Ashley Lamb has made plenty of ski runs in her life. Lately, she’s been thinking less about the slopes and more about whether the snow itself will keep showing up for years to come. 

“Seeing the climate shift firsthand, especially with something like skiing that’s so dependent on the weather, just makes me even more determined to end emissions,” she said.

That determination traces back to her five years in the U.S. General Services Administration, where she saw how much energy buildings need just to function. That pushed her into energy efficiency work, eventually becoming a regional energy program specialist helping public and private organizations reach their climate goals. 

When it came to her next move, staying in public service was a top priority. UNLV's Rebel Climate Action Plan (CAP) goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2057 caught her attention.

“I found that having a role where I’m serving the community is something I really value,” she added. “UNLV was a perfect match.”

She started as the campus energy manager in February, stepping into a role that had been vacant for five years. “There’s a lot of catching up to do, but I like a challenge,” she said.

A Las Vegas native and two-time UNLV graduate with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in biomedical engineering, she already knew the campus from her days as a tutor and graduate assistant. 

One of Lamb’s roles is to oversee the university’s energy usage across HVAC, lighting, natural gas, electricity, and water. She tracks utility consumption and looks for places to cut usage. She also researches incentives like the NV Energy rebate program that recently returned more than $3,000 for an LED lighting upgrade project in the Paul McDermott Physical Education complex. 

Her job also includes leading renewable energy and electrification strategies across campus. “I want UNLV to be the pinnacle of energy conservation and efficiency,” she said. “As a R1 institution, that should go hand in hand.”

She works closely with her Facilities Management colleagues, the Sustainability Task Force, and the College of Engineering. The electricians, plumbers, landscapers, and professors know the systems best. “They’re the ones that are going to get their hands on the project, so their feedback is really valuable to me. I lean on their expertise to make more informed decisions for the campus.”

Coming back to UNLV to promote energy awareness and sustainability is full circle for her. "I'm excited to make an impact on campus and work with all stakeholders to make that happen," she said. 

For Earth Day, she encourages the campus community to take action to reduce their carbon footprint, whether it’s refilling bottles through Rebels Refill, recycling smarter, or carpooling. If her love of skiing has shown her anything, it’s that climate change is already here.