"I'm not an environmentalist. I'm an Earth warrior."

Darryl Cherney, quoted in Smithsonian, April 1990

Yes the time has come that we rage a war; not against an alliance or a country but within ourselves. A battle within our soul, because we have become immune to all but explosions, only then we will understand the gravity of situation. Our mother Earth is dying because of our abominable deeds, for its resurrection we need to take the mantel upon us.

Implementing green technology in day today activities is one the ways to save our Earth. Most of us see green technology as recycling, water and air purification, sewage treatment, environmental remediation, renewable energy, energy conservation, and alternative and clean power. We are in the middle of a population explosion which further stresses on the needs of cleaner basic amenities, effective waste management and demand of green energy.

Instead of getting intrigued by this competition, put on your thinking caps and save your earth, our earth. The bottom of the oil barrel is now visible, are you the answer 'Earth' is looking for?.

For further queries contact:

Note: The following themes are just guidelines to help you. You are free to think like an unconventional thinker and come up with great innovations. So do not limit yourselves to these problem statements

Wind Energy:

Our economy has an insatiable appetite for energy, and because of the negative side effects of fossil fuels, the quicker that we can supplement and/or replace petroleum-based power sources, the better. Wind power is a great way to generate clean renewable energy, and the innovations in wind technology being pursued over the last year or so are a reminder that with the right tools, we can turn the movement of the air above us into fuel for our energy-hungry lifestyles. Renewable energy is growing rapidly in India. With an installed capacity of 13.2 CW, renewable energy sources (excluding large hydro) currently account for 9% of India's overall power generation capacity. By 2012, the Indian government is planning to add an extra 14 CW of renewable sources. Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association (IWTMA) estimates that the potential for wind development in India is around 65-70 GW. The World Institute for Sustainable Energy, India (WISE) considers that with larger turbines, greater land availability and expanded resource exploration, the potential could be as big as 100 GW.

• Wind Powered appliances:

  In terms of wind power installed capacity, India is ranked 5th in the World. Today India is a major player in the global wind energy market.With all the emphasis on massive power-generating wind turbines it is important to remember that wind energy can also operate on a much smaller scale. Wind energy is being used to charge appliances of daily necessities like mobiles,watches,etc.

  
  Problem statement:

  Participants are invited with innovative ideas to use wind energy as an alternate source of energy.Participants can use wind energy from day to day activities like a moving car or trains.

  
  
• Designing of wind turbines:

  The conventional design of wind turbine which is used worldwide has a lot of negative effects like noise, threat to birds etc. There has been a lot of innovative designs like “Bladeless wind turbines”, ”Vertical axis turbines” or “Airborne wind turbines”

  
  Problem statement:

  Participants are invited with innovative designs so that wind energy can be tapped in a more efficient manner.

  
  
  

Solar Energy:

India is densely populated and has high solar insulation, an ideal combination for using solar power in India. The amount of solar energy produced in India in 2007 was less than 1% of the total energy demand. When people think of solar energy, they envision solar-powered electricity and the large solar panels mounted on roofs. This definitely is one option to consider for using solar energy in your daily life. However, solar energy has expanded so much that you now have many more options for use on a day-to-day basis. More cities are turning to solar-powered road signs to let you know how fast you're going or to convey messages of accidents ahead. Companies are using solar power to provide electronic advertisement screens. Everywhere you turn, little solar panels are popping up to power all kinds of electronic displays. If you've taken steps to conserve energy in your home you may even be able to sell some excess energy back to the power grid! Government support and ample solar resources have also helped to increase solar adoption, but perhaps the biggest factor has been need. India, "as a growing economy with a surging middle class, is now facing a severe electricity deficit that often runs between 10 and 13 percent of daily need".

