Our built environment can shape our habits and choices, regulate our sleep-wake cycle, drive us toward healthy and unhealthy choices, and passively influence our health through the quality of our surroundings. The WELL Building Standard provides the opportunity to design and build with a human-centered approach, which ultimately supports the industry in comprehensively addressing human health.
Learn what happens once a project is registered to pursue WELL Certification, how the on-site WELL Commissioning works, and why recertification is important.
Speakers:
Nathan Stodola, Vice President, International WELL Building Standard
Bess Krietemeyer, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Syracuse School of Architecture, Interactive Simulations for High-Performance Building Design Brandon Andow, Ph.D. Candidate, RPI Center for Architecture Science and Ecology (CASE), Materials Research and Simulation of Graphene Oxide Thin-Films for Next-generation Multi-functional Dynamic Façades Amber Bartosh, R.A., LEED AP BD+C, Assistant Professor, Syracuse School of Architecture, Mediated Environments: Integrated and Immersive Media in Architecture Design, Representation, and Constructed Prototypes
SyracuseCoE is collaborating with Siemens to compare two different technologies for controlling the amount of daylight that enters a room: “smart” glass that can change tint via “electrochromic” technologies, and automated window blinds. The project will study the interactions between daylighting, occupant comfort, and energy used for lighting, heating, and cooling.
Researchers from Syracuse University, Siemens and SyracuseCoE will develop Continue Reading
Dr. Crumm’s PhD work at the University of Michigan led to the founding of Adaptive Materials Inc. (AMI). AMI grew to become an alternative energy market leader and after attracting more than $50 million in contracts was acquired by Ultra Electronics Inc.. Crumm’s simple, yet radical, business proposition was to develop a portable solid oxide fuel cell system that ran off of readily available fuel. Prior to founding Adaptive Materials, Crumm gained insight into electric power generation as a nuclear engineer. He earned his bachelor of science degree in nuclear engineering from Purdue University and a PhD in material science from the University of Michigan. Crumm is a highly regarded and respected speaker at many alternative energy symposiums and fuel cell conferences, is an advisor at Augment Ventures and Entrepreneur in Residence with the University of Michigan Center for Entrepreneurship.
Speaker:
Dr. Aaron Crumm – Founder, Adaptive Materials Inc.
Groundbreaking Study Conducted at SyracuseCoE Discovers Better Air Quality Improves Decision-Making by Knowledge Workers
In a pioneering study conducted at SyracuseCoE by collaborators from Harvard University, Upstate Medical University, and Syracuse University, improved indoor environmental quality was found to double scores of knowledge workers on cognitive function tests. The study was conducted in SyracuseCoE’s unique Total Indoor Environmental Quality Lab, which was configured to conduct a double-blind study of 24 office workers who experienced indoor air quality conditions found in conventional buildings, green buildings, and green buildings with enhanced ventilation.
“The Impact of Green Buildings on Cognitive Function” study found that participants’ cognitive performance scores averaged 101 percent higher in green building environments with enhanced ventilation compared to a conventional building environment.
Researchers measured cognitive function for nine functional domains, including basic, applied and focused activity levels; task orientation; crisis response; information seeking; information usage; breadth of approach; and strategy. The largest improvements in cognitive function test scores was found in the areas of crisis response, information usage and strategy.
Crisis response scores were 97 percent higher for the green environment and 131 percent higher for the green environment with enhanced ventilation and lower carbon dioxide levels compared to the conventional environment.
Information usage scores for green and enhanced green environments were 172 and 299 percent higher than in the conventional environment, respectively.
For strategy, green and enhanced green scores were 183 and 288 percent higher than the conventional environment.
A follow-up study was published last month that found that doubling the ventilation rate in typical office buildings can be reached at an estimated annual energy cost of between $14 and $40 per person, resulting in as much as a $6,500 equivalent in improved productivity per person per year. When energy-efficient technologies are utilized, the study found the energy costs to be even lower, with a minimized environmental impact of approximately 0.03 additional cars on the road per building.
Designating hazard is an essential component of chemical alternatives assessment, a process which can lead to increased safety and sustainability of consumer products used in our homes and offices. Performing rigorous hazard analysis requires the evaluation of physical/chemical properties, environmental fate, and ecological and mammalian toxicity endpoints. However, the availability of relevant and high quality experimental data for the chemicals under consideration is the exception rather than the rule. Methodologies for addressing existing data gaps for hazard assessments often include the use of estimation methods such as Quantitative Structure Activity Relationships (QSARs), analogue approaches and read across, either used alone or in combination. Through the use of recent case studies, this presentation will focus on tools developed and/or implemented by SRC, Inc. to identify safer chemicals for consumer products, inform the decision-making process, and educate stakeholders.
Speakers:
Dr. Jay Tunkel, Sr. Scientist and Principal Investigator from SRC’s Environmental Health Analysis (EHA) group. Dr.
