Team Members:
Prize Summary:
The proposed Water Replacement X PRIZE Challenge is designed to change the way we think about and use water through the development of new products and processes that replace the need for water and thus drastically reduce the use of water for residential and commercial uses. The need for this challenge is best illustrated by a quote from the special report on water published May 20, 2010 in The Economist, ”The proportion of people living chronically short of water, which stood at 8% (500m) at the turn of the 21st century, is set to rise to 45% (4 billion) by 2050.”
Prize Framework
In visioning our prize idea, we relied on the following principles that we hope this prize concept will address:
- Change the conversation about the water crisis in order to stimulate new ways of problem solving and innovation.
- Drive further investment into the space of water replacement technologies.
- Result in production-capable affordable products that will provide new and exciting alternatives to consumers.
- Support and recognize the work of the handful of inventors and companies that have already begun work in this critical area.
- Develop a new set of metrics that can be used across all products to indicate the amount of water used based on regular use.
- Attract competitors from around the world.
- Foster a sense of collaboration between teams.
- Put emphasis on environmentally sound solutions to this challenge in order to reduce unintended consequences of this change.
- Expand awareness of the water crisis across the world to prepare people for the changes to come.
Prize Overview:
Our hope is that the Water Replacement challenge will be announced on World Water Day in March of 2011. Teams will then have 1 year to submit their prize concept for review. Approved concepts will then be announced at a World Water Day Event in 2012. Final judging will occur leading up to World Water Day in March of 2013 where first prize will be announced and the winning team will be awarded $10M. In addition, a people’s choice prize will be awarded in the sum of $1M.
Who will Compete?
Because global water stress is faced by cities and countries on every continent, the competition is intended to attract competitors from around the globe. During the first year of the competition, teams will have the opportunity to join other teams in order to refine or merge concepts that meet the criteria of the water replacement challenge.
Potential Partners
As for potential partners, a few companies have already shown initiative in addressing the world’s water issues including SABMiller, Nestle, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, and IBM. Any of these companies could potentially be interested in sponsoring most or all of the prize.
Prize Metrics:
- Estimated Water Use Table: Because teams will be producing a wide range of products and processes, an official water use table will be developed by the Water Replacement Prize Committee. This table will provide water use benchmarks for the teams to use when calculating how much their new technology will save.
- Water Replacement Index: The water replacement index would be based on a table of benchmarks for how much water is used for a specific process. The Water Replacement Index will be measured by the formula (new water consumption)/(previous water consumption) < 5%. The previous water consumption figure in the formula will be derived from the estimated water use table.
- Total Water Efficiency
- Environmental Impact Scale
- Prize Economic Viability
Presentation:
Link to group presentation on Google Docs: Team Presentation (6/3/2010)
Prize Proposal:
Link to full prize proposal: Water Replacement Proposal
Video:
Link to group video on YouTube: Water Replacement Video
