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Announcement of Phase 2 Challenge Winner(s) for the Cleaner Indoor Air During Wildfires Challenge
Citation:
Coefield, S. Announcement of Phase 2 Challenge Winner(s) for the Cleaner Indoor Air During Wildfires Challenge. Cleaner Indoor Air During Wildfires Challenge - Announcement of Phase 2 Winners, Research Triangle Park, NC, February 20, 2024.
Impact/Purpose:
This presentation provides an overview of the Cleaner Indoor Air During Wildfires Challenge: Phase 2 results. Current indoor air cleaning technologies have multiple limitations that prevent widespread use, including the cost of purchase, operation, and maintenance, as well as noise levels and dependence on electrical power, which wildfires or rolling blackouts can disrupt. To address these limitations, EPA developed the Challenge to focus attention on the problem, inspire the development of innovative solutions, and spur the market to commercialize effective solutions. Solvers recognized in Phase 1 of the challenge were invited to submit prototypes for evaluation in Phase 2. Prototypes were evaluated for their ability to safely and inexpensively reduce the concentration of smoke indoors. The top two solutions are each receiving $50,000.
Description:
EPA in partnership with 10 federal, state, local, and tribal organizations sponsored a science-based challenge to encourage development of new, effective, low-cost approaches (termed "Solutions") to remove PM5 from indoor air, particularly high concentrations related to smoke events or other high pollution episodes. Phase 2 involves the submission of prototypes for evaluation. We will document the challenge, general testing methodology for prototypes, the prototype test results, and selection of the Phase 2 winner(s).