Russell Pellegrino Jr., Technical Director of Centek Laboratories
SyracuseCoE invites proposals from current Partners to its Innovation Fund for projects up to $10,000. The Innovation Fund is supported with funding from SyracuseCoE Partners and is designed to support Partners’ efforts to overcome barriers to the commercialization of potentially transformative innovations. Projects must be aligned with commercialization of innovative products/technologies and focused on one or more of SyracuseCoE’s three core areas:
Indoor Environmental Quality and Building Energy Efficiency
Clean & Renewable Energy
Water Resources
Award Information
Type of Award: Fixed cost agreement – milestone based
Total 2015 Funds Available: $90,000
Funding Rounds in 2015: 2
Anticipated Number of Awards: Up to total of 9 awards in 2015
Maximum Award: $10,000
Project Duration: Up to nine months
Eligibility Information
Eligibility for awards is extended to all current members of the SyracuseCoE Partner Program. Proposals may include collaborations with non-Partner Program firms and academic partners; however, proposals must be submitted and led by members of the SyracuseCoE Partner Program.
Budget, Payment, and Match Requirements
Applicants must include a budget signed by an authorized company official, a template for which is provided below. Matching funds are encouraged as either cash or in-kind; while not required, the strength of a proposed match is included among selection criteria. Funding from federal, state, and foundation sources may be used to support a portion of matching funds; awards administered by SyracuseCoE may not be used as match. Applications must include a budget that clearly defines uses of funds, as well as verifiable sources of match, if included. Proposals must also include milestones for payment of requested funds.
Application Information and Timeline
Applications may be submitted online – see “Application” link at top of page – and must include an uploaded project narrative and a signed budget; template documents are provided below.
Two rounds of funding are expected in 2015, with deadlines as follow:
Round 1 deadline: April 15, 2015
Round 2 deadline: October 1, 2015
Proposals will be reviewed based on the following selection criteria:
Technical merit, based on sound engineering and/or scientific principles
Impact in SyracuseCoE areas of focus
Extent to which the proposed technology or process is innovative and has the potential to advance the state-of-the-art
Extent to which proposal moves technology toward commercialization
Expected economic outcomes, , such as potential revenue, jobs created/retained, etc.
Clearly articulated project timeline, including appropriate milestones
Justified and reasonable budget plan, including strength of proposed match, if applicable
Qualifications and strength of project team
After an initial review by staff, selected applicants will be invited to participate in a proposal pitch to a panel of judges, which may include members of the SyracuseCoE Industry Partners Council, SyracuseCoE staff and others. Funding decisions may be expected shortly thereafter.
In all cases, the review process will be conducted under the oversight of the Executive Director of SyracuseCoE with staff support.
Invoicing
Invoices will be submitted upon completion of pre-approved milestones. A progress report must accompany each invoice.
Reporting Requirements
Progress reports to be submitted with invoices will be reviewed and approved by SyracuseCoE staff prior to payment. Award recipients will be surveyed annually by SyracuseCoE staff for information on outcomes related to the project.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) has hosted the Energy Innovation Summit in Washington, D.C., for the past six years to bring together the very best minds in business, academia, and government to advance cutting-edge technologies that could fundamentally change the way we generate, use, and store energy. Having just returned from the Summit this month, R&T forum speakers will discuss SyracuseCoE’s engagement at the conference including a recap of how energy industry experts, thought leaders and decision makers are thinking about America’s energy challenges and how to move these innovations out of the lab and into the market. Additionally, Tim LaBreche will share highlights of a recent visit to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Speakers: Chetna Chianese, SyracuseCoE Research Fellow Tim LaBreche, SyracuseCoE Associate Director for Technology Commercialization Ryan Falkenstein-Smith, Research Assistants, Syracuse University Combustion and Energy Research Lab James Shomar, Founder and CEO, Solstice Power
Super Bowl victory for EDA innovation accelerator: Regional cluster shines with game-changing LED lights
This year’s Super Bowl featured an epic game on the field, a stunning halftime performance, and—high in the rafters—a pioneering new lighting system that was developed with assistance from an EDA award for regional cluster development.
The next-generation LED lights that lit Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium were developed by Ephesus Lighting, of Syracuse, NY. Ephesus developed its new lights specifically for outdoor stadium sport venues with partnership support from the Advanced Manufacturing in Thermal and Environmental Controls (AM-TEC) program. AM-TEC was awarded EDA funding under the 2012 Advanced Manufacturing Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge; it supports an emerging industry cluster in New York’s CenterState region.
Ephesus Lighting is a shining example of the AM-TEC project’s vision for fueling growth and jobs in the region. The firm’s stadium lights achieve dramatic reductions in energy and maintenance costs, and improve experiences for athletes and spectators. And they’re raising the bar for high-quality sports lighting demanded by professional and collegiate venues.
In 2010, company founders Joe and Amy Casper, created a company that envisioned translating their combined expertise in semiconductor design and production to develop new energy-efficient technologies. That vision resulted in a new company that targeted high-performance LED lighting. They tapped a broad array of resources available to start-up companies in New York State, including business incubation, research and development collaborations with area universities, and other services to develop, test and commercialize their innovative, energy efficient lighting products. In partnership with AM-TEC project partners led by the Syracuse Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems (SyracuseCoE), Ephesus Lighting demonstrated the first outdoor stadium prototype LED fixture using the SyracuseCoE headquarters facility as the testbed.
