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Subtopics (click for more specific links) Solar Car Competitions

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66 Links

order: A to Z | newest to oldest

Links last updated 2025-01-03 18:13:31.

America's Greenest School from IC Bus

Last modified 2009-03-03 09:31:23

http://www.americasgreenestschool.com/
Prizes to schools who submit applications explaining how their school "goes green." The biggest prize is a hybrid school bus from IC Bus.

America's Home Energy Challenge

Last modified 2011-06-14 17:55:43

http://www.homeenergychallenge.org/
The US Department of Energy sponsors a challenge encouraging teams of students, grades 3-8, from schools across the nation to learn about home energy use, resources, and efficiency. Cash prizes and other awards will be given in 2011-2012. Administered by the National Science Teachers Association.

American Road & Transportation Builders Association Student Video Contest

Last modified 2019-08-22 10:20:24

http://www.artba.org/video-contest/
American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) organizes an Annual Student Transportation Video Contest: Each year, they ask students of all ages across the USA to submit a short video about any aspect of transportation, and then screen the winning videos at ARTBA’s National Convention in the fall.

Interested students must submit a 2 to 4 minute video that examines transportation in one of two categories: General Transportation or Safety.
Submissions are usuall due in October. As of 2019, top winners will receive a cash prize of $500 and the winning videos will be viewed at ARTBA’s National Convention.

American Solar Challenge

Last modified 2008-01-11 12:52:49

http://americansolarchallenge.org/
A rayce is a race using rays of sunlight. Now the North American Solar Challenge

Ashden awards

Last modified 2015-10-04 10:33:42

http://www.ashden.org/ashden_awards
Ashden, a UK-based charity, annually offers awards to organizations for achievements in the field of energy efficiency and environmentally friendly energy production and use.

BP Ultimate Field Trip

Last modified 2012-01-13 07:20:56

http://www.bp.com/fieldtrip
The Ultimate Field Trip is a UK-wide competition BP runs every year. It’s aimed at undergraduates and masters students. To take part, you'll need to get a team of three people. It will challenge you to solve a real-world problem in energy supply and demand.

Building Energy 2010 Student Design Competition

Last modified 2010-12-02 13:57:26

http://www.neseastudentdesigncompetition.com/
Teams of design/architecture students will compete to redesign a site at a once prominent brewery in Portsmouth NH. Deadline for the 2010 competition is Dec 31, 2010. See the site for registration and rules.

California Solar Regatta

Last modified 2017-01-19 11:24:59

https://www.smud.org/en/about-smud/environment/renewable-energy/solar-regatta.htm
The California Solar Regatta is an annual solar-boat race open to secondary schools and colleges, usually taking place near the end of spring semester.

Campus Conservation Nationals

Last modified 2010-10-18 15:07:36

http://competetoreduce.org/
Annual campus resource-conservation competition between dozens of college campuses in the US.

Clean Tech Competition [ARCHIVE]

Last modified 2024-02-22 11:06:35

https://web.archive.org/web/20180315212107/https://www.cleantechcompetition.org/
[Archived page. Contact CSTL.org (Center for Science Teaching and Learning) for more current information on the competition.)
The Clean Tech Competition is a unique, worldwide research and design challenge for pre-college youth. The program encourages scientific understanding of real-world issues and the integration of environmentally responsible energy sources. Each year, the Clean Tech Competition addresses an issue that is grounded in core technological competency areas and focuses on the next great engineering challenges.
Since 2012.

Connecticut Electrathon

Last modified 2007-04-02 08:50:04

http://www.ctelectrathon.org/
High school and college competition of minimal human-scale electric race cars.

Connecticut's Cool It Climate Change Challenge

Last modified 2007-02-02 13:58:38

http://www.coolitchallenge.org/
A contest for CT students to develop solutions to problems associated with Climate Change.

Conservation Matters -- Environmental Excellence Awards

Last modified 2009-03-01 14:48:32

http://www.seaworld.org/conservation-matters/eea/index.htm
A private coalition awarding $10,000 for excellent projects that help to preserve the environment.

Cool School Challenge

Last modified 2009-10-15 17:37:25

http://www.coolschoolchallenge.org/
Offering an energy audit toolkit, featuring leading school on the home page.

DeepCWind Consortium

Last modified 2012-05-15 16:44:48

http://deepcwind.org/
This consortium led by folks from U. Maine Orono studies far-off-shore wind power possibilities. They hold an annual competition for teams from Maine schools, called Windstorm Challenge, and they list internships and study opportunities in wind power.

eCYBERMISSION

Last modified 2012-11-27 20:16:17

https://www.ecybermission.com
eCYBERMISSION is a web-based Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) competition free for students in grades six through nine where teams can compete for state, regional and national awards while working to solve problems in their community.

