The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently extended the deadline for submissions to the Cooling Solutions Challenge to Feb. 24.
The challenge, announced in September, is one of several competitions focused on addressing climate change issues, a DHS press release said. It provides competitors an opportunity to win cash prizes from a pool of $195,000 for “innovative solutions” regarding heat fluctuations. Finalists will receive $5,000, with $20,000 going to the runner-up and a grand prize of $50,000 for the winner.
“The challenge incentivizes American innovators to find new ways to protect people at risk of heat-related illness or death during extreme heat events or in connection with other disasters,” the release said. “Extreme heat is the nation’s leading cause of weather-related deaths, and as extreme heat disproportionately harms underserved communities, developing new and better ways to protect people on the hottest days will advance equity in disaster preparedness and response efforts.”
There will also be up to four “Use Case” winners awarded $10,000 and up to two honorable mention prizes worth $5,000, the release said. The finalists are expected to be announced in March with the winners announced in May.
Prize competitions are regularly posted by DHS to engage citizen inventors and find interesting ideas or solutions to homeland security challenges, according to DHS.gov. They date back hundreds of years, including competitions that led to the designs for the White House and U.S. Capitol building.
Challenges are open to U.S. citizens age 18 or older and are provided under the America COMPETES Act, DHS.gov said. Participants must be legal permanent residents at the time of submission. Entities that participate must be incorporated and operated within the United States.