To date, Ephesus lights have been installed at more than 100 sports venues across the U.S. and Canada. At University of Phoenix Stadium, home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, 312 Ephesus fixtures replaced 753 metal-halide lamps, using 75 percent less energy and providing full illumination instantly, in contrast to the 20-minute warm-up period required by metal-halide lamps.
With the support of EDA and others, Ephesus Lighting and its collaborators in New York’s AM-TEC cluster have demonstrated the benefits of leveraging regional assets and strengths, addressing new markets, and accelerating development of innovative, game-changing products. For more information about Ephesus Lighting, visit http://ephesuslighting.com. To learn more about the AM-TEC regional cluster project, visit http://amtec.syracusecoe.org.
Central to SyracuseCoE’s mission, vision, and purpose, the SyracuseCoE Innovation Ecosystem encourages and funds collaborative projects that develop new environmental and energy systems products and services. Focusing on clean and renewable energy, indoor environmental quality, and water resources, these projects improve built and natural environments—the places in which we live, work, learn, and play. Grants are offered for targeted research, demonstration, and commercialization. In addition, SyracuseCoE outreach activities educate the public and the workforce—a crucial aspect of the green and clean technology sector.
SyracuseCoE members leverage world-class R&D facilities, including the SyracuseCoE headquarters, the Building Energy and Environmental Systems Laboratory (BEES Lab) at Syracuse University, bio-fuels facilities at SUNY-ESF, full-scale wind turbine testing operations at Clarkson University, and more.
Cool Technology: ARPA-E awards $3.2 to Syracuse University, SyracuseCoE researchers for ‘personal air-conditioning’
Syracuse University was recently awarded a $3.2 million grant from the Energy Department’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) to develop innovative new technologies that regulate temperatures for each person inside an office building, rather than heating or cooling the whole building itself.
SyracuseCoE scientists aided the project team in the development of the proposal and will be key players in the execution of the research, including bringing the technolog
y to market.
Syracuse University’s Professor H. Ezzat Khalifa will lead the team of researchers to develop a near-range micro-environmental control system. The system will provide heating and cooling via a box about the size of an old desktop computer. A high-efficiency micro vapor compression system will utilize an evaporator embedded in a phase-change material. This material will store the heating or cooling produced by the micro vapor compression system at night, releasing it as a breeze to make occupants more comfortable during the day.
“This award allows us to develop a transformative technology that could alter the way we approach heating and cooling buildings.” says Dr. Khalifa, NYSTAR Distinguished Professor, Department Chair of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Syracuse University. “Ultimately this system will create a much more affordable and energy efficient way to ensure individual occupant comfort.”
In addition to researchers at Syracuse University and SyracuseCoE, the project includes United Technologies Research Center, Air Innovations, Bush Technical LLC and Cornell University. Substantial financial contributions have also been given by Syracuse University, the partners, ESD (Empire State Development) and NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority).
Prof. Khalifa and colleagues join the country’s top scientists and engineers in advancing ARPA-E’s mission of developing transformative energy technologies that enhance the economic and energy security of the United States. ARPA-E’s Delivering Efficient Local Thermal Amenities (DELTA) program plans to provide $30 million to support 11 project teams in developing technologies that can regulate temperatures focused on a building’s occupants and not the overall building.
The team hopes to create an affordable system that can condition only the space immediately surrounding an individual user rather than all of the space in an office, saving a great deal of energy. Such an innovation could revolutionize the way offices are heated and cooled.
Professor Godlewski examined the socio-political context of these groundbreaking pieces of art and architecture during the Renaissance and their renewed importance today. Bill Chadwick discussed Carrier Corporation’s recently completed innovative heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) solution for the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel. The new system will help preserve Michelangelo’s masterpieces against deterioration caused by the increasing numbers of visitors.
Speakers: Joseph Godlewski: Assistant Professor, Syracuse University School of Architecture Bill Chadwick: PE, CEM, LEED BD+C, Sr. Building Systems Engineer for United Technologies Corp., Building & Industrial System
Research projects and opportunities related to stormwater management in Onondaga County.
Prof. David Chandler – Syracuse University College of Engineering and Computer Science Professor Dave Chandler will present ongoing research on the green infrastructure installation along East Washington Street;
Michael Lasell, PE, LEED AP BD+C – O’Brien & Gere Project Associate Mike Lasell will address the stormwater management plan developed for the SyracuseCoE Intermodal Transportation Center, soon under construction;
Khristopher Dodson – Assoc. Director, of the Center for Sustainable Community Solutions. Khris Dodson will offer an update on the Onondaga County Save the Rain green infrastructure projects, including a discussion of project goals and expectations.
The Near Westside Initiative, a not-for-profit organization housed in Syracuse University’s Office of Community Engagement and Economic Development, has been named the 2014 recipient of the Mayor Richard M. Daley Legacy Award for Global Leadership in Creating Sustainable Cities from the U.S Green Building Council (USGBC). The award was presented during the USGBC’s annual Greenbuild conference in New Orleans on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014.
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Research & Technology Forum, focused on the work of two prize-winning student teams!
