Alabama High Schoolers Design Tiny Homes in Energy Hackathon

When 10th graders from across Alabama gathered for the first-ever Grid Games Energy Hackathon, they weren't just competing for prizes. They were reimagining what affordable, sustainable housing could look like for rural families in their state.

Alabama Power launched the statewide competition to challenge high school students with a real-world problem: design an energy-efficient tiny home between 400 and 600 square feet that balances climate needs, comfort, and budget constraints. Students had to think like engineers, architects, and community planners all at once.

The competition started with regional contests across Alabama Power's six divisions between March 31 and April 9. Winners from Birmingham, Eastern, Mobile, Southeast, Southern, and Western areas advanced to the state finals at Alabama Power's Corporate Headquarters on April 30.

A.H. Parker High School from Birmingham took first place and $5,000. Jasper High School earned second place and $2,500, while Eufaula High School captured third with $1,500. The three remaining schools each received $500 awards for their innovation.

Alabama Power volunteers served as pitch coaches and mentors throughout the day-long competition. They worked alongside students to refine ideas and strengthen presentations, giving teenagers a genuine taste of professional collaboration.

"These impressionable high school 10th-grade students are right there in the middle where they're starting to think about what they want to do in their future careers," said Jessica White, project coordinator for Alabama Power. The timing targets students at a crucial decision-making point in their education.

The Ripple Effect

This hackathon does more than teach STEM skills. It connects students to career pathways in energy and technology they might never have considered, especially in communities where these opportunities feel distant or inaccessible.

The competition promotes practical solutions for energy waste and clean energy adoption while strengthening ties between Alabama Power and schools across the state. Students from diverse backgrounds gained hands-on experience with the kind of tech-driven thinking that shapes modern utilities.

By focusing on tiny homes for rural Alabama families, the challenge grounded abstract energy concepts in real community needs. Students weren't solving hypothetical problems; they were designing solutions for their neighbors.

Alabama Power plans to expand the Grid Games in future years, building on lessons learned from this inaugural event. The next generation of energy innovators is already getting to work.