Energy, Environment & Sustainability

Cornell is a global leader in sustainability and climate change research, teaching and engagement. Our campuses are living laboratories for developing, testing and implementing solutions that address these most challenging issues.


Winter runoff into streams on par with ocean salinity

Students in Cornell's Soil and Water Lab have found that the amount of road salt in winter and spring runoff that flushes into streams is of near-oceanic salinity levels.

Weill Cornell's Belfer Research Building certified LEED Gold

Weill Cornell Medical College's state-of-the-art Belfer Research Building has achieved LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for its sustainable design and green construction.

Adding renewable energy to power grid requires flexibility

A Cornell study offers a comprehensive reimagining of the power grid that involves the coordinated integration of small-scale distributed energy resources.

USAID taps Cornell to advance Ebola protective garments

In the war against ebola, Cornell University and two partners will rethink, reimagine and re-engineer protective suits for health care workers on the front line.

Cornell will help fund bicycle/pedestrian corridor on East Hill

The university has pledged $400,000 toward the project, which will improve wellness and life safety for Cornell community members who bike, walk, run or drive along Pine Tree Road.

Online course aims to put public gardens on a community mission

A free six-week online course called “EECapacity for Public Garden Educators," co-hosted by Cornell, helps public garden educators transform their natural assets into community resources.

System of Rice Intensification earns food security prize

The System of Rice Intensification, a method of growing rice that enhances crop yields and is resilient to climate change, won the international Olam Prize for Innovation in Food Security.

Ecological corridor to preserve Ecuadorian Andes bears

A Cornell research team is joining local efforts to help design a socio-ecological corridor that could help save endangered, threatened, endemic species in Ecuador's Andes region.

Viticulture journal toasts vineyard protection research

In Cornell's young wine and grape program, a former graduate student and two professors have earned 2015 scientific paper of the year honors from the American Society for Enology and Viticulture.