Challenges

Want to get involved in helping to solve an energy problem that you see in your home, community, or country? Join in on one of our challenges. Challenges range from brainstorming ideas to creating applications to proposing research. Not ready to jump in? Then come and see how others have responded and look at the winners of previous challenges.

Open Challenges

Apps for Energy

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.

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Build your own challenge for energy efficiency

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

Rooftop Solar Challenge

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

Check Out the Winners From These Previous Challenges

Code for Livability

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!

2011 ENERGY STAR National Building Competition: Battle of the Buildings

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

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America’s Home Energy Education Challenge

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.

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Apps for the Environment

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!

Data Visualization Student Challenge

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.

NASA's Green Flight Challenge

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!