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Setty Family Foundation Applied Engineering Challenge

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2026 Setty Family Foundation
Applied Engineering Challenge  

Introduction | Scope | Constraints | Judging | Submission | Timeline | Prizes

 Questions? Submit them here

Introduction

 Design and build an innovative system for rejecting heat to domestic hot water and absorbing heat from domestic cold-water systems in residential applications for space heating and cooling. This challenge centers on defining the opportunity and potential application to integrate water consumption cold and hot with our space heating and cooling.  Could be used to supplement ground loop heat pump applications, using the heat when available/advantageous, diverting to the ground loop when limits have been met.

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Scope

  1. Determine consumption parameters for domestic water and reasonable temperature limits for cold and hot water:
    1. Determine average daily cold and hot water consumption by season
    2. Determine lower and upper temperature thresholds for both hot and cold water
    3. Determine seasonal heating/cooling energy per day available
  2. Valving and Controls:
    1. Determine appropriate tie in, valving, and controls for diverting water from domestic hot or cold water systems and ground loop.
    2. Avoid cross contamination with domestic water systems.
    3. System resiliency, ensure as a sustainable practice the HVAC service to the space is uninterrupted if temperature limits are reached in the domestic water systems.

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Constraints

  1. Compatibility and Retrofitting:
    1. Ensure the module is designed for straightforward integration into close coupled ground source heat pump applications.
    2. Consider scalable applications for # of occupants, irrigation, cultural differences in water consumption.
    3. Examine the impacts of occupants and behaviors on system effectiveness.
  2. Life Cycle Analysis and Sustainability:
    1. Conduct a comprehensive life cycle analysis, considering the environmental impact, energy requirements, and overall sustainability
    2. Prioritize materials and manufacturing processes with low environmental footprints.
    3. Discuss opportunities that may exist between other normally unrelated systems in residential, or commercial, or other facility types.

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Judging

This project is intended to challenge not only design and engineering skills, but also your ability to extract energy from practical sources and look at opportunities to create a beneficial relationship between normally unrelated systems.

Projects shall be evaluated, at a minimum, according to the following criteria. For items not covered specifically below, judging will be based on the merits of the proposal and documentation presented as justifications. Teams are urged to use their creativity, but like most real life situations, the proposed solutions must adhere to industry approved engineering guidelines, utilize currently available technology, be financially feasible, and be deployable from concept through construction within a reasonable timeframe.

  • Depth and breadth of solutions considered
  • Creativity and innovation of the proposed solutions
  • Ease of integration with existing HVAC&R systems
  • Scalability of the solution to larger applications
  • The overall impact on reducing carbon emissions
  • Use of ASHRAE Standards and other related materials

Projects will be evaluated based on the innovation and viability of the system, ease of integration with existing HVAC&R systems, scalability, and the overall impact on reducing energy consumption.

This challenge focuses on the development of a specific component—piping and controls integration—that not only reduces energy consumption/cost of HVAC&R and Domestic water heating systems but also demonstrates the opportunity to look for symbiotic relationships with normally unrelated systems.

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Submission

Teams must consist of two to six students with each team member's name and school affiliation listed on the title page of the submission. Teams can consult industry professionals, such as local ASHRAE chapter members, or faculty advisors for mentorship and advice. However, all work, calculations, drawings, etc. that are presented in the final submission shall be generated exclusively by team members.

Entries must be submitted electronically by May 4, 2026 by uploading the entry to the ASHRAE Society FTP site established for this purpose. Only teams who register will receive the FTP site information, so please register at least 30 days prior to this date to allow for processing. The submission must be limited to a 25-page maximum technical report. The document must be formatted to 8.5 x 11 inch paper with margins of 1 inch, a font size of 11 points using either Arial or Times New Roman, and a line spacing not less than the Microsoft Word standard of 1.15. All documents must be delivered in PDF format and should be clearly readable in black and white print.

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Timeline

What is the Evaluation Time Schedule?

There will be three levels of evaluation. Evaluators at all levels will judge the design project reports, not only for content, but also for compliance with the competition rules.