• Solar Heat for Homes (Solar Thermal Energy)

  Solar thermal energy can be used to warm the air in your home or the water for your morning shower. Heating swimming pools and cooking with solar energy is possible due to solar thermal power. Outdoor Solar Lights, Solar powered generator, solar fans, flashlights and radios

  
  Problem statement:

  Participants can come up with innovative ideas for tapping in solar energy so as to perform daily activities.

  
  
• Land constraints for solar energy:

  The amount of land required for utility-scale solar power plants is approximately 1 sq km for every 20–60 megawatts(MW), this could pose a strain on India's available land resource. Suggest ideas for developing structures that require minimum land and produce maximum output of energy. Solar facilities could impact the use of nearby specially designated areas such as wilderness areas, areas of critical environmental concern, or special recreation management areas. Proper siting decisions can help to avoid land disturbance and land use impacts.

  
  Problem statement:

  Participants can come up with innovative ideas so as to have a maximum output keeping the land constraints in mind.

  
  
  

Solid Waste Utilisation:

Every year, about 55 million tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW) and 38 billion liters of sewage are generated in the urban areas of India. In addition, large quantities of solid and liquid wastes are generated by industries. Waste generation in India is expected to increase rapidly in the future.As more people migrate to urban areas and as incomes increase,consumption levels are likely to rise, as are rates of waste generation. It is estimated that the amount of waste generated in India will increase at a per capita rate of approximately 1-1.33% annually. This has significant impacts on the amount of land that is and will be needed for disposal, economic costs of collecting and transporting waste, and the environmental consequences of increased MSW generation levels. This waste contains all types of wastes from bio-waste to large amount of fly-ash from thermal power plants to debris from demolitions of buildings.

• Biowaste:

  The utilization of biowaste for the generation of biogas contributes towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, quite often the wastes in the biogas plants are not converted into biogas efficiently enough. One of the reasons for this is the severely varying composition of the waste mixtures. The production of ethanol or biodiesel is another way to utilize biomass to create fuel. Biowaste can also be converted and used for household purposes of cooking etc. Generation of cooking gas at house hold level helps to overcome fuel crisis to a great extent.

  
  Problem statement:

  Participants can come up with innovative ideas for improving the scene of biowaste energy management in present scenario.

  
  
• Fly-ash:
  “Fly ash can become a wealth generator by making use of it for producing ‘green building’ materials, roads, agriculture etc” - Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam
  
  

  Fly-ash is one of the numerous substances that cause air, water and soil pollution, disrupt ecological cycles and set off environmental hazards. When pulverised coal is burnt to generate heat, the residue contains 80 per cent fly ash and 20 per cent bottom ash.The World Bank has cautioned India that by 2015, disposal of coal ash would require 1000 square kilometres or one square metre of land per person. Currently, 90 million tonnes of fly ash is being generated annually in India, with 65 000 acres of land being occupied by ash ponds. Such a huge quantity does pose challenging problems, in the form of land usage, health hazards, and environmental dangers.Fly ash can be used for construction of road and embankment. This utilization has many advantages over conventional methods. It improves the plant's water and nutrient uptake.

  
  Problem statement:

  Participants can come up with innovative ideas to use fly-ash as a filling material,improving brick manufacturing industry,agriculture industry

  
  
  
• Plastic waste:

  Plastics, one of the wonderful inventions of 20th Century, is a Ubiquitous material. Plastics has replaced the traditional material (paper / cloth etc.,) as packing and carry bags because of cost of convenience. About 1 million plastic bags are used every minute, and a single plastic bag can take 1,000 years to degrade. India has witnessed a substantial growth in the consumption of plastics and increased production of plastic waste. The plastic waste is now considered as environmental hazard due to the "Throw away culture". This has lead to reduced rate of rain water percolating, soil fertility deterioration, Fish and other marine species in the water ways, misunderstanding plastic garbage as food items swallow them and die and many other such issues. There are solution to this issue like using them in road construction, generating energy from plastic waste, as a soil stabilizer, can be converted into liquid and vapour hydrocarbons.

