Stay informed and engaged on UW decarbonization

view of UW Power Plant with Lake Washington behind

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.

Learn more about student group Global Renewables Infrastructure Development (GRID)

GRID

Global Renewables Infrastructure Development (GRID) is a registered student organization that works on designing, optimizing, installing, financing and assessing the societal impacts of renewable energy systems, with a specific focus on projects that advance equitable access to electricity. GRID has an interdisciplinary mix of graduate and undergraduate students with backgrounds in engineering, natural sciences, social sciences and more.

Learn more about the student group Global Renewables Infrastructure Development

Global Renewables Infrastructure Development student group

Global Renewables Infrastructure Development (GRID) is an RSO that works on designing, optimizing, installing, monitoring and assessing the societal impacts of solar energy systems, with a specific focus on projects that advance equitable access to electricity. The group has an interdisciplinary mix of graduate and undergraduate students with backgrounds in engineering, natural sciences, social sciences and more.

ReThink seeking students to create sustainable business web platform

ReThink flyer

ReThink, a Foster School of Business student organization which is dedicated to exploring the intersection of business and sustainability, is working to create a centralized, web-based platform to identify and promote small, sustainable businesses. This "Sustainability Upheld in Business" project is hoping to provide consumers, students, and environmentally-conscious individuals with the knowledge and means to discover, investigate, and promote sustainable business practices.

2020 Husky Green Award winner: Sustainability Curriculum Coalition

Emma Wilson and Anya Gavrylko at the Student Sustainability Forum

For Emma Wilson and Anya Gavrylko, sustainability is about more than just the environment.

As the co-leaders of the Sustainability Curriculum Coalition (SCC) student group, the duo shares a passion to advance and redefine sustainability at the UW.

"There is the three pillars approach that is environment, social, economic, which is sort of like level one sustainability," Anya said. "It's understanding how one action impacts everything throughout those other actions and having everyone understand that they have a role to play."

UW Solar brings renewable energy to campus

Mercer Court solar panels

For almost a decade, UW Solar has made impacts by generating power and energy all across campus. Since getting solar panels installed on the roof of Mercer Court in 2014, the group has grown and worked with campus partners to add solar to several West Campus residence halls and the new Life Sciences Building.

With no signs of slowing down, UW Solar is looking to carry out two major projects this year that will encourage the use of alternative energy at the university.

Solar-powered passion

Alex Ratcliff

 Civil & Environmental Engineering senior Alex Ratcliff has worked to increase solar power capacity at the University of Washington throughout his time as a student. Since joining the UW Solar student group as a freshman, Ratcliff has helped oversee new solar installations on the residence halls Maple, Alder and Elm, as well as working on solar installations for the new Life Sciences building.