Edison Challenge, Southern California Edison

Last modified 2009-12-02 09:35:58

http://www.sce.com/CommunityandRecreation/Education/EdisonChallenge/
From their web site: "Student-teacher teams will be challenged to create projects focusing on an area of environmental science to compete for great prizes. Participating teachers are also invited to attend a series of science curriculum workshops for professional development.
Projects topics must be based on the theme of 'Energy and the Environment' and should include certain project components."

Electrathon America

Last modified 2008-01-11 15:36:54

http://www.electrathonamerica.org/
ELECTRATHON is a type of ELECTRIC MARATHON in which the winner is determined by how far you go in a certain time with a given amount of battery power. ELECTRATHON AMERICA class competition uses specific design rules to ensure safe and fair competition. ELECTRATHON AMERICA events are held around the country, featuring zippy one-person electric vehicles on race tracks.

ElectroCity

Last modified 2009-01-06 19:58:41

http://electrocity.co.nz/
Students are challenged to simulate a city, maximizing metrics like population and well-being while minimizing metrics like energy use and pollution. Teachers or students can make their own objectives, such as getting a top score on environmental issues. A limited version of the game runs off-line.

Energy Whiz Olympics Florida

Last modified 2008-01-11 13:42:55

http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/education/k-12/events/ewhiz_olympics.htm
The EnergyWhiz Olympics is held annually at the Florida Solar Energy Center and is composed of the Junior Solar Sprint, Hydrogen Sprint, Energy Innovations and the conclusion of the Florida Middle School Science Bowl.

Formula Sun Grand Prix

Last modified 2006-11-21 09:22:22

http://www.formulasun.org/fsgp/
International race for solar cars.

Future City

Last modified 2024-02-13 07:25:27

https://futurecity.org/
Over 30,000 middle-school age students participate in Future City every year, in dozens of regional events. With a mentor from the field of engineering, participants study the dynamics of growth and resources, then engineer, design, and build a future city. Teachers organize and guide teams through the projects.

Green Dollhouse Challenge

Last modified 2020-05-18 09:55:44

https://energyteachers.org/greendollhousechallenge.php
In our Green Dollhouse Challenges, K-12 students, families, design/build students, and design/build professionals will build model play-houses to explore concepts and technologies related energy production, energy use, efficiency, materials, architecture, utility, aesthetics, appreciation of nature, renewable resources, true wealth, healthy living, clean air, and clean water. Awards are non-competitive.

Green Prize in Public Education

Last modified 2010-12-16 22:09:11

http://neefusa.org/grants/green_prize.htm
Introduced in 2011, The National Environmental Education Foundation, with major support from the NEA Foundation and in partnership with EarthEcho International, will recognize and celebrate an outstanding K-12 public school that has successfully taken on the challenge of becoming a green school through the Green Prize in Public Education.

Hunt-Winston School Solar Car Challenge

Last modified 2010-03-08 11:57:37

http://www.winstonsolar.org/challenge/
An annual solar-electric car race at Texas Motor Speedway.

Hydrogen Student Design Contest

Last modified 2008-09-29 10:52:46

http://www.hydrogencontest.org/
In this contest, teams are challenged to design an energy efficient building that utilizes hydrogen produced from renewable sources for its as much of its energy needs as feasible.

Igniting Creative Energy Challenge

Last modified 2007-04-01 13:00:22

http://www.ignitingcreativeenergy.org/index.html
Students and teachers submit their experiences in energy education for an annual prize. Organized by the National Energy Foundation, developed by a partership between NEF and Johnson Controls. Open to students K-12, the Challenge is an educational competition designed to encourage students to learn more about energy and the environment. All student entries will be recognized, with Grand Prize Trips awarded to three students and one teacher.

Innovate to Mitigate

Last modified 2014-06-24 12:35:17

http://innovatetomitigate.org

TERC, a nonprofit R&D organization focused on STEM education, has launched Innovate to Mitigate, a competition for middle and high school students to design a method to combat climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Junior Solar Sprint

Last modified 2022-12-01 09:05:04

https://www.usaeop.com/program/jss/
The US Army Educational Outreach Program sponsors Junior Solar Sprint, a program where middle school students build shoebox sized solar powered race cars.

