is now accepting entries for the 2010 Beyond Green High-Performance Buildings Awards. The program seeks to recognize initiatives that shape, inform, and catalyze the high-performance buildings market, as well as the real-world application of high-performance design and construction practices.

Entries are being accepted in three categories: High-Performance Buildings, High-Performance Initiatives, and the Greg Franta Memorial Award. The high-performance buildings category is open to commercial, government, and institutional buildings, schools, and homes, as well as renovation. All projects must have been completed within the last three years. Entries in the high-performance initiatives category may include policy programs, research and construction processes, educational initiatives, and consumer awareness efforts. The Greg Franta Memorial Award will recognize a person or organization that has demonstrated an outstanding contribution to high-performance sustainable building design and construction. Submissions across the board must address eight design objectives addressing sustainability, accessibility, aesthetics, cost effectiveness, functionality, productivity and health, historic preservation, and safety and security.

Winners will be published on the Whole Building Design Guide web site, and will present their projects on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, as part of an educational briefing for lawmakers and the general public. For more information on entry rules and regulations, visit sbicouncil.org.