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2026 1st Prize Winners
Energy Efficiency
Team Member(s):
Elisa Arteaga, Nicole Salinas
Project Title:
Energy Influencers
School:
Santa Paula HS
Teacher:
Ansh Seth
Project Description: The "Energy Influencers" propose to reduce energy consumption by replacing three outdated and inefficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) units with more energy efficient sytems. The group made several in-person observations in older classrooms of inefficient cooling methods, including outdated temperature sensors, uneven cooling, and abrupt turning on and off of current air conditioning units. They assessed their schools' energy bills and noted that months of high energy usage were during the hotter months at the end of summer. They estimate a savings of $5K in energy savings after the replacement and installation of newer HVAC systems by Fall 2026. They will evaluate their projects by monitoring the monthly energy costs, HVAC repair costs, and collecting feedback from students and teachers about air conditioning efficiency in classrooms. They created a poster to raise awareness and plan to make a short video to explain how new systems can improve comfort, reduce costs, and support energy conservation.
Waste Reduction
Team Member(s):
Everest Williams, Celeste Roman, Saily Rodriguez, Kayla Mendez
Project Title:
Containers for Change
School:
Santa Clara HS
Teacher:
Kevin Mancilla
Project Description: The Eco Saints aim to reduce the plastic and metal waste created by their school by 24% by next year. While performing a waste audit, they noted a lack of recycling bins on campus, only finding 2 bins across the entire school. The group hopes to increase recycling awareness by involving the school's Clean & Green club to sort waste, installing more recycling bins, and educating their classmates through spirit days & posters around campus. The Clean & Green club will also track the recyclables collected to assess the impact of their campaigning, and the funds created by turning in the waste will feed back into the Eco Saints' initiative.
Water Conservation
Team Member(s):
Cassimira Parcon, Jazelle Parcon
Project Title:
Water you Doing Wasting Water?
School:
Fremont Academy MS
Teacher:
Shannon Todd
Project Description: The "Confident Cousins", Cassimira and Jazelle, hope to reduce water usage on their school campus by 50% by installing pedal flush toilets. These new toilets would be installed at Fremont Academy's new school campus, and use almost half as less water than regular toilets. while the upfront costs for these new toilets may be a fright, the group determined that the reduced water usage would make up the toilet costs in just under 3 years. The group planned to share this proposal with their principal and eventually the school board, in hopes of not just saving costs at school but saving water in their community.
Extreme Heat Awareness
Outreach Campaign
Team Member(s):
Victoria Castellanos, Jacqueline Zacarias, Yeraldine Ziniga-Zavala
Project Title:
Under the Sails
School:
Santa Paula HS
Teacher:
Barbara Weiser
Project Description: The "Bing Chilling" group proposed Project Under the Sails which plans on reducing the impact of extreme heat on their campus by installing a shade canopy over the blacktop area outside their band room. They conducted a heat audit around different areas of campus using a Kestral temperature testing device and conducted a heat impact survey to 57 students. Their survey assessed students on their personal experience with heat at different locations at school and informed their decision to choose the band area for shade coverage. Over 90% of their surveyed students believed it was important to reduce the impacts of extreme heat on campus. In addition to a 30X20 ft shade canopy near the band area; they are proposing to school administrators the reopening of an area with grass and trees during nutrition and lunch to allow student access to more shaded locations on campus. A second survey with their school community after the shady canopy is installed will be conducted to evaluate whether their proposals have reduced the impacts of extreme heat. They plan to raise awareness by presenting their plans, budget, and timeline to a school board meeting and beginning talks with the administration about opening up shadier areas for student access.
1st Prize Env. Issue Tier 2026
Sample Project Videos
Videos for the EECCOA Challenge are meant to help judges understand your project proposal by giving them additional details, and relevant images and film of your school campus. Most importantly, it’s an opportunity to explain your project first hand. Your video should include the information from your presentation and workbook that is important to understand your proposal. The purpose of your video is to explain your project well, convey why it should be implemented, and why you should win! Plus, you can show your creativity and entertain them at the same time.
Water Conservation
Matilija Dam
Waste Reduction
Energy Efficiency
Watch other sample videos on our YouTube Channel
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