About those big colorful boxes in Farragut Square

courtesy The Golden Triangle Business Improvement District

From an email:

“How long can 1,800 pounds of ice survive a DC summer? The Golden Triangle Business Improvement District (BID) is hosting the Ice Box Challenge, a fun public science experiment taking place in Farragut Square for two weeks. Two small houses, each built using different designs and materials, are filled with 1,800 pounds of ice and left in the scorching summer sun to compare the impact of energy efficient practices.

Two multi-colored tiny houses have popped up in Brussels, New York City, Vancouver, and now Washington, DC to raise awareness about hyper energy-efficient buildings. The Golden Triangle Business Improvement District (BID) is teaming-up with the creators of the Ice Box Challenge and partners from the European Union, the Embassy of Belgium, the District of Columbia government and Nicholson Kovalchick (NK) Architects to present a fun public science experiment in Farragut Square for two weeks. The two small houses, each built using different designs and materials, are filled with 1,800 pounds of ice and left in the scorching summer sun to compare the impact of energy efficient practices.

“This project demonstrates, in a fun way, how sustainable practices can make a difference. In the Golden Triangle, millions of square feet of office space have been redeveloped in the last few years, with a big push toward green building practices,” said Leona Agouridis, Executive Director of the Golden Triangle BID. “The BID has carried those practices into public spaces where we have converted more than 11,000 square feet of asphalt and concrete into beautiful rain gardens and green space.”

The Ice Box Challenge features two small structures: one built to 2015 International Building Code and the other built to the high-energy efficiency Passive House Standard. The public is invited to join the Ice Box Challenge by visiting the two Ice Boxes in Farragut Square and taking a guess at how much ice will be left in each at the end of two weeks. Those who are 18 and older are encouraged to go to www.dc.iceboxchallenge.com/ to participate in the competition. Prizes will be awarded for the closest guesses.

On July 20, the remaining ice will be measured to see how well each Ice Box kept out the summer heat. The big reveal will be held on July 20 at 12:30 p.m in Farragut Square.”