If you were given $28 million to design an energy efficient student center, what would you do? That is exactly what students from around the world have been challenged with for the 2008-2009 Hydrogen Student Design Contest.

Washington, DC - If you were given $28 million to design an energy efficient student center, what would you do? That is exactly what students from around the world have been challenged with for the 2008-2009 Hydrogen Student Design Contest.

For the fourth annual Hydrogen Student Design Contest, the Hydrogen Education Foundation has partnered with the State University of New York - Farmingdale to ask teams of students to design a "green" student union that utilizes hydrogen and renewable energy for the campus. Teams are asked to design the basic structure of the new 45,000 square foot building utilizing renewable energy, energy efficient technologies and hydrogen for its energy needs. Each building design must include a bookstore, meeting rooms, a food court and other amenities which use power from the clean system the student teams will design.

"Universities play a key role in educating both students and the public about the advantages of clean energy technologies," said HEF President Jeff Serfass. "This year's Contest is an ideal way to combine what is taught in the classroom and used in the real world. We are really looking forward to seeing what the students use in their designs."

In past years, teams have designed hydrogen fueling stations, hydrogen power parks, and most recently a hydrogen system for airports. The winning designs from the first two years even attracted funding for construction; the winning fueling station design from 2005 opened in less than one month ago in Arcata, CA.

SUNY-Farmingdale and New York State have a history of leadership in the areas of energy efficiency and hydrogen technologies. Farmingdale is currently planning the installation of a 1.3 MW hydrogen fuel cell for their campus through support from the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority in the form of a $1 million Renewable Portfolio Standard incentive grant. Several other hydrogen installations are also planned across New York State, including hydrogen fuel cell back-up power for the new Freedom Tower at the site of the World Trade Center.

The Hydrogen Student Design Contest is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, Chevron, Fuel Cell Energy, NYSERDA, American Wind Power and Hydrogen, and SUNY-Farmingdale.

To find out more about the Hydrogen Student Design Contest, please visit www.HydrogenContest.org.


About the National Hydrogen Association and the Hydrogen Education Foundation

The National Hydrogen Association (NHA) is the Nation's premier hydrogen trade organization led by over 100 companies dedicated to supporting the transition to hydrogen. Efforts are focused on education and outreach, policy, safety and codes and standards. Since 1989, the NHA has served as a catalyst for information exchange and cooperative projects and continues to provide the setting for mutual support among industry, research and government organizations.
Website: www.HydrogenAssociation.org

The Hydrogen Education Foundation is the charitable, education-focused arm of the NHA which administers three hallmark programs, the H2 & You outreach program and the Hydrogen Student Design Contest and the soon to be announced H-Prize Competition.
Websites: www.H2andYou.org
www.HydrogenContest.org