Energy & Climate
April–July 2026
Weeks 1-3 (Problem Submission to Pod Formation)
The Energy and Climate build cycle kicked off with a moderated panel discussion at the the Upskilling Summit on April 14, 2026.
Over the course of 3 weeks, 23 problem statements were submitted, 4 problem areas were prioritized.
The Energy and Climate Pods are:
Carbon Footprint (Individuals and organizations want to understand the carbon footprint of their digital lives, but the information is fragmented, technical, and designed for engineers, not for people who just want to know what having a video call, scrolling Instagram, or generating an image on ChatGPT are actually costing the plane.)
Clean Energy (Many households and community organizations want to adopt clean-energy solutions, but they face a confusing mix of programs, eligibility rules, incentives, and financing options. This project aims to develop a guided navigator that makes it easier to find relevant clean-energy resources, understand available support, and take action more confidently)
Recycling (Recycling is confusing)
Sustainable Travel (Consumers want to travel sustainably, but the tourism ecosystem makes high-impact choices easier, cheaper, and more rewarding than low-impact ones)
Anyone can join. You do not need to be a technical expert. You just need curiosity, commitment, and a willingness to learn with others.
The build cycle is supported by weekly workshops led by Labs’ Mentors who support Upskillers and the broader community in building design thinking, technical (prompt, vibe coding), and personal brand (build out loud, stortytelling) skills. Once confirmed, all workshops are posted on our Luma calendar: https://luma.com/theupskillinglabs
Weeks 4-8 (Pod Research and Experimentation)
Meet the Pods on May 12
On May 12, 2026, the 4 Pods presented their problem areas at MLK Memorial Library.
Meet the Pods was the first opportunity for Upskillers participating in this build cycle to share their background and what motivates them to explore their chosen problem area and Pod(s).
Read the recap here.
Hackathon and Pod Sprint on May 16
On May 16, 2026, The Upskilling Labs hosted a Hackathon and Pod Sprint, This day-long event featuree two tracks:
Pod sprint: Participants spend the day collaborating in Pods to explore a shared problem from multiple perspectives, identify promising opportunities, select one idea to pursue, build a simple prototype, and develop a plan to test it with real users.
Newcomer skills building: A beginner-friendly space open to the public, where newcomers learn key tools like AI prompting and rapid prototyping. You can apply these skills to your own ideas, or join a Pod to test prototypes and design.
Read the recap and access resources and presentations here.
Weeks 9-12 (Prototype Building and Iteration)
Meet the Projects on June 9
On June 9, 2026, the Project teams will present their solution proposals at MLK Memorial Library.
At Meet the Projects, Upskillers will introduce their project teams and describe the prototypes they intend to build.
Register for Meet the Projects: https://luma.com/7gdvgw57
Upskilling Summit
Upskilling Summit on July 14
On July 14, 2016, the project teams will present their prototypes via an Energy and Climate Showcase. Afterward, the Civics & Elections build cycle kick-off.
Register for the the Upskilling Summit: Energy and Climate Showcase: https://luma.com/ye23l1an
FAQ
Do I need a technical background?
No. Some projects may be technical, but many are not. Good teams need researchers, organizers, communicators, builders, and people who can ask sharp questions.
Do I need to attend everything?
No. Open Labs is designed for real life. The goal is meaningful participation, not perfect attendance.
What if I’m new to energy or climate topics?
That is completely fine. This cycle is built for mixed experience levels.
What if I already work in this field?
Great. You can deepen your thinking, meet collaborators, and help others level up while building new ideas.
