FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How frequently? Well that’s top secret, but what we can tell you is that if you’ve got questions,
then we’ve got answers.

What is the Invent the Future contest?

Invent the Future is an ideas contest open to people between the ages of 16 and 24. You can submit an original song, essay or a video that describes how you would inspire, educate, engage and raise public awareness about the importance of energy conservation.

Want to know more? See our rules and regulations.

What are the goals of this contest?

The goal of the contest is to give youth a venue to share their ideas about energy conservation and raise awareness about this important issue.

Who is eligible to enter this contest?

The contest is divided into two age groups: 16 – 19 year olds and 20 – 24 year olds. Any BC resident who is at least 16 years of age and no older than 24, is eligible to enter. All ideas must be submitted by December 5th, 11:59 pm, to be eligible to win.

Submissions will be accepted from:

• individuals
• teams of three (maximum). If you enter as part of a team, all members of your team must be in the same age category. You must nominate a team captain to submit the entry on your team’s behalf. Team entries can only be submitted once, by the captain of your team.

 

I’m under 19 years, do I need guardian or parental consent?

Yes, all contestants who are under the age of nineteen (19) years on October 1, 2010 must submit a copy of the “Invent the Future Contest – Parental Consent Form” (“Parent’s Consent Form”) signed by their parent or legal guardian, which can be found and downloaded at www.inventthefuture.ca/consentform/. Signed forms can be submitted via email to youthandeducation@bchydro.com or faxed to 604.623.3612 (Attn: Invent The Future Contest).

How can I create an account to enter the contest?

It is easy. On inventthefuture.ca, you can create an account (“Account”) by completing the online registration form in full. Contestants will then receive an email from BC Hydro with a confirmation link that needs to be clicked in order for the account to be activated and confirmed.

What does it take to win?

You need to sing a song, create a video, or write an essay that inspires, educates, engages and raises public awareness about the importance of energy conservation. (Here’s a hint – ideas with a clear link to electricity conservation always catch our attention). Visitors to inventthefuture.ca are encouraged to view the entries and vote for the ones they like the most. When the contest ends, the three entries from each group and category with the most “votes” are sent to our panel of judges. Two additional entrants, selected by representatives from BC Hydro Power Smart, from each age group and category will also move on to the final round of judging.

What criteria are the BC Hydro representatives using to select the finalists?

The BC Hydro representatives have been provided with the following guidelines and are instructed to rank all entries on this scale.

• Concept plan 20%
• Feasibility 30%
• Scope and potential to change behavior in BC 20%
• Originality 20%
• Quality (writing style, video production) 10%

 

Is the panel of celebrity judges using the same criteria?

The criteria above has been provided to the judges as a guideline. At the end of the day their final vote is theirs and theirs alone.

How many times can I enter the contest? Can I enter once as part of a team and then again with my own entry?

You can only enter once in each category – even if you entered as part of a team. In other words, you are allowed to enter one essay, one video and one song. If you enter a video, or an essay, or a song as part of a team your next entry must be in one of the other formats whether you enter individually or as part of a team.

How does the voting work?

It’s pretty simple actually – every unique vote you receive is worth three points and repeat votes are only worth one. In other words, if your Mom votes for your entry five times you’ll only get seven points (three for her first vote and then one for each subsequent vote). BUT, if five different people vote for your entry you’ll get a whopping 15 points. The contestants with the most votes at the end of the contest move on to the finals and one step closer to winning the $2000 and a week at the Gulf Islands Film and Television School.

Can I vote for myself?

Definitely, but only once a day.

Who are the judges?

Our judges are the real deal. Find out who's on the panel click here.

How do I submit a video?

You need to set up an account on YouTube and load your video there first. Then cut the embed code (on the right hand side of the screen in YouTube) and paste it into your account profile under the “Enter Now” page on this website. Remember to include “#ITF” in the tags field when uploading the video to YouTube. To complete the process simply click the submit button.

What steps must I follow to enter an essay?

If submitting an essay, simply copy and paste it into the text field in the Entry form. Please limit your formatting to bolding, underlining, and italics. Attachments and appendices must be in JPG, GIF, PNG or PDF formats before uploading. Click the submit button to complete the submission process.

How many words should my essay be and in what format?

