Events & Competitions

EnergyWhiz

EnergyWhiz Logo

Cocoa, FL – April 20, 2024
Project Webpage Due April 3

Energy Transfer Machine

Energy Transfer Machine Logo

Online – March 15, 2024
Project Webpage Due March 6

EnergyWhiz Regional

EnergyWhiz Regional Logo

Multiple Locations and Dates

Learn about the events and competitions below.

EnergyWhiz
April 22, 2023
Cocoa, FL

Project Webpage due April 3

Hosted in Cocoa, FL at FSEC , EnergyWhiz is an exciting once-a-year gathering of students participating in fun educational competitions.
Register as many teams as you want for $10 each, they all have a chance to win design awards, but note the limits on number of teams who can compete at EnergyWhiz in the table below.
View and print an event flyer.

CompetitionsK-23-54-66-87-89-12Max Teams
per School
Team SizeFee
per team
Rules
Critter Comfort CottageXXXNo limit2-6$10PDF
Energy Inspired ArtXXXXNo limit1-6$10PDF
Junior Solar SprintXX22-4$10PDF
Solar Energy Cook-OffXXX22-6$10PDF
CompetitionsGradesDivisionsMax Teams
per School
Team SizeFee
per team
Rules
Critter Comfort Cottage3-123-5, 6-8, 9-12No limit2-6$10PDF
Energy Inspired ArtK-12K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12No limit1-6$10PDF
Junior Solar Sprint4-84-6, 7-822-4$10PDF
Solar Energy Cook-Off3-123-5, 6-8, 9-1222-6$10PDF

EnergyWhiz Virtual
March 29 – 31, 2023

Registration due by March 17th.

Your location won’t limit your participation in this virtual event. The rules are modified to accommodate on-line only submissions but the thrill of competing stays the same! The week-long format provides ample time to explore projects, leave constructive feedback and hear what others think of your work.

CompetitionsGradesDivisionsMax Teams
per School
Team SizeFee
per team
Rules
Energy Transfer Machine3-123-5, 6-8, 9-12No limit1-6$10*PDF

*or $40 per school for unlimited registrations

EnergyWhiz Regional Events
Dates set by each region

Similar to the in-person EnergyWhiz held at the FSEC Energy Research Center, these events are hosted by schools to bring the educational benefits and fun of EnergyWhiz to their local students without needing to travel to Cocoa, FL.

EventDateCompetitionsLocationContactRules
North FL RegionalApril 2ndJunior Solar Sprint
Solar Energy Cook-Off
Leon High School
550 E Tennessee St, Tallahassee
ReThink Energy FloridaJSS
SECO CCC
West Central FL RegionalMarch 25thJunior Solar Sprint
Solar Energy Cook-Off
Critter Comfort Cottage
Rodgers Middle Magnet School
11910 Tucker Rd, Riverview
Mike WilsonJSS
SECO
CCC

To host an EnergyWhiz Regional Event in your area, contact Penny Hall.


Can’t find the answer to your question on this site?
Contact us.


Competition Details

Critter Comfort Cottage

The Critter Comfort Cottage (C3) competition is a real-world engineering and communications challenge.  Students use green building design and construction techniques to create an energy-efficient, cost-effective, comfortable “home” for a critter. Teams must also create a marketing plan that describes the features and benefits of their comfort cottage for the critter they have selected.

critter comfort cottage logo
critter comfort cottage project
critter comfort cottage project
critter comfort cottage project
critter comfort cottage project

Energy Inspired Art

Energy Inspired Art (EIA) is a competition where the objective is to create a work of art that is inspired by an aspect of renewable energy, energy efficiency and/or climate science. Any art media, technique, visual, performance, musical or literary art may be submitted.

EIA Rules:

Judging Sheet Examples:

energy inspired art example
T-Shirt Design Competition
EIA example

Energy Transfer Machine

In the Energy Transfer Machine (ETM) competition students are challenged to transform everyday materials into a wacky, innovative machine that performs a variety of energy transfers within a specified time. The machine must accomplish a team-specified task at the one-minute mark. This competition is online only and not a part of EnergyWhiz.

ETM Rules:

More Info:

Judging Sheet Examples:


Junior Solar Sprint

In this Junior Solar Sprint (JSS) competition, students build a model size solar electric car. Students submit their design journals, photos and a video of their car running using the Sun’s Energy. Each car is judged on technology, craftsmanship, innovation and appearance. This event challenges students to use their science, creative thinking, and teamwork skills.

Judging Sheet Examples:

Supplemental classroom/team activities to aid  team design decisions:

Solar Car kits, which include a 3V solar panel and an electric motor, can be bought from:

Related Links:

Junior solar sprint race
Junior solar sprint race
Junior solar sprint fix it tent
Junior solar sprint race

Solar Energy Cook-Off

There are two parts to theSolar Energy Cook-Off (SECO) competition. Students will begin by designing and building a solar thermal “oven” to cook their tasty creations. Then, students present their solar-cooked dish to a panel of judges. Students compete for best solar cooker design, as well as a culinary award.

Students show off their knowledge and abilities in engineering and construction. Likewise, they also show their problem-solving skills.

solar energy cook off logo