Presentations by:
Montage Builders Northern Forest – a team of SUNY ESF, Onondaga Community College and Syracuse University students who won the Grand Prize in the national Challenge Home Student Design Competition, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Homebuilders Association.
Syracuse University “Orange Goes Green” team, which won First Place in the NYS Pollution Prevention Institute’s (NYSP2I) R&D Student Competition with “Green Heating: Reduce Overheating and Pollution on Campus,” a project designed to reduce waste heat in SU buildings. Team members are affiliated with the Syracuse University Industrial Assessment Center, based at the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
The session will be moderated by Todd Moss, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship & Sustainability, and Faculty Director, Sustainable Enterprise Partnership, Department of Entrepreneurship & Emerging Enterprises, Whitman School of Management, Syracuse University.
Vice President of Business Development & Global Growth, Building Efficiency, Johnson Controls, Inc.
A Framework for Intelligent Building Efficiency
Improved building efficiency lowers operating costs and improves asset reliability. Simple payback and net present value are common methods for making return on investment (ROI) decisions for building efficiency improvements. This presentation highlights 58 “building intelligence measures” applied at a reference building in Arlington, VA. Presenter Andrew DeGuire, Vice President of Business Development and Global Growth at Johnson Controls will present a financial and decision-making framework and the 58 measures that can be applied to any building in any location once it has been adjusted for building structural differences and the energy and labor costs of the location.
Speaker:
Prof. H. Ezzat Khalifa
NYSTAR Distinguished Professor of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering and founding Director of the multi-institutional STAR Center for Environmental Quality Systems at Syracuse University
Thermo-economic Assessment of Data Center Energy Efficiency Measures
Data centers are a major consumer of electricity in the US, accounting for over 2% of the total US electricity consumption, and growing in recent years at a compound annual growth rate of ~6%. Nowadays, the total cost of data center ownership is dominated by electricity costs, and wide-ranging efforts are underway to improve data center energy efficiency, including the use of detailed modeling and simulation tools to assess the relative energy efficiency, economic and environmental impacts of various energy efficiency measures. In this presentation we discuss data center energy efficiency measures, describe tools developed by SU in collaboration with IBM to assess their thermo-economic benefits, and show examples of the application of these tools.
Moderator and speaker – Hugh Henderson, CDH Energy, DHW systems Field and Lab Results
Pete Skinner, E2G Solar, Solar DHW systems
Domestic Hot Water (DHW) Systems are the second largest energy user in NYS homes. While furnaces and boiler have become much more efficient, water heaters still have relatively poor efficiency (50-60% for gas water heaters). Federal standards to rate water heaters are several decades old and are based on usage patterns that might not apply in today’s homes.
Several high efficiency water heating options are now available — from solar thermal systems and heat pumps to gas-fired tankless units and condensing storage units. Changes to the federal rating standards are also underway that will use more realistic usage patterns and change the relative performance of these different options.
This NYSERDA funded study at the SyracuseCoE is using side-by-side laboratory testing along with real-world field measurements to understand and climatic factors and usage patterns that affect the performance of these systems. The goal is to help consumers and contractors in New York State understand the best water heating options for homes.
Our discussion will include two presentations and a tour of the SyracuseCoE DHW Laboratory.
Moderator – Ian Shapiro, PE, LEED AP, Chairman, Taitem Engineering, Ithaca, NY
Caren Ruben, PE LEED AP, Mechanical Engineer, Labella Associates, Ithaca, NY
Jason Gilbert, PE, Mechanical Engineer, Binghamton University
VRF is an HVAC technology that is sweeping the world. Already the most common form of heating and cooling outside the U.S., VRF heat pumps are seeing widespread adoption for both new construction and retrofits in the U.S.
Our discussion will include presentations from three different perspectives: a design engineer, an energy engineer, and an owner’s representative.
NUAIR is a regional alliance of private industry, academic institutions and military assets and operations, working together to establish a Federal Aviation Administration-designated test site for unmanned aircraft systems in the Northeast.
speakers include:
Bob Alger, Business Development Director, SRC, Inc.
Bryan Luce, Founder of Green Highway, Syracuse, NY
Donald McKeown, Distinguished Researcher, Center for Imaging Science, Rochester Institute of Technology
The session will be moderated by Bob DelZoppo, Assistant Vice President, Strategic Technology Programs, SRC, Inc.
For more about NUAIR, click here.
For more about the UAS test site at Griffiss International Airport, click here.
*SyracuseCoE is located on the Connective Corridor. Limited parking is available in the lot accessed at 713 East Fayette Street.
Interactions of Jet Flows: From Subway Ventilation to Personal Ventilation.
Guest speakers include:
Wang (Amy) Lihui, Ph.D., Institute of AV&AC Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology
Joe Kummer, Ph.D., President, Propulsive Wing and Principal Scientist, Allred & Assoc.
Meng Kong, Ph.D. Candidate, Syracuse University
The session will be moderated by Dr. Jianshun “Jensen” Zhang, Professor and Director of the Building Energy and Environmental Systems Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science, Syracuse University.
The R&T forum series is brought to you by the SyracuseCoE Partner Program.
