EPA this week awarded $660,000 to 66 student teams for the 2004-2005 academic year to research and develop sustainable designs through the People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) competition. The winners in Pennsylvania include:

· Pennsylvania State University – Reducing Use of Petroleum Energy Through Use of Cooking Oils

· Penn State & Colorado State University – Sustainable Housing at Pine Ridge Reservation

· Lehigh University – Hybrid Ion Exchanger

· Villanova University – Photovoltaic System Architectural Design Tool

Sustainable development allows communities to grow economically while preserving natural resources for future generations. Students will design solutions that both benefit the environment and are not prohibitively expensive.

The P3 national student design competition was launched in January 2004. More than 40 partners in the federal government, industry and scientific and professional societies provide support. Projects focus areas include: green buildings and sustainable construction materials, biodiesel production and use, drinking water quality and supply, alternative energy sources and fuel cells, urban redevelopment and green chemistry.

In May 2005, all teams will be invited to bring their designs to Washington, D.C., to compete for the P3 Award. The National Academy of Engineering will convene a panel of judges for the competition. Winners will be eligible for additional funding to implement their project in the field and move the design to the marketplace.

EPA is now accepting applications from student teams for the 2005 P3 competition. The deadline for receipt of applications is Jan. 27, 2005. A list of P3 national student design competition teams is available at the P3 webpage.

10/22/2004