Registration deadline:
September 27, 2026
To participate, please submit your abstract and registerGeorgetown Energy Innovation Competition
Sponsored by Schneider Electric
How might we most successfully encourage the Georgetown University community to reduce its energy use?
This is a chance to make an impact on our community with one great idea, if you’re interested in Georgetown’s efforts to reduce the university’s energy use and carbon footprint in the global challenge that is climate change.
Main Event – Thursday, October 8th (Register by Sept. 27th)
MSB Hariri Building, Room 250 | 3700 O St NW, Washington, DC 20007
Dinner and welcome: 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Team presentations and winner selection: 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Georgetown University and ENGIE (Georgetown’s energy partner ) are looking for creative ideas to promote energy conservation in the Georgetown community and reduce our carbon footprint on campus.
The selected teams will be invited to work towards implementing their ideas and will also win prizes. The grand prize for the top winning team will be:
-Their idea implemented on campus
-Internship through ENGIE and potentially Georgetown, Schneider Electric
-A visit to a solar facility and/or ENGIE’s HQ in Houston, TX
Main Event Schedule | Thursday, October 8th
6:00 PM – Doors open; dinner is available
6:30 PM – Welcome address & GU-ENGIE partnership overview, Liz King, Georgetown Planning & Facilities Maintenance
6:50 PM – Event rules and reminders, Andy Ludwig, ENGIE Energy Conservation Measure Program Manager
7:00 PM – Presentations begin (3 minutes each, followed by 2 minutes Q&A)
8:30 PM – Final Four teams are announced, with 1 minute to restate “elevator pitch”, followed by 3 questions
8:50 PM – Top Idea/Grand Prize winner is selected; runners-up are announced
Steps to Participate
- Build your team (Minimum: one student, Maximum: four students)
- Develop your idea for how GU could save energy, bearing in mind the prompt and evaluation details. (outlined below)
- Declare your intent to participate, share your abstract and RSVP for the main event through this google form by Sunday, September 27, 2026.
- If your abstract is selected for the final round, draft a winning proposal for an energy-saving initiative on campus that can be presented in 3 minutes or less, using PowerPoint and/or YouTube.
- Submit your slides/video via email by Monday, October 5, 2026 at 10 a.m.
- At least one team member must attend the “Main Event” on Thursday, October 8, 2026 to present and respond to the Q&A.
Judging Criteria
The winning proposal will be selected by a panel of judges, including GU staff and students. The proposals will be evaluated by these criteria (in order of importance):
- Will it save energy?
- Can it fit within the $15,000 budget?
- Is it feasible and practical on Georgetown’s campus?
- Will it impact the Georgetown community?
- Will it go viral and have lasting effects into the future?
Awards
The winning team (of 4, or less) will be presented with the opportunity to:
- Further develop and work with ENGIE and Georgetown staff to help implement their idea on campus Winter-Spring ‘27
- An internship with ENGIE for one team member Spring 2027.
- Priority consideration for members of the winning team for Georgetown and ENGIE internships
- The winning team will have the opportunity to visit a solar site and/or ENGIE’s headquarters in Houston, TX
The runner-ups will receive energy-efficiency related prizes.
Questions?
Reach out to the event coordinator by emailing GUEIC2026@gmail.com with any questions! We look forward to reducing Georgetown’s carbon footprint with you!
The History of the Georgetown Energy Innovation Competition
In July 2021, Georgetown took a huge stride towards sustainability and becoming a leader in carbon reduction efforts by collaborating with ENGIE and Axium Infrastructure – together known as Georgetown Energy Partners . They are now working behind the scenes to transform the energy landscape of Georgetown’s campus, highlighted by a 35% decrease in energy use intensity over 10 years. While working closely with Georgetown’s Office of Sustainability, Planning and Facilities Maintenance and other departments, they have made efforts to upgrade lighting, replace steam piping, improve air handlers, install solar and many other aspects of the University’s energy infrastructure. While these efforts have contributed significantly to the growing dedication to sustainability on campus, we can, as a community, always do more to ensure Georgetown thrives in a carbon-constrained future.
This is where our students come in: to support and learn from these projects through participation in internships and events such as the Energy Innovation Competition. Both opportunities are spaces in which students can share thoughts on how the Georgetown University community can promote energy-conscious behavior.
The Energy Innovation Competition is an effort to engage with the student body to develop ideas they believe will succeed at Georgetown, and to provide the resources and guidance to help implement them almost immediately.
Previous winning ideas implemented on campus:
Solar table: Regents Esplanade.
Sticker on residential room doors.
“As a student you don’t often get the opportunity to implement a large project within the span of a year and see it come to life.” – Charvee D., 2022 Contest Winner
Learn more about Charvee’s project here