Your essay should be 350 - 500 words. Simply cut and paste your essay into the text field on the “submit an essay” entry page. Please note that when your submission is uploaded, only bold, underline, italics and lists will be accepted for formatting. Once your entry appears in the preview window, you can still make final changes so be sure to proofread it one more time. Please note, you must complete the consent form in order to submit your essay AND if you have used somebody elses name in your essay you must get written consent from that person. It is probably easier to simply remove the person's name and replace it with "he" or "she." Download the consent form here. If you include an attachment, it must be submitted in one of the following formats: JPG, GIF, PNG or PDF.

How long should my video entry be?

Your video entry should be between 60 and 90 seconds long.

How long should my song entry be?

Your song entry should be between 60 and 90 seconds long.

Do I have to perform my own song or appear in my own video?

No, you do not have to be the star of your own song or video. You must ensure that the actors in your entry consent to the use of their image and likeness in the contest. However, if you create or perform a video or song with a partner or teammate you must enter as a team and all members of your team must be in the same age category.

Can I talk about anything to do with sustainability or does my idea have to be around electricity conservation?

Invent the Future is an ideas contest. Ideas that inspire, engage educate, and raise public awareness about the importance of energy conservation. The key is to creatively demonstrate how your idea will change people’s attitude or behavior when it comes to energy conservation, but it does not have to relate specifically to electricity use.

I’m worried about my privacy? Can I submit an entry using a screen name?

The aim of the contest is to highlight the thoughts and ideas of BC’s youth around sustainability. If you are concerned about your privacy, perhaps try submitting your initials. (E.g. John Mathew Doe can enter as JM Doe). We do need a valid email address and phone number to contact you if you are selected as a winner. Plus, if we cannot verify your identity then we will not be able to award you the $2000 prize if you are selected as the winner.

My entry is not appearing on-line right away… why?

When you complete the online entry form, BC Hydro will confirm your registration with an email that contains a link you need to click in order for your account to be activated and confirmed.

I confirmed my registration and clicked the link but my entry is still not appearing?

BC Hydro reserves the right to review and approve all submissions before they appear on the Invent the Future websites. This process can take up to 24 hours.

Can people vote more than once or for more than one entry?

You can vote for as many entries as you like. However, you can only vote for the same entry once every 24 hours.

How are the finalist chosen?

There will be 30 finalists in total - five from each age group and category. The top three most popular entries in each age group and category will automatically move on to finals. The remaining two spots in each age group and category will be selected by representatives from BC Hydro based on the merits of the idea presented. Entries will be judged on the following: Concept Plan, Feasibility, Scope and potential to change behavior in B.C., Originality, Quality (ie. writing style, video production). See contest rules and regulations for details.

How are the winners selected?

Five winners from each age group and category will move onto the final round of judging by our celebrity judges.

How will I know if I've won or not?

If you win we’ll contact you by telephone or email following the draw. If you’re not home don’t worry, we’ll try to contact you at least five times over five business days.

When will the winners be announced?

Winners will be announced on or before February 28, 2011.

Where can I view videos from previous years?

www.inventthefuture.ca/2009

Can I submit a video from last year?

No.

Is there any way to monitor how many votes my entry has gotten during the contest?

You bet. Simply search for your entry on the Invent the Future website and when you find it, you’ll see how many people have voted for your entry.

Is there an entry fee for the contest?

No, the contest is free to enter.

How long has the contest been running?

This is BC Hydro’s fourth year hosting an online sustainability contest for youth. The Invent the Future contest is an evolution of the “Off the Grid” contest which was first held in 2007. 2010 marks the third year for Invent the Future.

Can I send my entry by mail?

Nope. Entering the contest is easy. Simply follow the instructions on the Invent the Future website.

Can I enter the competition if I live outside of British Columbia, Canada?

You must be a BC resident between the ages of 16 to 24 to enter. A BC resident is someone who is currently residing in the province and has lived here for 6 months or more.

Do I have to be a contestant to participate in the Power Smart Pledge Contest?

Answer: No. The Power Smart Pledge Contest is open to all British Columbians 13 years and over.

Can I vote for myself using separate email accounts?

No. All entries found to be using multiple names and email addresses will be automatically disqualified. We encourage you to promote your submission to your friends and family and get them to vote for you. The Invent the Future contest website has lots of tips and tools you can use to promote your entry on social media sites like Facebook.

Can I use music without written permission?

No. You must use original music or provide proof that you have permission to use any music that appears in your submission.

Can I use branded products on screen?

No.

I took the pledge but the counter didn't change?

The counter updates once an hour.

What happens if I have a question that is not answered here?

Send an email to youthandeducation@bchydro.com with “ITF Question” in the subject line.