Junior Solar Sprint Northeast

Last modified 2011-07-01 19:37:10

http://www.nesea.org/k-12/juniorsolarsprint/
Up to 2011, The Northeast Solar Energy Association annually organized a championship race for shoebox-size solar cars built by teams of middle-school students. The site also listed local races. The championship was usually accompanied by a fair on the Museum Quadrangle, featuring organizations concerned with sustainability.

KidWind Challenge

Last modified 2024-01-29 10:01:57

https://www.kidwind.org/challenge/
Annual event where students in middle school and high school design table-top wind turbines and bring them to compete with others from a geographical area. Like Junior Solar Sprint.

KidWind Project, The

Last modified 2024-02-13 12:52:16

https://kidwind.org/
The KidWind Project trains middle school teachers to generate meaningful curriculum around designing and building effective, tabletop, electric wind turbines. KidWind offers workshops, kits, information, and ideas for teaching about wind energy. Its curriculum is excellent for teaching engineering design. KidWind can help you think of ways to get much of the materials donated from local hardware stores.

MA Envirothon

Last modified 2024-02-22 09:42:39

https://www.maenvirothon.org
Teams of students address annual challenges, learn about careers in environmental concerns.

MA Excellence in Environmental and Energy Educ.

Last modified 2008-01-11 14:01:50

http://www.mass.gov/envir/ee/default.htm
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs accepts applications for the Secretary’s Awards for Excellence in Energy and Environmental Education. In 2008, the deadline for submitting your application is March 18 at the close of business.

Maine Wind Blade Challenge

Last modified 2012-05-15 17:03:25

http://mainewindbladechallenge.com/
Teams of high school-age students build blades for a wind turbine and compete in an annual event each April.

Model Water Tower Competition - Georgia

Last modified 2024-07-08 05:09:09

https://www.gawp.org/page/MWTCSchools
Association of water professionals sponsor a water tower competition for students, to evangelize water professions.

Model Water Tower Competition - Georgia

Last modified 2024-07-08 05:09:09

https://www.gawp.org/page/MWTCSchools
Association of water professionals sponsor a water tower competition for students, to evangelize water professions.

National Electric Drag Racing Association

Last modified 2008-01-11 15:34:05

http://www.nedra.com/
The National Electric Drag Racing Association (NEDRA) exists to increase public awareness of electric vehicle (EV) performance and to encourage through competition, advances in electric vehicle technology. Reaching 159.85 MPH in 7.956 seconds on the quarter-mile track Dennis Berube holds the 2007 record. Adult themes in some of the reporting.

National Wind Energy Art Contest

Last modified 2024-01-09 09:29:37

https://www.kidwind.org/events/art-contest/
KidWind with the support of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Energy Technologies Office calls upon students in kindergarten through 8th grade from around the nation to create artwork about the theme Beautiful Wind Energy. Started in 2024.

Nebraska Public Power District--Power Drive

Last modified 2009-02-28 08:23:05

http://www.nppd.com/EnergyEducation/power_drive.asp
The Power Drive Program is an educational effort that challenges high school students to design and build one-person electric vehicles during the school year. In the spring, these teams of students compete with one another at organized rallies in areas such as vehicle braking, maneuverability and endurance. Teams from around Nebraska compete annually. Comparable to Electrathon.

New York Electrathon

Last modified 2007-06-11 18:47:11

http://www.nyelectrathon.com/
New York's competition for one-passenger electric vehicles.

North American Envirothon

Last modified 2014-10-14 11:59:09

http://envirothon.org/
North American Envirothon is a not-for-profit organization established to coordinate the delivery of an environmental education program for high school students throughout North America. North American Envirothon is headquartered in League City, Texas.
Envirothon is an annual competition where teams compete for recognition and scholarships by demonstrating their knowledge of environmental science and natural resource management.

Oak Ridge STEM competitions for K-12 students

Last modified 2025-01-03 18:13:31

https://orise.orau.gov/k12/students/competitions.html
K-12 STEM competitions sponsored by Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Oregon Manifest

Last modified 2012-04-22 13:49:39

http://oregonmanifest.com/
A design/build competition to create the modern utility bike. Portland, Oregon, is one of the world's leading communities in replacing automobile culture with fuel-free and efficient transportation. This challenge celebrates the homespun industry that's making innovative bicycles for delivering goods and people for better commerce.

Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD)

Last modified 2019-09-21 13:03:19

http://smud.org/education
The Sacramento Municipal Utility Districty offers educational programs in Sacramento County, including competitions, curriculum, and training.

