Energy Week: Field Trip Ticket

Field Trip 1: University of Utah Tour

• Law School Sustainability Tour
  • Description: Discover how the University of Utah’s S.J. Quinney College of Law sets the standard for sustainable design in higher education. On this guided tour, visitors will explore the building’s innovative green features, including its energy-efficient systems, abundant natural lighting, green roof, water conservation technologies, and use of locally sourced and recycled materials. Learn how the building supports both environmental responsibility and the well-being of its occupants through smart design and advanced building performance.
  • Duration: 60 minutes
• NSF WIRED Global Center: Hardware-in-the-loop Power Grid Simulation Testbed at Utah Smart Energy Laboratory
  • Description: Explore the front lines of grid resilience and energy innovation with a tour of the hardware-in-the-loop power grid simulation testbed at the Utah Smart Energy Laboratory (U-Smart) at the University of Utah. The testbed at U-Smart enables testing, verifying and de-risking the operation of cutting-edge energy technology on a realistic power grid setup in a lab environment. The U-Smart also hosts the NSF WIRED Center, a bi-national, interdisciplinary research hub leading efforts to strengthen the Western Interconnected Grid, serving nearly 80 million people across 11 U.S. states and 2 Canadian provinces. Visitors will also gain insight into how this cutting-edge center uses modeling, simulation, and cross-border collaboration to anticipate vulnerabilities and build long-term resilience into one of North America's most critical infrastructure systems.
  • Duration: 30 minutes
• Utah Nuclear Reactor Lab
  • Description: For 50 years, the Utah Nuclear Reactor Lab has proven to be a vital research instrument for the state and nation. Research areas include nuclear energy, medicine, defense, and radiation modeling. This work has supported the defense and medical industry in the state and the US Department of Energy. Furthermore, our reactor is an excellent training platform for teaching the next generation of engineers and technicians reactor operations and radiation safety. The reactor is known as a TRIGA (training, research, isotope production, General Atomics) reactor and is licensed for 100 kW of thermal power. While this power isn't used to make electricity, the reactor core has an intense radiation environment used for the research applications mentioned previously.
  • Duration:  30 minutes
  • Requirements: Closed toed shoes
• Gardner Commons: Geothermal 
  • Description: Discover how the University of Utah is using innovative, low-carbon technology to power one of its most iconic buildings. This tour will explore the geothermal exchange system that heats and cools the Carolyn and Kem Gardner Commons building, an award-winning example of sustainable campus infrastructure.  
  • Duration: 60 minutes

Field Trip 2: Local Energy Exploration Tour

• Advanced Energy Systems Research Facility
• Description: Discover how the University of Utah is advancing clean, efficient, and resilient energy technologies at the state-of-the-art Advanced Energy Systems Research Facility. This leading laboratory supports interdisciplinary research in power systems, combustion science, carbon management, hydrogen, energy storage, and grid integration.
• Attendees will get a firsthand look at experimental testbeds, flexible energy platforms, and collaborative projects with national labs and industry partners. The tour highlights ongoing efforts to reduce emissions, boost efficiency, and accelerate the transition to decarbonized energy systems.
• Duration: 60 minutes
• Torus Inc.
• Description: Get a firsthand look at cutting-edge clean energy technology in action with a tour of Torus Inc., a Utah-based startup revolutionizing the way we manage and distribute power.
• Duration: 60 minutes
• Requirements: PPE will be provided on site
• Utah Clean Energy, Climate Innovation Center
• Description: Celebrate Energy Week with an Exclusive Tour of the Climate Innovation Center
• We invite you to a behind-the-scenes tour of one of the nation’s most high-performance, energy-efficient buildings, and a local epicenter for climate solutions.
• As part of Energy Week, this exclusive experience offers a unique opportunity to explore cutting-edge innovations in climate-friendly design and construction. Meet members of the Utah Clean Energy team, and see the systems that make this building a national model for zero-energy construction.
• Duration: 60 minutes