Work with the tools of Net Impact Central to lead sustainability projects on campus!  Members interested in environmental projects work with the tools of Net Impact Central and GW’s Sustainability Initiative to lead sustainability projects on campus. Gain practical environmental and energy conservation skills through your involvement in these projects.

Cleantech U

The GW Net Impact chapter has received a grant to develop an on-campus hub to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in the clean technology sector (see GW Net Impact receives Cleantech U Award).  A group of GW Net Impact members, representing a cross-disciplinary team of graduate students in business, public policy, engineering, and international affairs, will oversee the creation of this unique venture.  Working closely with Cleantech U, a 401(c) non-profit organization, GW will access its own bright spots and organize a series of educational events around cleantech entrepreneurship.

Please contact Jeremy Dommu if you would like to get involved in Cleantech U, and continue to check our Events page as Cleantech U events are organized.  For more information on Cleantech U, please visit www.cleantechu.org.

Cleantech U Consulting Practicum Course Offered During Spring 2011

GW Net Impact is excited to announce a unique course offering for Spring 2011, called the GW CleanTech U Consulting Practicum.  Full details of the course can be found here.

The Business Response to Climate Change (BRCC)

GW Net Impact, in partnership with the GW Energy Group, organized the Business Response to Climate Change 3.0: The Evolving Energy Profile.  The Business Response to Climate Change is a student-run, student-organized conference that explores how forward thinking businesses have innovated and created opportunity from the climate change challenge and shaped tomorrow’s energy strategies.  DC entrepreneurs, consultants, policy experts, corporate officials and non-profit leaders take part in the event to challenge the economic, political, and social status quo and to offer a vision for a renewable and sustainable future. GW Net Impact co-hosted the third annual conference February 24, 2012.

The 1st year focused on Climate Change, the 2nd year on Clean Technology, 3rd year on Energy. Please contact impact@gwu.edu if you would like to get involved in this next year’s conference, and continue to check our Events page as meeting are organized. For more information on this years’s event, please visit www.thebusinessresponse.com.

Green Roof

In 2008 and 2009, GW Net Impact members successfully campaigned to install a green roof on the Elliot School of International Affairs (See Greening GW’s Roofs).  These student champions led the project through siting, approval, and funding to the ultimate installation and maintenance.  Green Roofs help add to campaign sustainability by absorbing rainwater, providing insulation, lowering urban air temperature, and decreasing building electricity consumption.

GW Climate Action Plan

The George Washington University has launched a Climate Action Plan with a goal of becoming carbon neutral by the year 2040, and reducing on-site carbon emissions from its buildings, transportation, and energy use by 40% by 2025.  GW Net Impact members worked with the GW Office of Sustainability to develop this plan, and now it is the responsibility of current and future Net Impact members to help the University achieve its goals.  GW Net Impact members can help by identifying opportunities in energy, transportation, carbon offsets to reduce energy consumption and combat global warming.

For more information on any of GW Net Impact’s Environmental and Sustainability Initiatives, please contact Scott Weiss.