The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this week awarded $410,000 to 41 student teams for the 2005-2006 academic year to research and develop sustainable designs through the People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) competition, including four teams from Pennsylvania.

The P3 student design competition was launched in January 2004, and several 2004 winners' designs have been successfully implemented into business practices.

The projects must involve sustainable designs that promote economic growth while protecting the natural systems.

The Pennsylvania winners include:

· $10,000 for a solar thermal heating system for a zero energy house to Carnegie Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh;

· $9,065 to design a trap grease upgrader for biofuel processing (phase I) to Drexel University;

· $10,000 for the development of a sustainable water system in Yoro, Honduras to Lafayette College; and

· $10,000 for characterization and implementation of an enhanced activated alumina for removal of dissolved arsenic at the point of entry to Lafayette College.

The next round of applications will open soon for 2006.

For more information, go to the P3 Student Design Competition webpage.

12/2/2005