  
  Problem statement:

  Suggest ways to reuse plastic waste to help our earth survive for some more time.

  
  
  

Energy Efficiency in daily activities:

The motion from everyday tasks can provide low-cost electricity for lighting and other appliances in households. Incorporating electricity generation into the daily routine can reduce the time, effort, and cost burden of the user. We feel that harnessing daily tasks to provide electricity is more acceptable than general power production units.

Problem statement:

Redesigning of appliances of day to day use so that they become more energy efficient, user friendly or may be try to tap in the energy released by the appliance when it’s operating.

Energy form Human beings

The human body contains enormous quantities of energy. In fact, the average adult has as much energy stored in fat as a one-ton battery. That energy fuels our everyday activities, but what if those actions could in turn run the electronic devices we rely on? Today, innovators around the world are banking on our potential to do just that. Some examples, A health club:

With every step you take on a treadmill and with every bicep curl, you turn surplus calories into motion that could drive a generator and produce electricity. The energy from one person’s workout may not be much, but 100 people could contribute significantly to a facility’s power needs.

Pedal power laptop :

Pedal powered machine that uses nothing but pedal power to operate the laptop. The system is set up so that just about anyone with two legs would be able to power the laptop and they claim that even a third grader can step up to the pedal power laptop computer and get to work with no problems.

Problem statement:

Participants can come up with innovative ideas so as to convert the physical power into other forms of energy.

Self Sustainable Structures:

With development at it’s peak and civilizations blossoming ever so fast, we need structures that can sustain the current demand and be in harmony with nature. One of the practice of building structures, communities and lifestyles that have low to zero impact on environment whilst providing their own energy, water and waste management services is self-sustainable-structures.

• Self Energizing Structures:

  The amount of energy required for a structure to sustain can be derived out of it. The goal is to make the existing structure a zero energy structure.

  
  Problem statement:

  Participants are asked to identify any famous structure of their choice and try to make it a zero energy structure with every possible innovation that they seem would be appropriate regarding the structure. Structures can be monuments, bridges, tourist places etc.

  
  
• Earthship:

  The Earthship had it’s inception so as to create a home that would do three things; first, it would be sustainable architecture, using material indigenous to the entire planet as well as recycled materials wherever possible. Second, the homes would rely on natural energy sources and be independent from the "grid", therefore being less susceptible to natural disasters and free from the electrical and water lines. And finally, it would be economically feasible for the average person with no specialized construction skills to be able to create it.

  
  Problem statement:

  Participants can come up with innovative models of Earthships (A type of passive solar house made of natural and recycled materials) in India.

  
  
  
  
  

Project Report Format

The following points must be included and clearly highlighted in the report:
Title
Abstract
1. Objectives
2. Beneficiaries (For whom)
3. Value of results (Use)
Background
Statement of Problem
1. Succinct definition of problem (follows from material in the background section)
Research
1. Present methods of tackling the problem (if any)
2. Proposed Solution
3. Alternate soultions/approaches
4. Novelty of Approach: How is your solution better than existing products that addresses the same problem.
Technical Report
1. Description of concepts, theories or approach involved in the proposed solution.
2. Technical aspect of the proposed solution.
3. Detailed technical specifications and pictorial representations (block diagrams)
4. Description of the flow of operations demonstrating key features and functionality
5. Performance estimate of the solution.
6. Experimentation done to establish the workability of the above
7. A link to the video of the working model/ prototype.
Results
1. Actual findings, significant output of tests and analysis (Must be readable)
2. Include problems encountered, believability of results, accuracy estimates
3. Pros and Cons of your solution
4. Utility of results
Application
1. Your idea as a solution to the problem
2. Additional applications
3. Benefits to the users
Any other specific details

