Explore Energy House
Explore Energy House is Stanford's first STEM-based theme house. It is a vibrant inclusive residential community and living laboratory that expands energy and sustainability education through interdisciplinary dialogue, exploration, and action. A place/home where people passionate about making a difference can investigate and address the connections between energy, sustainability, and climate change.
Explore Energy House, housed in Potter (beginning AY '24-25), is a four-class house open to any undergraduate student (including transfers), regardless of major, who has a strong commitment to actively exploring any aspect of the energy field, including but not limited to technology, finance, history, social science, equity and justice, and/or art.
Potter is located on the beautiful western edge of campus, steps away from the educational farm, tennis courts, driving range, golf course and Red Barn. Right outside the house is a large field and picnic area with barbecues, basketball courts and a sand volleyball court. Lake Lagunita is just across the lawn, and one block down the road you'll find Arrillaga Outdoor Education and Recreation Center (AOERC), home to the recreational swimming pool, climbing gym, indoor basketball courts, a weight room and fitness center, and outdoor center.
It is not expected that students come in with domain knowledge, but rather that they have a shared desire to engage each other as we explore a wide range of energy ecosystems. Explore Energy House hosts events, workshops, alumni seminars, student-initiated and led workshops, and more.
Check out this Overview of Explore Energy House based on the experiences in Year 1. Learn even more through the weekly Explore Energy Seminar (CEE 208, ENERGY 108, ENERGY 208) facilitated by the house Resident Fellow, Holmes Hummel. Check out the amazing syllabus. Open to residents and non-residents alike!
At Explore Energy, we are passionate about energy AND about centering the values of joy, hope, curiosity, exploration, and inclusion. Explore Energy is a home for students who are invested in relationship and community building and providing a place of encouragement and belonging for each other.
Explore Energy House is associated with the Explore Energy program under the Precourt Institute for Energy and draws on diverse resources to explore the vast world of energy topics as we connect our residents with existing energy related programs and new opportunities across Stanford’s seven schools — including the new Doerr School of Sustainability.