Project Teams
ETC offers members the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and analytical skills in project teams. Guided by project managers, ETC teams tackle real-world energy challenges and make meaningful contributions to local communities. Through this hands-on experience, members gain project management, energy analysis, and data analysis skills, positioning themselves for a meaningful career in a variety of industries.
Energy Storage
While various campus buildings have prioritized sustainability by installing efficient lighting and rooftop solar, the development of battery and thermal energy storage systems could further enhance campus energy use optimization. Our team works with Cornell Energy & Sustainability to analyze the economic and technological feasibility of integrating storage technologies in a variety of campus applications.
Building Decarbonization
Building on the teams' existing work decarbonizing Cornell's co-ops and Greek Housing housing through economic & policy analysis and feasibility studies, the team is now expanding its focus to Ithaca’s construction industry, with an emphasis on material reuse and solid waste reduction. In partnership with Ithaca ReUse, the team will work to encourage deconstruction and sustainable waste management practices over demolition.
Carbon Capture
Even with rapid deployment of renewables, carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is increasingly seen as a viable and necessary method of hitting net-zero targets worldwide. In partnership with the Atkinson Center for Sustainability, the carbon capture and storage team examines the opportunities and challenges associated with carbon capture deployment on campus and across the U.S.
Grid Modernization
This project team explores how emerging technologies and innovations can help accelerate the transition to a more flexible, resilient, and decarbonized electric grid. Although the team’s exact project scope will evolve, we hope to overall contribute to real-world research and initiatives related to the future of the grid.
Climate Policy
In Ithaca’s rental housing market, a large proportion of residents are tenants with limited control over building improvements. Many landlords do not utilize existing state and local incentive programs, while tenants often lack the resources or information to advocate for upgrades. The team works to bridge this gap through research, outreach, and educational materials.
Workforce Development
This project team is partnered with Cornell Cooperative Extension to provide clean energy workforce training to adults and high-schoolers around Tompkins County. We have three goals for this team: 1) develop curriculum for existing workforce development programs, 2) expand opportunities for these programs and their students, and 3) develop similar programs in other parts of the state.
Bioenergy
The production of biogas from dairy operations using anaerobic digesters has exploded into the ag-tech space in recent years. As more farmers in NYS are considering this option, ETC's bioenergy team is working with Cornell Atkinson Center and CALS to develop and install an anaerobic digester on-site at the Cornell Teaching Dairy.