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.


“Startup Cornell” podcast features one-year anniversary special

Hear speakers from the podcast's first year share their top tips.

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Smart thermostats inadvertently strain electric power grids

Smart thermostats may be falling into a dumb trap. While these devices save homeowners money, Cornell engineers found they may be prompting unintentional energy spikes on the grid.

What is a pond? Study provides first data-driven definition

Nearly everyone can identify a pond, but what, exactly, distinguishes it from a lake or a wetland? A new study co-led by Cornell offers the first data-driven, functional definition of a pond and evidence of ponds’ distinct ecological function, which could have broad implications for science and policy.

Bring back the wolves – but not as heroes or villains

Re-introducing wolves and other predators to landscapes does not miraculously reduce deer populations, restore degraded ecosystems or threaten livestock, according to a new study.

Smart cities workshop unites Cornell campuses, urbanism community

The Autonomy and Mobility in Engineered and Natural Environments Workshop at Cornell Tech highlighted research from the smart cities and urban technology academic communities in Ithaca, NYC and beyond.

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Cornell Atkinson awards $1.4 million to new sustainability projects

Cornell Atkinson has awarded seed funding to nine interdisciplinary projects that address a range of sustainability topics.

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To reduce carbon, colleges should target purchasing, travel

Activities beyond campus – such as business air travel, student commutes and purchases like lab equipment – account for more than 60% of Cornell’s carbon emissions, according to a new analysis.

Wild tomato genome will benefit domesticated cousins

A team of researchers has assembled a reference genome for Solanum lycopersicoides, a wild relative of the cultivated tomato, and developed web-based tools to help plant researchers and breeders improve the crop.

New assessment maps emissions in New York neighborhoods near industrial areas

New research seeks to quantify traffic emissions associated with e-commerce facilities in New York City, and wood stove and fuel oil emissions in Tompkins County.

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