Sustainability Research
The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier-One research university. By investigating sustainability issues, UH continues to help the world develop new technologies and strategies to address sustainability challenges.
Sustainability research focuses on a key principle of sustainability (such as social equity or environmental stewardship); addresses a sustainability challenge (such as climate change or poverty); or furthers our understanding of the interconnectedness of societal, economic and environmental challenges.
University of Houston Coastal Center
The University of Houston Coastal Center (UHCC) is designated by the Texas legislature as the home of the Texas Institute for Coastal Prairie Research and Education and is home to a mosaic of habitats: high-quality coastal prairie, forested wetland and manmade wetlands, and coastal prairie in the process of restoration. Whose mission it is to support environmental education, research and service on the Texas coast by providing users with access to field sites, equipment and facilities. The statewide importance of the role of the UHCC was recognized in 2017 when the Texas State Legislature officially designated UHCC as the home of the Texas Institute for Coastal Prairie Research and Education.
At the core is the 100-acre Aumann Prairie, which has never been plowed, represents a slice of what used to be a vast expanse of coastal prairie habitat along the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast. It is estimated that of the 6.5 million acres of coastal prairie originally blanketing the Texas Gulf Coast, less than 1% remains. With over 364 species that you can view here.
Energy Transition Institute
The Energy Transition Institute is dedicated to helping communities, industries, and governments meet rising global energy demands through a broader, more resilient energy portfolio. We focus on practical, scalable innovations—like circularity, energy systems, and carbon management—that complement existing systems while accelerating the shift toward a more sustainable and secure energy future.
The University of Houston is developing and evaluating scalable energy systems that can meet this growing demand without straining existing resources or compromising reliability. Our work spans advanced energy storage, grid modernization, efficiency innovations, and diverse generation sources, including hydrocarbons, renewables, and next-generation fuels like hydrogen.
The Energy Transition Institute also hosts a biweekly seminar that discusses trends in the energy transition. Every other Tuesday from 12–1 PM (CT), UH faculty, students, and industry partners share insights on topics such as energy systems, the circularity, and carbon management. Be part of the conversation—whether you’re tuning in live or catching up later.
Center for Carbon Management
The Center for Carbon Management in Energy (CCME) is a UH Energy creation that will have the capability and capacity at the University of Houston to meet the lower carbon future energy transition challenges. Multi-disciplined, collaborative research from the required fields of engineering and science, business, law, regulatory and policy, as well as education for the marketplace, will be strategically aligned with our industry advisory board to address the needs of oil and gas, petrochemicals, and electric power markets.
The CCME will engage directly with these marketplace challenges to reduce carbon emissions that impact the climate and in doing so provide an accretive pathway for investment in the energy transition. We believe we are uniquely situated in Houston, aligned with our university energy advisory members, and purposely linked to global external collaborators, to impact the marketplace and provide the required solutions for the future.
UH Sustainability Research
Researchers Find ‘Significant Rates’ of Sinking Ground in Houston Suburbs
Solar Harvesting System has Potential to Generate Solar Power 24/7
Atmospheric Scientists Study Under-Researched Role of Clouds in Regulating Earth’s Temperature