Earth Day 2026
Earth Day 2026, observed April 22, focuses on Our Power, Our Planet–highlighting the everyday choices and local solutions that shape our environment. University of Colorado Boulder experts are available to discuss clean energy, climate impacts and sustainability solutions.
Clean energy and the power grid
Kyri Baker is an assistant professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering and a fellow of the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI). She can discuss:
- Wildfires’ risks to the power grid,
- AI and energy use,
- How buildings interact with the power grid.
Read more: As AI explosion threatens progress on climate change, these researchers are seeking solutions.
Gregor Henze is a professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering and a RASEI fellow. He can discuss:
- Energy-saving benefits of heat pumps,
- How to use waste heat from commercial buildings like data centers to heat homes.
Read more: Smart, cool and recycled: 5 ways tomorrow’s buildings could be easier on the planet.
Renewable energy: wind and solar
Lucy Pao is a professor in the Department of Electrical, Computer, and Energy Engineering and a RASEI fellow. She can discuss:
- On- and offshore wind power generation,
- Designing hurricane-resilient wind turbines.
Read more: 5 ways CU Boulder researchers are working to address climate change
Mike McGehee is a professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and a RASEI fellow. He can discuss:
- Next-generation solar cell materials,
- Solar power generation advances,
- Dynamic windows with adjustable tint that can block sunlight and avoid overheating the room.
Read more: Researchers take major step toward developing next-generation solar cells.
Nature based and urban climate solutions
Advyth Ramachandran is a PhD student at the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research. He can discuss:
- Environmental benefits of trees in urban green spaces,
- How plants contribute to the ecosystem.
Climate, water and adaptation
Rajagopalan Balaji is a professor of civil, environmental, and architectural engineering and CIRES fellow. He can discuss:
- Lessons from the rise and fall of past societies responding to climate variations,
- Climate variability vs. human actions on water resources in the southwestern United States; including the Colorado River.
Imtiaz Rangwala is a senior research scientist at CIRES and lead climate scientist at the North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center (NC CASC). He can discuss:
- Climate extremes and changing water balance,
- Using climate data to support natural resource management and climate adaptation.
Recent context: Alarmingly low snowpack and changing climate rhythms (The Conversation)
Climate business and human behavior
Jeff York is a professor of entrepreneurship at the Leeds School of Business. He can discuss:
- Where investment is flowing in climate tech, from renewables to data centers and next-generation power sources,
- How AI is speeding up climate innovation and making it easier to start a business.
Read more: Why climate action is one of today’s biggest business opportunities