Energy

For Earth Day 2026, UW’s Executive Director of Campus Energy, Utilities & Operations David Woodson and UW Sustainability Director Lisa Dulude gave an online presentation on the work around decarbonizing the Seattle campus energy system.

The discussion touched on why we're working to decarbonize, the need to shift our campus Power Plant from natural-gas powered boilers that provide building heat to electric heat pumps, some recent good news around state funding for an initial project, some success stories from existing work and more.

Watch the presentation below.

The UW's Molecular Engineering and Sciences Building (MolES) incorporates innovative strategies for energy savings and sustainability. Reducing the number of air changes by 40% lightens the load on the mechanical systems that serve technically challenging laboratories, while operable office windows and solar chimneys are part of a more "organic" approach to heating and cooling.

Energy and climate change feed off of each other, causing problems for all of us. The energy sector is the second largest emitter of greenhouse gasses - which cause warming temperatures. As the climate warms, it increases the demand for electrical-powered cooling, putting stress on our energy supply and leading to more emissions. 

Students interested in learning more about the UW's Energy Transformation strategy to decarbonize the Seattle campus energy system are invited to attend Student Energy Transformation Task Force meetings every other month.

At the recent UW Decarbonization Town Hall, one of the major questions posed from the audience was, "How can I get involved and help decarbonize our campuses?"

There are many different ways students, staff and faculty can get involved at the UW. We've put together just a few here. You can also email sustainability@uw.edu with questions or for information on other options.

The Faculty Council on Campus Planning and Stewardship hosted this panel discussion on the UW’s efforts to decarbonize our operations and address climate change. The event was recorded on October 25, 2023.

The Faculty Council on Campus Planning and Stewardship is hosting a panel discussion on the UW’s efforts to decarbonize our operations and address climate change. The discussion will touch on existing plans, prospects for envisioning and funding decarbonization efforts, and the potential for the UW to be a leader in climate change response.

Update: Watch the event recording below.

UW Sustainability's "In Our Nature" podcast's latest episode goes in-depth on Energy Conservation at the University of Washington with Norm Menter, the Assistant Director for Energy, Utilities and Operations with UW Facilities. Since 2013, Norm has managed the UW's Energy Conservation program.

The University of Washington has begun developing its new Energy Transformation Strategy. This multi-year strategy will transition how the Seattle campus heats and cools buildings - from burning natural gas to produce steam, toward a new clean energy system that will use electricity to heat and cool the campus.