2015 April

Annapolis, MD – SustainaFest announces the Tiny House Essay Contest, which will make one person’s dream of sustainable living come true.  The winner will assume ownership of a 210-square-foot, hyper-efficient, off-grid home built by Maryland middle and high school students.

Contestants are required to submit $100 and an essay of 350 words or less answering the question, “What are your keys to living a sustainable lifestyle and how would owning the SustainaFest Tiny House help you realize your dream of living that lifestyle?” Submissions must be entered by June 1 and will be evaluated by a panel of academics and celebrity judges. A winner will be announced by June 15.

In 2014, sustainability experts and students from around Maryland engaged in a month-long exploration through SustainaFest’s Student Sustainability Lab.  “The program provided a life-changing opportunity for students, educators, professionals and military veterans to combine forces and build this tiny house – a fully habitable, hi-tech, mobile dwelling,” stated George Chmael, Director of SustainaFest.Since construction was completed, the awarding-winning tiny house, a Minim Homes model, has been on a statewide tour of home shows, green expos, schools and other events to promote SustainaFest and serve as an ambassador for sustainability.

“We now want to share the wonder of this construction marvel with a deserving recipient and spread the word about making more sustainable lifestyle choices,” explained Chmael. “This thought-provoking contest is a far superior alternative to selling to the highest bidder and makes home ownership attainable for one fortunate person regardless of the size of their bank account.”

SustainaFest has now designed its own tiny house models, with an eye towards addressing the challenges faced by our community’s most needy members, including the homeless and struggling military veterans. The organization will continue to build houses with students in 2015 and beyond.  All proceeds from the contest will support these efforts. To learn more about SustainaFest, including complete contest rules and how to submit your essay, please visit www.sustainafest.org or email us at info@sustainafest.org.

View the Complete Press Release Here

If you are interested in participating in an amazing eco opportunity to work alongside building experts, Indian Creek School teachers, and the sustainability leaders from SustainaFest to take on the unique and exciting challenge of building a mobile high-tech, hyper-efficient and sustainable “Tiny House” then you should enroll in the Indian Creek School Tiny House Project. This SustainaFest model is a 210 square foot, off-grid construction marvel that demonstrates the latest in sustainable building materials and green technology including solar electricity, rainwater filtration, and innovative interior design to maximize space and efficiency. The project will run from June 15-July 17 and you can participate in one, two, three, or even all five weeks of the building project. The finished house will be donated to a homeless prevention and support shelter.

Click to Register!

Indian Creek School’s Tiny House Project will run June 15-July 17, 2015
Students entering Seventh-Ninth Grades in the fall of 2015
Cost: $250/week
Lower and Middle School Campus, 680 Evergreen Road, Crownsville, Maryland 21032

Visit www.indiancreekschool.org to learn about this and other Summer Programs