Former T3 Student Leads Energy Efficiency Learning Across Alaska

Former T3 Alaska student and current ACEP CyberPod student employee, Adrian Burke, is helping bring energy awareness and hands-on learning to students across the state. During the Fall 2025 semester, Burke collaborated with George Reising, ACEP Curriculum Lead, to develop a new Energy Efficiency & Weatherization (EE&W) curriculum, complete with digital badges and custom learning kits.

The kits—equipped with weatherization supplies and infrared cameras for detecting heat loss—were distributed to T3 Alaska sites including the Innovation Hubs of Kotzebue, Galena, and Valdez. Burke introduced the curriculum to student leaders during the September 30th Innovation Club meeting, where it was met with enthusiasm and curiosity. These student leaders will now work with their local coaches to deliver the program to T3 students across their communities.

Through the EE&W program, students will explore heat transfer concepts and ways to increase energy efficiency through do-it-yourself improvements. Students will then partner with local organizations to identify energy waste in buildings and implement real weatherization improvements including window films, weather stripping, and LED lighting. Some sites are already eager to expand beyond initial projects, setting their sights on insulating schools, community centers, and other key buildings to reduce energy loss.

As they complete the program, students will earn their Energy Efficiency and Weatherization Level I Badge, strengthening their technical skills and building their capacity as Alaska’s future innovators and community resilience leaders.