Energy – Challenges
Open Challenges

A year-long, four-part contest awarding over $100,000 in prizes for the best ideas, applications and visualizations that use energy data to help solve some of the country’s most important challenges.

Completed Challenges

Ashoka’s Changemakers is looking for innovative solutions that engage communities, entrepreneurs, and key institutions in collaborating to integrate and develop affordable, inclusive, and sustainable urban housing that respects the environment, local cultures, and practices.

 Winner Announced!

Reaching new heights in aviation fuel efficiency is behind NASA’s Green Flight Challenge. The driving requirement will be to exceed an equivalent fuel-efficiency of 200 passenger miles per gallon. The aircraft need to meet stringent safety and noise requirements as well as reasonable speed and range. Join us on September 25 to October 3 to see the finalists for the $1.6M prizes!

 Winner Announced!

Do you have what it takes to apply data visualization for transportation investment or policy decisions? The United States Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) wants to see what you can do! This challenge is designed to encourage students to examine data visualization options for helping decision makers make better informed policy and investment decisions in support of transportation safety and / or economic development.

 Winner Announced!

Participate in three great ways:

  • Have your class or school join in the Home Energy Award by saving energy and win prizes for your school!
  • Feeling artistic? Design a conservation plan and poster.
  • Shall we play a game? Compete in the Energy Fitness Award with online games, quizzes and activities to earn prizes for you and your school.

 Winner Announced!

It’s an energy savings battle as 245 buildings compete to see who can be the most efficient.

The Partnership for Sustainable Communities is hosting a code-a-thon to brings together citizens, developers, and government personnel to work on solutions that bring sustainability to the forefront of peoples’ everyday lives. Join us on January 21-22, 2011 to make a difference!

 Winner Announced!

Be part of a national effort to make clean solar electricity cost-competitive for your community.

 Winner Announced!

You can use this platform and process to employ ENERGY STAR tools and resources in your energy improvement efforts.

 Winner Announced!

EPA challenges you to find new ways to combine and deliver environmental data in a new app. In the Apps for the Environment challenge, you have free reign to make an app that uses EPA data, addresses one of Administrator Lisa Jackson’s Seven Priorities, and is useful to communities or individuals. EPA encourages you to use other environmental, energy, and health data too. The winners will be honored at a recognition event in Washington, D.C. this fall and the winning apps will be publicized on EPA’s website. EPA is counting on you to come up with exciting and useful new apps!

 Winner Announced!

The Energy Department – in partnership with Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Itron, and Gridwise Alliance – is offering $100,000 in cash prizes to the software developers and designers that submit the best apps.

 Winner Announced!