The Center for Energy and the Built Environment (CEBE) is a part of Washington & Jefferson College (W&J), a private liberal arts institution located in southwestern Pennsylvania. Established in 2012 during the region’s shale gas boom, the Center (formerly known as the Center for Energy Policy and Management) was originally created to help communities better understand the rapidly evolving energy landscape. Today, CEBE builds on that foundation with a broader focus on how energy systems intersect with the infrastructure, buildings, and community spaces that shape everyday life.

​

CEBE advances practical, research-informed solutions at the intersection of energy, infrastructure, and community development. Our work spans critical issues such as resilient power systems, broadband deployment, stormwater management, transportation networks, building design and performance, and sustainable redevelopment. We examine how policy, planning, finance, and design influence the way communities grow and adapt — and how thoughtful investment in the built environment can strengthen economic vitality while reducing environmental impacts.