Chadds Ford teenagers Rohan Kapoor and Jack Reichert, both 18, were recently named finalists of the 2024 Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes for their development of the Go Green filter, a novel solution to reduce vehicles’ carbon emissions through a filter clamped inside the exhaust pipe. 

Their system uses microalgae to turn emissions into oxygen instead of harmful carbon dioxide. The filter costs just $50 and in repeated testing, reduces emissions by more than 74 percent. The boys estimate that if all cars were to utilize their system, it would reduce the world’s carbon emissions by over 16 percent.

Inspired by the work of an MIT professor, Kapoor and Reichert acquired algae from a local botanist and 3D printed a filter to fit an exhaust pipe. They worked for nearly a year through multiple challenges to refine their design. Numerous car manufacturers have approved their most recent iteration and the boys have begun distributing their filters in developing countries. They are also in discussions with the EPA. 

They hope that in the future, manufacturers will be required to include their filter in every car made.

Each year, the Barron Prize celebrates 25 inspiring young leaders – 15 top winners and 10 finalists – who have made a significant positive impact on people, their communities, and the environment. This year’s Barron Prize finalists are an outstanding group of young heroes chosen from nearly 500 applicants across the U.S. and Canada.

The Barron Prize was founded in 2001 by author T. A. Barron and named for his mother, Gloria Barron. Since then, the Prize has honored 600 young people who reflect the great diversity of America. All of them demonstrate heroic qualities like courage, compassion, and perseverance as they work to help their communities or protect the planet.