For more information on joining the Partner Program, click here.
SyracuseCoE’s initiative to strengthen Central New York¹s industry cluster in advanced manufacturing of thermal and environmental control products enjoyed national attention on Wednesday when U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Thomas Perez visited The Fulton Companies and SyracuseCoE.
On February 6, 2014, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) launched The Energy Efficiency Innovation Collaborative (EE-INC), a public-private collective of energy industry leaders working to improve energy efficiency in New York State buildings and accelerate economic growth in burgeoning technologies and statewide businesses.
On December 9th, SyracuseCoE facilitated a meeting of Governor Cuomo’s energy leadership team and principal stakeholders from CNY manufacturing, engineering, and design firms to discuss opportunities to accelerate the adoption of clean energy technologies in New York State through public-private partnerships. Participants examined specific market barriers and recommendations that would accelerate adoption of heat and power (CHP) systems and energy-efficient retrofits statewide.
Energy Team members in attendance included NYS Chairman of Energy and Finance and Chairman of NYSERDA, Richard Kauffman; Commissioner of NYS Public Service Commission, Gregg Sayre; Senior Advisor to the Chairman of Energy and Finance, Greg Hale; Senior Vice President of Strategic Planning for NYPA, Robert F. Lurie; NYSERDA Director of Energy Analysis, John G. Williams; and Chief of Staff to the Chairman of Energy and Finance for NYS, Kate Burson. Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud provided opening remarks.
This is the second time the energy leadership team has convened in Syracuse, following a panel discussion with SyracuseCoE Partners at the SyracuseCoE Symposium in October 2013.
COE Syracuse Center of Excellence 13th Annual Symposium 2013 Urban Reinvention and Resilience
The SyracuseCoE Annual Symposium features the best and latest innovations in energy efficiency and indoor environmental air quality, among other topics.
This year, symposium highlights included a statewide first: the three newest leaders of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s energy team appeared together for a discussion of the state’s emerging clean energy economy. Symposium attendees left with renewed optimism for collaboration and progress in key financial, regulatory and programmatic areas.
The trio—Richard Kauffman, chairman of energy and finance for New York and chairman of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA); John Rhodes, president and CEO of NYSERDA; and Audrey Zibelman, chair of the New York State Public Service Commission—was appointed over the past year by Governor Cuomo to lead his ambitious plans to scale up clean energy and enhance New York’s competitiveness.
The three are working together and with the rest of the NYS energy leadership team, on strategies and policies to expand innovation in energy to boost the state’s clean energy economy and stimulate economic activity, while ensuring an affordable and reliable energy system.
“Governor Cuomo is committed to clean energy and New York has long been a leader in clean energy, but we want to do more,” Kauffman told the symposium participants.
He encouraged the stakeholders to communicate with the state regarding existing market barriers, so they can determine what government tools may alleviate challenges and allow for private-sector forces to play a more significant role in the clean energy marketplace. “We’ve got to hear from market participants,” Kauffman said. “We want to hear what’s going on in the market—what’s working, what’s not.”
Louis Schick, a partner with NewWorld Capital Group, valued the invitation to offer ideas and help accelerate adoption of energy efficiency measures.
“It has been easy to become jaded and cynical about change and progress generally. Specifically, the gap between promise and progress in New York has traditionally been wide,” Schick said. “The state’s new top energy leaders have shown the will, courage and creativity in getting together, breaking traditional ‘fief’ boundaries and addressing stubborn challenges. I am grateful for their time, consideration and optimism.”
Another industry leader at the event, Kevin LaMontagne, chief financial officer at Fulton Companies, also found the discussion encouraging for increased collaboration between government and business leaders.
“It was wonderful to hear the team’s commitment to working together to transform energy policy in New York,” said LaMontagne. “I was happy to see the team’s receptiveness to feedback and input from Central New York’s vibrant clean tech sector.”
The dialogue and perspectives will also help inform the work of the SyracuseCoE, as it seeks to propel research, development and education in environmental and energy innovations with its partners.
“It was a great privilege to hear from Governor Cuomo’s newest energy leaders at the SyracuseCoE Symposium this year,” said Sherburne B. Abbott, vice president for Sustainability Initiatives and University Professor of Sustainability Science and Policy at Syracuse University. “We appreciated their candor and openness, and we look forward to working together to engage our partners in emerging statewide priorities and opportunities.”
During the symposium, Kauffman, Rhodes and Zibelman participated in a plenary panel moderated by Abbott on Oct. 21 at the Oncenter in downtown Syracuse. The session was sponsored by the New York Power Authority.
“Working in policy in New York is especially rewarding because it’s so quick that we’re able to turn policy ideas into real actions,” said Jill Anderson, NYPA chief of staff and director of energy policy. “You can actually see changes in our industry.”
Kauffman, Rhodes and Zibelman discussed Governor Cuomo’s vision for a new clean energy economy and such initiatives as the proposed “Green Bank” that will help attract private capital to accelerate clean energy projects.
