Houston Energy & Climate Week Hack the Heat Hack-A-Thon
Join us for the first-ever Hack the Heat Hackathon, a hands-on innovation sprint tackling real-world challenges at the intersection of energy, technology, and climate.
We’re bringing together coders, creatives, engineers, data nerds, marketers, policy thinkers—and anyone passionate about sustainable solutions!
🧠 The Challenge:
Texas power demand spikes in the evenings. Your mission? Build solutions that shift energy usage to off-peak hours using data, design, education, and incentives. Think: demand response, not blackouts.
👩🎓 Students & 2025 Grads
✔️ Real-world project for your resume
✔️ Internships & jobs: energy reps will be there
✔️ Free food 🍕
🎟️ Sign up (participant)
👨💻 Professionals in AI, Data, Energy, Software, Marketing, Comms
✔️ Mentor teams solving the most urgent energy challenge
✔️ Meet talent & peers shaping energy
🎟️ Sign up (mentor)
🌎 The Impact:
Help shape solutions that can make our cities cooler, smarter, and more sustainable.
Let’s hack the heat—together.
Hackathon Agenda
Theme: How do we shift demand during high-peak times?
👉 Please be on the lookout in your inbox for an invite as the date gets closer!
🟣 Mon, Sept 15 – Kickoff Call
🕕 6:00–7:30 PM
👋 Problem intro + team formation
💡 Don’t have a team? No worries—we got you.
🟡 Tues, Sept 16 – Work Day (Virtual)
🔄 Optional check-ins: 10 AM | 12 PM | 4 PM | 6 PM
🧠 Heads-down time to build, research, ideate.
🟢 Wed, Sept 17 – Hackathon Day @ HECW
🍩 8:30 AM – Breakfast + Welcome
⚡ 9:30 AM – Demand Response Panel
🔍 10:15 AM – Problem Framing
🤝 10:35 AM – Meet Judges + Mentors
💭 11:45 AM – Breakouts Begin
🥪 12:00 PM – Lunch
🔧 1:00 PM – Work Session
🔄 2:00 PM – Midpoint Check-in
🛠️ 2:30 PM – Final Prep
🎤 4:00 PM – Team Presentations + Judging
🏆 5:00 PM – Closing + Wrap-Up
🎉 Fri, Sept 19 – Awards @ HECW Closing Ceremony
GOALS
Data Scientists & Analysts
Analyze usage data to identify problem loads
Model a more desirable load shape
Suggest customer cohorts or device types to target
Define: Where can we move demand and how much?
Developers & Designers
Prototype ways to present usage data back to customers
Build visual tools that help people understand their impact
Can we create an interactive dashboard or mobile UI?
Marketers & Comms
Explore how to educate customers about peak usage
Brainstorm campaigns, messages, and timing
What incentives actually drive behavior change?
Engineers & Economists
Propose incentive structures to reward off-peak usage
Simulate the impact of TOU pricing or gamification
How do we balance economics + experience?
🎤 What makes a winning presentation?
It’s not just about looking good — it’s about thinking smart and showing impact.
✅ Presentations are scored on:
📉 Predictive models or tech solutions
🌐 Engaging visual displays
💬 Storytelling that connects
🧠 Judged by:
🚀 Innovation
🎯 Feasibility
💡 Clarity
🤝 Customer Impact
Bring the data, the design, and the why — and make it unforgettable.
💥 Demand Response or Bust.
By registering for this event, you agree to share your registration information with Houston Energy and Climate Week organizers.
Houston Energy and Climate Week is organized by Allies in Energy, a nonprofit (501(c)(3)) community of business leaders, investors, and philanthropists dedicated to advancing energy and climate literacy through collaboration and partnership.