Science Fair Projects in Solar Energy

Last modified 2023-12-13 08:54:37

http://www.makeitsolar.com/index.htm
Science project ideas for studying solar power.

Shell Eco-Marathon

Last modified 2007-05-06 12:02:52

http://www.shelleco-marathon.com/
The Shell Oil company sponsors this annual event in which teams compete to build vehicles that get over 1000 mpg. Most vehicles carry one person (the driver), travel about 25 kph, and run on gasoline.

Siemens We Can Change The World Challenge

Last modified 2008-10-10 08:13:42

http://www.wecanchange.com/
Launching in Fall 2008 for grades 6-8, the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge will provide students and teachers with the tools and resources to inspire innovative thinking about sustainability issues, and engage them in developing actionable solutions for a greener world.

Smart Competition

Last modified 2013-12-08 19:47:26

http://www.smartcompetition.org/
The SMART Competition challenges international teams of high school age students to redesign a gymnasium on an existing high school campus. The redesign must incorporate sustainable materials and efficient energy concepts while ensuring functionality and affordability of their design.

SMARTT Challenge

Last modified 2008-01-11 15:27:06

http://www.evchallenge.org/
Formerly the EV Challenge, a curriculum which previously focused on building an electric vehicle, but was expanded to include alternative fuels and vehicles. Students in the high school SMARTT Challenge program participate in a comprehensive curriculum which includes Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), Electronics and learning about biofuels, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), hydrogen fuel cells, hydrogen Internal Combustion Engines, and hybrids. The new curriculum includes information on emissions, greenhouse gases, global warming, and approaches to ways that students can contribute towards clean transportation.

Solar Decathlon

Last modified 2024-02-21 11:59:53

https://www.solardecathlon.gov
The Solar Decathlon brings college and university teams from around the globe to DC to compete to design and build houses that demonstrate the advantages of a solar lifestyle. Site includes list of teaching resources.

Solar District Cup, sponsored by NREL US DOE

Last modified 2024-11-21 10:27:59

https://www.herox.com/SolarDistrictCup
The Solar District Cup is directed and administered by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and is funded by the DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office.
The Solar District Cup, annual since 2020, is a collegiate competition that challenges multidisciplinary student teams to design and model distributed energy systems for a mixed-use campus or district—groups of buildings served by a common electrical distribution feeder.
The competition engages students across disciplines—engineering, finance, urban planning, sustainability, communications, and more—to reimagine how energy is generated, managed, and used in a district.
Over the course of the competition, students receive training from solar-industry experts from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and partner companies. Students also receive free access to leading industry tools to enable successful solar system design and financial modeling.
Teams compete in one of multiple divisions. Students submit deliverable packages for evaluation and present their solutions to judges live at an online competition event.
Winning teams from each division are selected by industry judges based on the quality of students’ proposed solutions. Judges are looking for winning proposals that maximize the district’s energy offset and financial savings over the contracted or useful life of the system while also integrating aesthetic, infrastructure, and community considerations.

Solar Electric Vehicle Team at MIT

Last modified 2006-11-21 09:22:22

http://web.mit.edu/solar-cars/www/noflash/index.html

Solar Rollers: a high school remote control solar car challenge

Last modified 2016-01-19 10:46:50

http://www.solarrollers.org
A project of Energetics Education, Solar Rollers challenges high school student teams to design, build, and race solar-powered remote control cars. Engaging many different types of learners, Solar Rollers teaches energy management, STEM skills, teamwork, self-confidence and problem-solving. Teams are supported with cutting-edge materials kits and extensive online resources.

Technology Student Association Junior Solar Sprint and Senior Solar Sprint

Last modified 2024-02-21 12:43:35

https://tsaweb.org/competitions-programs/programs/solar-sprint
Junior Solar Sprint (JSS) – funded by an Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) grant – and Senior Solar Sprint (SSS) are managed by the Technology Student Association (TSA). The competitions offer resources that empower teachers, mentors, and other community members to engage middle and high school students in designing, building, and racing model solar cars. Students develop teamwork and problem-solving abilities, investigate environmental issues, and gain hands-on STEM skills as they construct the fastest, most interesting, and best crafted vehicle possible. An online resource center is available to educators. JSS and SSS are official TSA competitions.

The Big Green Challenge-Highlands and Islands

Last modified 2011-03-16 11:13:59

http://www.thebiggreenchallenge.co.uk/
The Big Green Challenge is a debating competition for S2 pupils in the Highlands and Islands area (Scotland). The competition reflects the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) in Scottish schools, focuses on renewable energy and will test the topical science knowledge and debating skills of all participants.

