Students at the University of Texas are helping one of the world’s most remote regions: the Himalayas.

A team from UT Austin is leading Project Ladakh, a student-run initiative that involves installing solar water heaters in high-altitude villages in Ladakh, India, where freezing temperatures make daily life especially challenging.

“Project Ladakh is an initiative started by myself, my brother and two of my high school friends back in 2019,” co-creator Sumeir Radhu said. “We have installed 192 units so far and have an estimated carbon offset of 7,200 tons.”

The project replaces the need for burning firewood by using solar panels to heat water, giving families a clean and dependable source of warmth. Radhu said the impact goes far beyond comfort.

“Hot water is a necessity to bathe with

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