Harnessing Green Technology Grants: Sources to Help the Environment

Green Computing / IT, Environment
Harnessing Green Technology Grants: Sources to Help the Environment
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The Objectives of Green Technology Grants

The government institutions and agencies as well as nonprofit organizations you will find listed below extend funding assistance mostly for IT and technological tools for research projects. These projects are undertaken by academic groups, educational institutions, innovators, and non-profit entities to help provide solutions for environmental concerns. Usually, such projects are also intended for the benefit of the underrepresented. In fact, the main thrust in providing fund support for design initiatives for creative technological innovators is to help the indigenous sector or for the betterment of the environment and humanity.

If you, your school, or your organization are seeking green technology grant sources, obtaining comprehensive information directly from the website will give you the exact details about what documents are required and how they should be presented by way of proposals. Although some of these grants may be past their deadlines, learning about them can help you prepare for the future, when they are re-opened.

Department of Agriculture – Conservation Innovation Grants

The Department of Agriculture through its outlet agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, extends green technology funding to qualified government or non-government entities or to individuals for innovative conservation approaches and technologies. Although the deadline for 2010 grant applications has passed–last April 26, 2010–you may still find this information useful for the future re-opening of these grants.

Below are some examples of innovative conservation projects, with allowable durations of one- to three-year terms that involve green computing activities:

Projects for Adapting Management for Improved Conservation Effects- using cloud computing analysis and a model that can link resources, conservation practices, and systems wherein the outcome can be presented in quantifiable metrics.

Energy Projects- Proposal may include extending and validating the NRC Cropland Energy Estimator prototype or developing similar tools based on this prototype.

Productivity and Environmental Health of Pastureland- Involves the development of technological tools for assessing and comparing “Pastureland Condition Scores” against a reference for particular soil and climate conditions.

Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation- Proposals for this project include the development of new tools for measuring carbon content of the soil, where the latter will be used for growing organic and specialty crops.

Priority Landscapes- This includes the development and evaluation of technologies that can measure nitrous oxide emission in sensitive landscapes and soils.

Nutrient Management- This involves conceptualizing and testing recordkeeping software that can be used to quantify nutrients applied based on crop and field, dates, irrigation data, manure form, and water-runoff quality.

Criteria for Application Evaluation

The proposal and application will be evaluated based on the following:

  • The design and implementation of the technological tool can be demonstrated as based on sound methodology.
  • The proposed project promotes environmental protection and enhancement in agricultural production.
  • The outcomes of the proposal can be measured.
  • It has high potentials for successful completion.
  • The advantages and disadvantages have been considered and will still result in achieving a significant level of improvement.

For more information about Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG), you may send your inquiries to the National CIG Program Manager, Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service PO Box 2890, Washington DC 20013

USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture: Small Business Innovation Research Program

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Small businesses with proposals for renewable technologies, agriculture, and manufacturing projects may be awarded with green technology grants of up to $90,000. Applications and information about eligibility requirements can be obtained at the USDA Small Business Innovation Research Program by clicking on the Request for Application. Small businesses are encouraged to harness their technological potentials, and their rights to profit upon commercialization of such technologies will be protected. A small business should qualify as an entity engaged in research or research and development. Programs related to these projects include pesticides, biological control, rural and community development, and nanotechnology.

For more information about these projects, inquiries may be directed to the National Program Leader of the Competitive Programs unit via telephone: (202) 401-607 or email [email protected].

Department of Commerce-Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP)

This green technology grant aims to install broadband infrastructures that will add additional capacity to areas that do not receive enough broadband services at the locality’s public computer centers. Through the American Recovery Act, incentives are being granted in the hopes that they will generate jobs and promote economic growth as well as more opportunities, aside from enhancing the broadband capacity in areas considered as un-served and underserved.

Entities eligible for this grant include state and local government units or agencies, branches or any political sector, the District of Columbia, any territory or region belonging to the United States, any Indian Native Tribe, any native Hawaiian organization, non-profit/ for-profit corporation, organization, foundation, entity or association, LLC, cooperative, or mutual entity. For more information about this initiative, visit the Broadband.gov website.

Hewlett-Packard (HP)-EdTech Innovators Awards

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HP’s EdTech Innovators Awards are open to public or private educational institutions in any level of formal education who use technology creatively inside and outside of their classrooms. Nonprofit organizations engaged in the same endeavors are likewise qualified to join. This technology grant is for a maximum of $40,000 awarded to those whose work will be chosen by a panel of judges composed by representatives from different sectors, namely government, top schools, businesses, and nonprofit organizations. Judging of awardees will be based on:

  • The degree of originality in technology application and the potential to spur other technological ideas and educational approaches.
  • There should be proof that the technological innovation can improve the student’s interest and engagement in learning.
  • The innovator can demonstrate evidence that the program can be replicated for use in other programs or school or similar settings.
  • Scalability of the program or the ability to utilize its memory and processors in a way that will meet the demand.

However, the grant opportunity for the current year has passed its deadline effective June 30, 2010. Nevertheless, it will give interested institutions time in order to prepare for the succeeding year’s re-opening of the award. To this purpose, visit the HP’s EdTech Innovators Awards’ webpage, particularly the Terms and Conditions for more information, at https://na5.brightidea.com/ct/ct_blog_list.bix?c=F443A49B-2ECF-4BEE-A58F-E3E1577F011D

Earthwatch Institute-Caribbean Coral Reef Ecosystems

The Earthwatch Institute accepts research proposals from citizen scientists and field researchers as Earthwatch volunteers involved in data collection and scientific observation focus on marine ecosystems as well as understanding the effects of the environmental changes on coral reefs. The value of the grant is $20,000 to cover for costs related to research, which may include equipment under $1,000, supplies, research permits, and travel expenses. Costs of food and accommodation in the field will be provided separately by Earthwatch as volunteer costs. This research grant is renewable for three years and potentially for a fourth year as well. Most research activities will be performed by snorkeling while accommodations will be as comfortable and as close to the research sites as possible. Recreational time will also be provided to allow the grantee time to explore the cultural aspects of the research areas.

Although the deadline for this green technology grant has passed, you may want to inquire about future programs of this nature at the Earthwatch institute via telephone: +44(0) 1865 318808 or visit earthwatch.org/europe

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