University Teams Receive EPA Grants to Develop Sustainable Designs
 

Projects Will Benefit P3 - People, Prosperity and the Planet
 

December 1, 2005

 

EPA announced 41 grants to university student teams to research, develop and design technologies to provide solutions to address sustainability challenges such as improving the world’s supply of clean drinking water, developing innovative sources of renewable energy and producing environmentally friendly construction materials.

Grant recipients will enter their designs in EPA’s P3 Awards, a national competition to be held in May of 2006 in Washington, D.C. P3 Awards recognize innovative sustainable designs that benefit the three Ps -- People, Prosperity and the Planet. The P3 Award winners are provided additional funding to further develop and implement their designs and move them to the marketplace.

“These students are demonstrating that the grand concepts of sustainability can be implemented through real-world, practical applications,” said George Gray, EPA assistant administrator in the Office of Research and Development. “Through science, engineering and collaboration, the P3 Awards competition is creating innovative ideas and approaches to improve the way we protect human health and the environment and advance sustainability.”

EPA launched the P3 Awards in 2004 to respond to the technical needs of the developed and developing world in moving toward sustainability. This national competition enables college students to research, develop and design sustainable solutions to environmental challenges. Relevant environmental, economic and social considerations are key to the award. Support for the competition includes more than 40 partners in the federal government, industry and scientific and professional societies.

This year, 41 student teams from 21 states each received $10,000 grants to develop a design project during the 2005-2006 academic year for the competition. Applications underwent a rigorous peer-review process. Projects include innovative ideas for biodiesel production, solar thermal heating systems, sustainable apparel design, green roofs, stormwater management and many others.

The National Academy of Sciences, advisors to the nation on science, engineering and medicine, will convene a panel to evaluate and recommend the award winners for selection by EPA. The next P3 Award competition will be held May 9-10, 2006, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.