“This state has all of the key ingredients to seize the opportunity: smart energy and environmental policies, outstanding academic institutions, tremendous R &D assets, a robust capital marketplace, big Fortune 500 companies in the market and smaller entrepreneurs entering the market,” said Rhodes, adding that the governor is committed to seizing this opportunity.
“It’s also clear more needs to be done to create an environment where commercialization of clean energy technology can flourish in this state,” Rhodes said.
The establishment of the Green Bank is helping in that area. “The most important metric for the Green Bank will be the investments that it enables in clean energy projects,” Rhodes said. “The purpose of the Green Bank is to take Green Bank funds and leverage them with funds from other entities, principally the private sector, so you get a multiplier there. And because the monies go out of the Green Bank and come back, they then can go out again.”
As chair of the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC), which regulates the state’s electric, gas, steam, telecommunications and water utilities, Zibelman addressed how she sees the role of the PSC in driving innovation and meeting demand. She noted how, as with any system, the electricity system will only work at its best when it works together and works efficiently and is aligned throughout the system.
“We’re at a point in time where we’re actually changing and fundamentally rethinking this system,” Zibelman said. That includes thinking about the customer’s needs as an active part of the system, identifying and removing barriers in market entry and investing in infrastructure.
“New York is in a fabulous position to have both national and international leadership. We certainly have the brains and we certainly have the energy—what you’re seeing is an opportunity to turn this into a true benefit to the state,” Zibelman said.
Kauffman also spoke about several principles that are driving changes in the state’s overall strategy in rethinking energy policies, including making change happen faster, encouraging innovation to achieve better value and choice for customers, leveraging ratepayer funds beyond grants and subsidies to maximize the benefit and enabling markets to work better. “We know that market forces are powerful and by harnessing them we can do more,” he said.
Ed Bogucz, executive director of SyracuseCoE, welcomed the participation of Governor Cuomo’s new energy leaders at the symposium for their first joint appearance. “We applaud their fresh ideas and their keen interest in connecting with New York firms and institutions that are creating innovations in clean energy and environmental systems,” Bogucz said.
The energy leaders brought insights that will help shape the vision for New York’s energy future. “The state is clearly on a path that is leading policy and programs nationally,” said Jim Fox, CEO and chairman of the Board of Directors of O’Brien & Gere. “Central New York’s cluster of manufacturing, design and construction firms is extremely well positioned to develop innovative enabling technologies and deploy integrated solutions here and across the country.”
The SyracuseCoE is New York State’s Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems. Its 2013 Annual Symposium, held Oct. 21-22, attracted more than 400 attendees—including industry practitioners, state and local officials, university faculty and students, and citizens—from throughout New York, more than 30 communities across the United States, and internationally.
This year’s symposium addressed “Urban Reinvention and Resilience,” including presentations on innovations to improve energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality in buildings, construction materials management, urban stormwater management using green infrastructure and community resilience through district energy systems.
TravelNerd, the travel division of consumer finance website NerdWallet, has recognized the Syracuse Center of Excellence for its work in promoting the creation of environmental and energy technologies in an article that rated Syracuse, N.Y. as one of the top destinations for green travel.
Moderated by: Doug Call, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University
William Kappel, Hydrologist, USGS Michael Madigan, Technical Director, O’Brien & Gere Sam Cosamano, President, IPD Engineering Dr. Younggy Kim, Department of Civil Engineering, McMaster University
The SyracuseCoE Center for Sustainable Community Solutions (SyracuseCoE CSCS) recently received three awards for leading the 3rd Annual Spring Greening teacher conference in April.
Optimizing Energy Efficiency in Industrial Setting Link
Moderated by: Patrick Jackson, Director of Global Energy, Corning Incorporated
Michael McCormick, P.E., C.E.M., Energy Services Manager, Burrows Paper Corporation Scott Ryan, Operations Manager-Global Energy, Corning Incorporated John Lawyer, Vice President, MACNY
Michael McCormick, P.E., C.E.M., Energy Services Manager, Burrows Paper Corporation
Join us in Syracuse at the new Gateway Center on the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry campus and at the Oncenter Conference Complex for the 11th Annual New York State Green Building Conference hosted by the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council New York Upstate Chapter and theSyracuseCoE.
Emerging Science and Application of Biomimicry Link
Moderated by:
Professor Don Carr, Syracuse University, Industrial Design
Manager Miriam Pye, NYSERDA Senior Project
David Altoff, Syracuse University Professors, Chemistry
Matthew Maye, Syracuse University Professors, Biology
Professor Don Carr, Syracuse University, Industrial Design
Manager Miriam Pye, NYSERDA Senior Project
Although indoor environmental quality experts have found ways to vastly improve the quality of individual closed office spaces, balancing indoor environmental interactions in open office space or semi-open cubicles remains an engineering challenge.
“It’s very easy to provide individualized environmental control when everyone is in a private office. It’s a big, huge engineering challenge to try to do the same thing when you’ve got a number of open work stations in the same room,” says H. Ezzat Khalifa, founding director of the multi-institutional STAR Center for Environmental Quality Systems led by Syracuse University, where he is also the NYSTAR Distinguished Professor of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering.
