The 2024-2025 projects are:
1. Carbon Dioxide to Methanol Conversion for Business Needs – Prof. Gino Giri, Rachel Fellman (M.S. Data Science) with Enchant Energy
One of the most exciting areas of research is turning carbon dioxide (CO2), a major greenhouse gas, into a useful product. Giri’s project focuses on converting CO2 into methanol, a chemical used in a variety of industries, including plastics and fuel. This innovation could help address two key issues: reducing CO2 emissions and providing valuable materials for industries. This project aims to provide a pathway to a more sustainable chemical industry. Like other efforts to decarbonize, it involves harnessing CO2 for practical uses, reducing its impact on the atmosphere.
2. Biobased Plasticizers for Low-Carbon Concrete – Prof. Mohamed Ismail, Nicole Zapertova (Chemical Engineering) with Air Products
Building construction is an area with a significant carbon footprint. Concrete is the most widely used material in construction, but the production of cement, a key ingredient, releases large amounts of CO2. Ismail’s project aims to replace traditional plasticizers—chemical additives used to improve concrete's workability—with biobased alternatives. These new plasticizers help reduce the carbon impact of concrete, enabling the creation of structures that are not only more efficient but also more environmentally friendly. The use of biomaterials in construction will help decarbonize the industry.
3. Scaling Reforestation Efforts for Decarbonization Goals – Prof. Mark White, Leah Germain (Environmental Science) with GreenTrees
Forests play a critical role in absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere, making reforestation an essential tool for tackling climate change. White’s project focuses on scaling up reforestation efforts, particularly in Virginia and the Southeast United States. By addressing the challenges of speed and scalability, this project works to restore and expand forests more effectively. Reforestation is one of the most natural methods of capturing carbon, and when combined with innovations in other industries like energy storage and sustainable materials, it forms part of an integrated strategy for decarbonization.
4. Manufacturing Mass Timber – Prof. Katie MacDonald and Prof. Kyle Schumann, Harris Agnew (Architecture) and Amanda Nordwall (Architecture) with Softwood Lumber Board
Another innovative solution to reducing carbon emissions in the construction industry is the use of mass timber, a sustainable alternative to traditional steel and concrete. This project, led by MacDonald and Schumann, explores the potential of robotic sawmilling technology in producing engineered softwood timber products. Mass timber is a renewable material that stores carbon -trees grow and can be used to build durable, low-carbon structures. This project contributes to sustainable building practices and supports a circular economy, where materials are reused and the environmental impact is minimized.
5. Energy Storage Market and Business Ecosystem – Prof. Gary Koening, Masa Murry (Chemical Engineering) with BayWa r.e. Americas
Koening will work with student Masa Murry on energy storage, a critical component of the renewable energy transition. Solar and wind power are abundant but intermittent, meaning energy storage systems are needed to ensure a steady supply of power. By identifying opportunities and pathways for battery recycling and repurposing, this project aims to reduce waste and support a sustainable energy ecosystem. It enables a more efficient use of renewable energy, which in turn supports the decarbonization of sectors like construction and manufacturing.
6. Affordable Low-Carbon Housing: Navigating Carbon, Risk, and Durability – Prof. Jeana Ripple, Josephine Blount (Architecture) with Arlington Affordable Housing Partnership
The final project in the 2024-2025 Decarbonization Corps explores ways to make affordable housing more sustainable and environmentally friendly. The focus of the project is on using tax-credit financing to help fund the construction of housing that is not only affordable but also durable and low in carbon emissions. By examining innovative approaches to building materials and construction methods, the project aims to ensure that affordable homes are built to last while also reducing their environmental impact, making them healthier for both residents and the planet.
Decarbonizing the Planet Through the Corps
Although each of these projects tackles different aspects of sustainability, they are all part of a larger effort to reduce carbon emissions, decarbonize industries, and promote sustainable practices. From converting CO2 into valuable products to advancing energy storage technologies, each project contributes to a cleaner, more sustainable world. By combining innovations in materials science, renewable energy, construction, and reforestation, they form a web of solutions that will help mitigate climate change.
The Environmental Institute’s Decarbonization Corps represents a collective effort to create a more sustainable world by addressing the root causes of climate change and finding solutions that can be scaled up to benefit both businesses and the planet.
As Murry said, “Decarbonization isn’t just a goal—it’s about turning ambition into action and making sustainability the norm."