April 4, 2026

Only teams who pre-register will get the FTP site information emailed to them.

May 4, 2026
Entries must be submitted electronically by this date by uploading the entry to the ASHRAE Society FTP site established for this purpose. Only teams who register will get the FTP site information emailed to them, so please register at least 30 days prior to this date to allow for processing. Late submissions will not be accepted so all teams must have their submission uploaded by 11:59pm EST on May 4, 2026.

Only ASHRAE chapters with registered teams will have the FTP site emailed to them as well.

Teams that do not have a local chapter are required to adhere to this same deadline. Your entry will be evaluated by the closest chapter to your school or your Regional Vice-Chair (RVC) for Student Activities.

May 15, 2026
Deadline for local ASHRAE Chapters to forward their selection of the best entry in each category to the Student Activities Regional Vice Chair (RVC). Chapters are to download the necessary entries from the ASHRAE FTP site for local judging. FTP site information is only distributed to those chapters that have teams registered to participate in the competition.

Once your selection is made simply email the names of the winning entries to your RVC with a copy to JMcCray@ashrae.org and tcthomas@ashrae.org by the deadline above.

If applicable, chapters should ALSO nominate a "rising star" as well. The Rising Star must be a school that does not qualify for the regional or Society competition, but is a quality entry and the school has not had a winning entry in the previous three years.

June 5, 2026
Deadline for local ASHRAE Student Activities Regional Vice Chairs to forward their selection of the best entry in each category to ASHRAE Headquarters for Society judging. Regional Vice Chairs are to download the necessary entries in your region from the ASHRAE FTP site for judging.

Once your selection is made simply email the names of the entries to JMcCray@ashrae.org and tcthomas@ashrae.org by the deadline above.

All entries that pass regional judging will be submitted to the Society judging committee for final judging.

If applicable, Regional Vice Chairs can nominate a "rising star" as well. The Rising Star must be a school that does not qualify for the Society competition, but is a quality entry and the school has not had a winning entry in the previous three years.

June 18, 2026
Society level competition under the direction of the Student Activities Design Competition Subcommittee will complete evaluation of Society level entries, and will select first, second, and third place winners in each category. In order to encourage additional schools to participate in the competition, a "Rising Star" winner will be chosen within each category from among those schools that have not had a winning entry in the previous three years.

Please Note: The Society level of the competition is conducted during a closed subcommittee session and therefore, team members and/or faculty advisors, or other persons outside of the Student Activities Committee, may not attend. Any violation of this notice can result in a team's disqualification from the competition.

Monday, August 3, 2026
Winners announced

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Prizes

Awards will be presented to the winners at the 2027 ASHRAE Winter Meeting to be held in Chicago, IL United States of America as follows:

  • 1st place
  • 2nd place
  • 3rd place
  • Rising Star

In conjunction with the 2027 ASHRAE Winter Meeting, members of the winning teams will be invited to meet with ASHRAE’s Executive Committee.

First Place: $5,000 prize plus the entire team will receive free transportation and two nights’ lodging for (capped at $5,000) to attend the 2027 ASHRAE Winter Meeting where the award will be presented at the ASHRAE Plenary. A 24 x 36 inch ARCH D, or ISO A1 poster is required for display at the ASHRAE Student Program.

Second Place: One representative from the team will receive free transportation, two nights' lodging at the 2027 ASHRAE Winter Meeting where the award will be presented at the ASHRAE Student Program. A 24 x 36 inch ARCH D, or ISO A1 poster is required for display at the ASHRAE Student Program.

Third Place: One representative from the team will receive free transportation, two nights’ lodging at the 2027 ASHRAE Winter Meeting where the award will be presented at the ASHRAE Student Program. A 24 x 36 inch ARCH D, or ISO A1 poster is required for display at the ASHRAE Student Program.

Rising Star: One representative from the team will receive free transportation and two nights lodging for attendance at the 2027 ASHRAE Winter Meeting where the award will be presented at the ASHRAE Student Program. A 24 x 36 inch ARCH D, or ISO A1 poster is required for display at the ASHRAE Student Program.

>> View the listing of past winners

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