This is an excerpt from EERE Network News, a weekly electronic newsletter.

May 15, 2013

America's Home Energy Education Challenge 2013-14 Program Launched

Registration opened on May 7 for America’s Home Energy Education Challenge (AHEEC), a national student competition created to help families save money by saving energy. Administered for the Energy Department by the National Science Teachers Association, the Challenge is designed to inspire student interest in science, technology, engineering, and math, while encouraging elementary and middle school students to make smarter energy choices and save energy at home.

The AHEEC has two parts: the Home Energy Challenge and the Energy Fitness Award. Each is designed to encourage students to learn about science and home energy savings, and participants can chose one or get involved with both. All students from third to eighth grade are eligible to enter for both parts of the challenge, including students in after school and home school programs.

Participants in the Home Energy Challenge will leverage the power of school spirit to engage rival schools in a local home energy savings competition. The Challenge officially kicks off on September 1, and schools can begin their three-month competition period any time between then and November 15. Participants will compete in 11 regions for more than $60,000 in prizes. Registration runs through November 15, 2013.

The Energy Fitness Award is an individual challenge that will begin September 1 and continue through the school year. Modeled after the President's Physical Fitness Test, the Energy Fitness Award challenges students to better understand foundational energy issues and provides students with an opportunity to learn where their energy comes from and how to use it efficiently. See the Energy Department press releaseand the Home Energy Challenge website.