Final Project Report and Video Submission

The project report should be mailed to earth[at]techfest[dot]org with the subject -Ideate: Earth: Project Report: Team Id (For example Ideate: Earth Project Report: ET1243) before 23:59 hrs on 30th November, 2012. Do not forget to mention your Team ID in the subject while sending it. Teams must follow the following details for the submission:
1. The abstract must be submitted in pdf format only
2. Font: Verdana
3. Size: 11
4. Spacing between two lines:0.6 inches
5. Spacing between two paragraphs: 1 inch
6. Bottom margin: 1 inch
Along with this, participants will have to make a physical model/prototype for the solution, which will be reviewed in this stage. The participants will be required to submit a project report and a video to demonstrate the progress made on their working model/prototype. The last date for the submission of the project report and the video is 30th November, 2012. The panel of judges will analyse the report and the video and will give them a detailed feedback on the modifications of the model to achieve better results. The details of the shortlisted participants based on this submission along with feedback from the judges would be communicated to them by 10th December, 2012

Prototype and Final Presentation

After declaration of the finalists, participants are required to improve upon the prototype/ working model of their project. They will also have to make a presentation covering the technical and financial aspects of their product in a detailed manner. This final presentation and the video will have to be submitted at earth[at]techfest[dot]org before 21st December, 2012. The teams can however, continue to work on their prototypes till 2nd January, 2012. The teams will have to bring their prototypes to be judged and showcased at Techfest 2013 during 3rd to 5th January. The working prototype should be as close as possible to the product that the team intends to present to the end user. This would also help in deciding a better estimate of the cost of the prototype, reflecting closely the actual cost of the product.

General Rules

1. The competition is open to all college students, research scholars.
2. Every team has to register online on our website for the competition. A registration number will be allocated to the team on registration which shall be used for future references.
3. A team can register at any point of time before 12th November, 2012 and can submit final abstract and video (as mentioned in the structure).
4. All teams will have to submit videos of their prototypes along with a project report before 30th November, 2012.
5. The decision of judges shall be treated as final and binding on all.
6. Note that at any point of time the latest information will be that which is on the site. The information provided in the pdf downloaded earlier may not be the latest. However, registered participants will be informed through mail about any changes on the site.

International Participants

All international participants will have to register before 12th November 2012, and will have to submit the complete report along with video prototype before 30th November 2012.

Certificate Policy

Only those teams that are shortlisted for the finals and also give a final presentation about their work during Techfest 2013 would be awarded a Certificate of Participation. The top entries from this event would be provided with Certificate of Excellence.

Team Specifications

The participating entries must be in a team of a maximum of 4 [four] people. If the participating team feels that their idea requires more participants in their team, they can forward their request, with suitable reasons, to earth[at]techfest[dot]org with the subject "earth team number increase".

Judging

"Earth" will be judged by a panel of experts. Following are the broad guidelines for judging:

1. Innovation and creativity in the method used or product developed will be given high weightage
2. Implementability of the product to be assessed on the following parameters:
   • Technical feasibility
   • Cost of the product
   • Usability
   • Acceptability
   • Market Value and acceptance
   • Reliability/ durability of the product or method developed
3. Performance
4. Environmental impact and sustainability

In case of any dispute, decision of the organizers or Judges will final and binding on all.

Registration Deadline	12th November, 2012	Last date for registration of national as well as international participants. However, the final report along with the video of prototype (if any) can be submitted till 25th November.
Project Report	30th November, 2012	Final project report along with the video of prototype (if any) has to be submitted before 30th November.
Results	10th December 2012	Declaration of shortlisted teams for final presentation on the basis of final report and prototype video.
Improvisation Stage	10th December 2012 to 21st December 2012	Shortlisted participants are to improve upon the working model/ prototype of their project and prepare a presentation for the final round.
Final Presentation and Video submission	21st December, 2012	Participants have to submit the final video of prototype and presentation to be displayed during the festival before 21st December.
Presentation Stage	3rd-5th January, 2013	Final presentation along with the demonstration of the working prototype.