The field of Green Technology seeks to develop and promote methods, products, processes, and infrastructure systems that increase sustainability and resilience of communities.

Our Mission

The mission of the Caribbean Green Technology Center of the University of the Virgin Islands is to develop, promote and help implement the use of innovative green technologies to improve the social development of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the well-being of all the Territory’s communities. The CGTC will achieve its goals by promoting the sustainable use of natural resources, understanding and adapting to the impacts of climate change, and creating products, processes and methods that are relevant to Caribbean islands.

The Caribbean Green Technology Center has four areas of focus:

Energy

CGTC is a hub for all things energy, especially in the fields of renewable energy and energy conservation.

Research Topics: Perceptions and uptake of renewable energy technologies; low-cost renewable energy technology options for residential homes

Policy Topics: Renewable energy financing; energy production and emergency management; energy efficiency and renewable energy incentives.

Outreach Topics: Energy conservation; Renewable energy production and energy policy; climate and environmental justice

Sustainable Materials Management

Sustainable material use is critical for the future of the islands and their ecology. CGTC is investigating how to reduce the amount of trash going to the landfills and in our waters.

Research Topics: Waste characterization; solid waste management; incentives for entrepreneurs in recycling and reuse technologies

Policy Topics: Create incentives for waste reduction and recycling

Outreach Topics: Solid waste life cycle; recycling; ecological impacts of solid waste management

Water and Food Security

Water is abundant, but useable water is scarce. CGTC is dedicated to promote sustainable water management to increase resilience

Research Topics: Improved understanding of rainwater harvesting and effectiveness of water conservation efforts; improved understanding of hydrology and groundwater processes; impacts of humans and climate change on groundwater quality

Outreach Topics: Water conservation; basics of hydrology processes; impacts of climate change on hydrology and hydraulics; ecosystem services

Disaster Risk Reduction

We depend on infrastructure systems to provide critical services. Increasing infrastructure resilience to ensure that we can thrive in times of major disruption is critical to CGTC mission

Research Topics: Infrastructure systems resilience; green infrastructure for risk reduction; coastal processes

Education Topics: Resilience concepts and application to Small Island Developing States (SIDS); hazards and risk reduction; ecosystem services; infrastructure systems

Policy Topics: Design guidelines; natural resource management and risk reduction

Outreach Topics: Best practices for community and household risk prevention and reduction; infrastructure systems; ecosystem services