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Engineering, science and business students pitch energy-efficient, clean-technology ideas for sustainable living at the UW Environmental Innovation Challenge. Created by the UW Foster School of Business Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, UW College of Engineering and UW College of the Environment, this annual competition involves students from many universities and colleges from across Washington and more than 130 judges from the business, venture capitalist and engineering communities who mentor, advise and critique prototypes and business plans.

2011 winning teams included UW engineering and business team Voltaic (grand prize $10,000) who invented a clean-technology alternative to gas-powered cars. UW PhD power-team PotaVida took $5,000 second prize for a device that measures water quality with a reusable, solar-powered electronic indicator for monitoring solar disinfection of drinking water.

2010 winning teams included UW Engineering team EnVitrum (for grand prize of $10,000) who created bricks made out of recycled glass that can also grow plants or cool buildings and UW interdisciplinary team Triangle Energy (for second prize of $5,000) who invented a mobile biomass converter that turns wood chips into synthesis gas.

Get involved or learn more about the UW Environmental Innovation Challenge.