Energy and the Environment: Design and Innovation (2025-2026)
Meeting growing global energy demand while reducing environmental impacts requires new technologies, improved infrastructure and innovative system design. This project team explored practical solutions to energy challenges by designing and evaluating new technologies, systems and operational improvements relevant to both campus infrastructure and broader sustainability efforts.
Students worked in interdisciplinary subteams to develop applied engineering and energy solutions. Several projects focused on improving the efficiency, safety and sustainability of Duke University’s campus energy infrastructure. These included evaluating heat exchanger performance in the Wilkinson Building as part of a transition from steam to hot water systems; designing an automated drainage system for oil tanks at the West Campus steam plant; and developing mitigation strategies to reduce water accumulation and slip hazards at Duke Chiller Plant #2. Another subteam examined how data center design choices affect sustainability and time-to-power deployment, producing a framework to help decision-makers balance environmental performance with operational needs.
In addition to campus-focused projects, one subteam explored integrated solar-hydrogen systems for emissions-free cooking, examining how renewable electricity and hydrogen production could be combined to provide clean cooking energy.
Across projects, students assessed trade-offs among technical design choices, environmental benefits, safety considerations and economic feasibility.
Timing
Fall 2025 – Spring 2026
Team Outputs
Optimizing Data Center Design for Sustainability and Speed to Power (Poster presentation at the Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Showcase, April 15, 2026)
West Campus Steam Plant Oil Tank Drainage Automation (Poster presentation at the Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Showcase, April 15, 2026)
Steam-to-Hot Water Transition: Evaluating Wilkinson Building Heat Exchangers (Poster presentation at the Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Showcase, April 15, 2026)
Mitigation of Water Accumulation and Slip Hazards at Chiller Plant #2 (Poster presentation at the Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Showcase, April 15, 2026)
Integrated Solar-Hydrogen Systems for Emissions-Free Cooking (Poster presentation at the Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Showcase, April 15, 2026)
See earlier related team, Energy and the Environment: Design and Innovation (2024-2025)