EPA grants funds to develop sustainable designs projects

Washington, DC— 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 May 2006 in Washington, DC. 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.

This year, 41 student teams from 21 states received $10,000 grants each 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, DC.

To learn more about the P3 Award program, visit www.epa.gov/P3.