The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes

Last modified 2006-11-21 09:22:22

http://www.barronprize.org/
Find out how to nominate a student (8-18 years) for their service to the planet.

Tour de Sol Archive of printed materials

Last modified 2024-02-21 08:54:51

http://scua.library.umass.edu/tour-de-sol/
University of Massachusetts Amherst keeps an archive on the event Tour de Sol, which was organized in the 1990s and 2000s by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association NESEA.
The American Tour de Sol collection includes annual Rule Books, magazines with full list of participants, reports, copies of 200-300 news clippings per year, videos of TV news coverage, and extensive collection of photographs.

Urban Energy Policy Inst. Photo and Essay comps

Last modified 2010-10-27 09:21:09

http://uepinst.org/competitions/
The Urban Energy Policy Institute has photo and essay competitions for college students studying energy-related majors.

US Dept. of Energy Collegiate Wind Competition

Last modified 2023-04-25 18:04:52

https://www.energy.gov/eere/collegiatewindcompetition/collegiate-wind-competition
Undergraduate students plan, design, build, test, and present a wind turbine using market data. As of 2023, there are three contests involved: Prototyping and testing, project development, and community engagement.
The KidWind competition often occurs at the same time/place.

Volvo Adventure

Last modified 2008-01-11 13:01:14

http://www.volvoadventure.org
Volvo Adventure - in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme - is an educational programme that rewards environmental activities among the decision makers of the future. Environmental projects are undertaken by young people (13-16) to improve their local environment. The projects are published on these webpages and the best projects will be selected for an all expenses paid trip to Sweden.

Westinghouse Energy Student Video Contest

Last modified 2010-04-01 10:38:40

http://www.westinghousenuclear.com/Community/student_video_contest.shtm
Westinghouse Electric Company, makers of nuclear power plants, through its N-Vision Program, encourages education in science, technology and mathematics. One way that they do this is through their video contest on the forms of energy.

Windstorm Challenge -- DeepCWind Consortium

Last modified 2013-04-03 10:08:01

http://windstormchallenge.com/
The Windstorm Challenge is an annual competition each spring in Maine since 2009, sponsored by the DeepCWind Consortium, a group of institutions researching far-offshore wind power. Secondary-school age students build model-sized floating platforms for wind turbines and compete in a wave-pool for stability.

X-Prize Cars [Archived web site]

Last modified 2023-03-25 18:13:11

https://web.archive.org/web/20090426001957/http://xprizecars.com:80/
Link to blog archived on Wayback Machine:
Blog following teams competing for the Progressive Automotive X-Prize, a competition to create a production-ready passenger vehicle that gets over 100 miles per gallon.

Young Scientist Innovation Fair

Last modified 2009-11-10 19:37:51

http://energycenter.org/index.php/outreach-a-education/annual-events/young-scientist-innovation-fair
An annual fair in San Diego, CA, where students identify and then offer a solution to a problem in energy conservation, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and/or decreasing impacts on the environment.

Zero Footprint Challenge

Last modified 2010-10-27 18:38:02

http://www.zerofootprintfoundation.org/
How much carbon do we produce for each student we educate? How different is one school's footprint from another? The Zero footprint Challenge is a global initiative encouraging schools around the world to measure, compare and change their footprints. Zero Footprint provides the software that allows schools to benchmark their impact and provides a platform for students to challenge one another to reduce. The Zero Footprint Challenge will enable students to measure, compare and change the environmental impact of their school.

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Related Documents

ETO Newsletter 2009 Fall

2009-10ETONews.pdf (file size:1,429,231 bytes)

The Fall 2009 printed newsletter will be mailed to over 600 schools, educators, and supporters. It includes articles about an international solar home-building championship, wind roses, what's new at EnergyTeachers.org, a documenting outlining how to be a contributor to our network, and a list of interesting, recently added, annotated links.

ETO Newsletter 2010 June

2010-06ETONews.pdf (file size:979,249 bytes)

The June 2010 printed newsletter will be mailed to over 1000 schools, educators, and supporters. It includes articles about a model wind turbine design challenge, twittering, a document outlining how to be a contributor to our network, briefs of recent news, and a list of interesting, recently added, annotated links.

Green Dollhouse Challenge Oct 2010 workshop notes

GreenDollhouseChallengeWorkshop20101029.pdf (file size:93,797 bytes)

Written by Shawn Reeves, to spur discussion among NYS STEM teachers about how to start the Green Dollhouse Challenge.

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Related Projects

• Green Dollhouse Challenge