Inventing LEED for Pets: Gimme Shelter Seeks Sustainable Pet Shelters for a Cause

{new and green or 100% recycled - what's your image of a sustainable pet shelter?}

Does your dog pass on People and chew on copies of Dwell? Will your cat snub all but handmade, organic hemp toy mice? Then your pet may dig Gimme Shelter. SPACE Architecture + Design and Herb'n Maid are joining forces and sponsoring an "architect's eco challenge" to design sustainable pet shelters.

The challenge is to design and fabricate a functional dog house or cat condo using sustainable materials and practices. Contestants must use at least 65% used, salvaged or reclaimed materials and cannot spend more than $250. No word on whether LEED for pet shelters will be a determining factor in the judging. Is an 10 square foot dog house far from your home using recycled materials really greaner than a 6 square foot model next to your back door? Should a mini geothermal well and cooling fins (ala SPACE) be integrated into the design? Is eventual site location a factor? Will your dog pee on a green roof? OK, none of that is what this is about.