Competition Offering $5k in Prizes for Greener Gadgets

Designers, students and enthusiasts worldwide are eligible to enter the 2nd annual Greener Gadgets Design Competition, sponsored by Core77 and Inhabitat.

Organized in conjunction with the Greener Gadgets Conference (go figure), the competition seeks "extraordinary designs for green gadgets that offer innovative solutions to the issues of energy, materials, product lifecycle, recycling, and social development."

The top 50 entries will be published online for voting and commenting by the public -- which means you'd better have your IP locked up before you enter -- and the finalists will be showcased live at the Conference for judging by an expert panel (which means you'd better plan on attending if you really want to get the most out of this competition -- presenting your idea live is a great way to sell yourself, your skills and your ideas).

The awards -- $3,000 for the top prize, and $1,000 each for 2nd and third place -- will be given out at the end of the conference program, and winners will be showcased on Core77.com, GreenerGadgets.com, CE.org, and Inhabitat.com.

The conference itself will be held in New York City on February 27, 2009, and will focus on:

• Emerging energy technology
• Real solutions for e-waste recycling
• New inventions in energy generation and efficiency
• Future forward recyclable gadgetry
• The business case for going green

Here's a look at last year's winners to help inspire you.

Ready to enter? Go ahead. The deadline is January 15, 2009.