Finding solutions to this challenge was the impetus behind the STAR Center’s funding and support of the Willis H. Carrier Total Indoor Environmental Control (TIEQ) Lab at SyracuseCoE headquarters. The Carrier TIEQ Lab consists of two identical office spaces, each outfitted with 12 open cubicle-style workstations. In one room, there are Personalized Environmental Control Systems (PECS) in each cubicle that allow occupants to control the conditions in their own cubicle—including temperature, percentage of fresh air circulated, humidity and lighting. In the other room those factors are regulated by a central control.
“Research demonstrates that when people have the ability to control their own environment, they’re more comfortable and thus, more productive,” says Khalifa. Most of those studies, however, examine only one factor at a time, such as temperature, ventilation, or lighting. The Carrier TIEQ Lab is a one-of-a-kind research facility that allows Khalifa and other researchers to study numerous indoor environmental control parameters—and their interactions—at once.
Most office buildings are controlled in a one-size-fits-all-fashion from a central control, Khalifa explains. However, individuals have varying sensitivities to temperature. Allowing individuals to control the temperature of their own environment may provide them with greater comfort, but typically results in higher energy costs, particularly when spaces with different environmental demands are adjacent.
Khalifa, along with Alan Hedge, professor of design and environmental analysis at Cornell University, is studying how to provide individual environmental control to improve worker productivity without increasing energy consumption, and preferably, while decreasing it. “We are looking to see if people change their selections if they know the cost associated with the adjustments they make,” he says.
While the Carrier TIEQ Lab provides a wonderful controlled environment for scientific research, Khalifa is also studying how PECS stimulate productivity in a real office environment, using King + King Architects in Syracuse as a “living lab.”
“Their employees work in a large, open space, so it is a perfect environment to study to understand energy consumption and individual comfort in a real-world setting,” Khalifa says.
The firm’s renovated offices transformed a 100-year-old industrial building into an energy-efficient workspace, earning a LEED® Platinum rating from the U.S. Green Building Council.
With funding from SyracuseCoE, Khalifa and visiting professor Arsen Melikov, a leading researcher from the International Centre for Indoor Environment and Energy in Denmark, installed PECS identical to those in the Carrier TIEQ Lab at 38 workstations at King + King and are monitoring worker satisfaction over an extended period of time.
Postponed due to Hurricane Sandy, the Advanced Energy conference will now be held April 30th and May 1st. Join the SyracuseCoE for a phenomenal line-up of speakers discussing Advanced Buildings: Revolutionizing Retrofits.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Tammy Rosanio Friday, October 12, 2012 Phone: (315) 443-3433
trosanio@syracusecoe.org
SYRACUSECOE PARTNERS WIN $1.9 MILLION IN FIVE FEDERAL AWARDS TO ACCELERATE GROWTH OF CNY MANUFACTURING CLUSTER IN THERMAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SYSTEMS
SyracuseCoE today announced an initiative to accelerate growth of the Central New York industry cluster that manufactures systems to control temperature and environmental quality in a wide range of applications.
The Advanced Manufacturing for Thermal and Environmental Control Systems (AM-TECS) initiative is supported by nearly $1.9 million awarded competitively by five federal agencies. AM-TECS will be conducted by a team of seven institutions and organizations, led by Syracuse University. The team includes CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity (CenterState CEO), the Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY), NYSTAR, CNY Technology Development Organization, the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), and Onondaga Community College. The effort is supported by an additional $1.3 million in matching funds provided by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, Empire State Development, CenterState CEO, and MACNY.
The federal awards were made competitively through the 2012 Advanced Manufacturing Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge. Economic Development Administration and National Institute of Standards and Technology; the U.S. Department of Energy; and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration and Small Business Administration. The SyracuseCoE team won one of 10 projects awarded nationally from 55 applications.
“This massive federal investment is great news for Central New York and will serve as a catalyst for job creation and further private investment,” says Senator Charles E. Schumer. “I am thrilled that the Economic Development Administration and the other participating federal agencies have invested nearly $1.9 million in this program, which aims to harness Central New York’s strengths in education, technology development and high-tech manufacturing to create jobs.”
“America was built by New York’s manufacturing,” Senator Kirsten Gillibrand says. “Our manufacturers powered our economy through the 20th century and will be the key to fueling our economy in the 21st century. It’s time to see ‘Made In America’ again starting right here in New York. When we harness the full potential we have right here in Central New York, we can spark more growth in clean-tech and high- tech manufacturing by strengthening our businesses and attracting new businesses with our highly skilled, highly trained workforce, and create more family-supporting jobs right here where we need them the most.”
The AM-TECS initiative originated from the new approach to economic development established by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2011. Ten Regional Economic Development Councils (REDCs) across the state each developed strategic plans based on local strengths and opportunities. The plan developed by the CNY REDC targets strengthening of the region’s existing industry strengths, including advanced manufacturing and clean energy and environmental systems. Through a competitive review process, the CNY REDC plan was judged to be one of four “best plans” in the state, earning the state’s top award of more than $103 million for projects, including $3.3 million in investments that are leveraged in the AM- TECS project.
Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Kenneth Adam states, “We congratulate the Syracuse University-led team on this award, and we are pleased to be their partner in this endeavor, further supporting and advancing the manufacturing industry that is critical in Central New York and across the state. Governor Cuomo believes our best opportunity for the growth of the manufacturing sector lies in strategic partnerships combining the technology strengths of our universities with the production and marketing expertise of our manufacturing community. By leveraging the resources of our ESD/NYSTAR network and by providing a 10 percent state match to the federal award, we are helping provide the tools necessary for economic growth.”
Francis J. Murray Jr., president and CEO of NYSERDA, adds, “NYSERDA congratulates Syracuse University and its partner organizations on being chosen as an award recipient in the Advanced Manufacturing Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge. NYSERDA is proud to provide funding for this project given that manufacturing is the backbone of our local economies. So that this sector may expand in New York, Governor Cuomo has stressed innovation in technology working through public-private partnerships that will stimulate the economy, create jobs and train a skilled workforce.”
AM-TECS will build on Central New York’s long-standing strengths in thermal and environmental control systems by accelerating technology development, workforce training, and export opportunities for more than 30 existing small- and mid-sized manufacturing firms throughout the region. The award underscores both the collaborative strength of the lead partners and the region’s strong potential— based on its deep talent pool, knowledge centers, and vast manufacturing experience—to support the successful transition of existing companies to an advanced manufacturing cluster model.
Robert Simpson, president of CenterState CEO, states, “We have a goal of doubling this region’s exports in the next five years, diversifying our economic base, increasing private investment and creating new jobs. This grant will help us reach these goals by directly supporting export assistance to businesses as outlined in the CenterState Metropolitan Export Initiative. Critical to a successful implementation of this initiative is our ability to target and capture the compelling international growth markets for environmental systems businesses. We look forward to working with the CNY International Business Alliance and thank our partners at MACNY, the SyracuseCoE and Syracuse University for their support and collaboration in the successful application.”
“From the Erie Canal to the Syracuse Center of Excellence, Central New York has a long legacy of pioneering innovations designed to meet the needs of our community, region and world,” says Syracuse University Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor. “The significant support shown for the Advanced Manufacturing-Thermal and Environmental Central Systems Cluster Accelerator—by multiple agencies and partners—affirms both the immense wisdom of building on our long-standing historic strengths and the immense power of cross-sector engagement to drive economic prosperity.”
“The Manufacturers Association of Central New York is excited to be a part of this grant to support the thermal and environmental control systems cluster in Upstate New York,” says Randy Wolken, president of the association. “We at MACNY strongly believe that introducing new advanced manufacturing materials and processes to New York state companies in this cluster will certainly aid in accelerating the cluster’s growth and vitality.”
Robert Trachtenberg, president and CEO of the CNY Technology Development Organization, thanked the SyracuseCoE for its leadership in putting the collaborative project together, adding, “Along with our partners on the project, we will be addressing the needs and opportunities for the 30-plus small- and medium-sized enterprises involved in thermal and environmental control systems in Central New York. We will work to accelerate job creation through focused assistance, including innovation engineering growth services, introduction to emerging technologies and manufacturing processes, and continuous improvement and quality systems.”
Cornelius B. Murphy Jr., president of SUNY ESF, says of the collaboration, “SUNY ESF is proud to be part of the SyracuseCoE /Syracuse University-led AM-TECS initiative. The initiative focuses on a vital economic development opportunity within our region. SUNY ESF, along with the Manufacturers Association of Central New York and our project and industry partners, will provide an AM-TECS training and externship program, as well as a Regional Advanced Manufacturing Symposium and Career Exposition. Our goal is to foster career exploration and development that supports Central New York’s AM-TECS industry. We appreciate the leadership of SyracuseCoE/Syracuse University, our project partners, and our regional collaborators. Linking our region’s public, private, and educational resources is key to ensuring near- and long-term economic vitality.”
Onondaga Community College Interim President Margaret M. “Meg” O’Connell says, “The Small Business Development Center at Onondaga Community College has been providing assistance to small businesses in Central New York for more than 26 years. We are pleased to be a part of this project, recruiting and engaging disadvantaged start-up and existing businesses into the cluster.”
SyracuseCoE is New York State’s Center of Excellence for innovations in environmental and energy systems. SyracuseCoE engages collaborators at more than 200 companies and institutions to address global challenges in clean and renewable energy, indoor environmental quality, and water resources. Its members conduct targeted research, demonstrate new technologies, commercialize innovations, and educate the workforces. Additional information is available at www.syracusecoe.org.
SyracuseCoE today announced an initiative to accelerate growth of the Central New York industry cluster that manufactures systems to control temperature and environmental quality in a wide range of applications.
The Advanced Manufacturing for Thermal and Environmental Control Systems (AM-TECS) initiative is supported by nearly $1.9 million awarded competitively by five federal agencies. AM-TECS will be conducted by a team of seven institutions and organizations, led by Syracuse University. The team includes CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity (CenterState CEO), the Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY), NYSTAR, CNY Technology Development Organization, the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), and Onondaga Community College. The effort is supported by an additional $1.3 million in matching funds provided by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, Empire State Development, CenterState CEO, and MACNY.
The federal awards were made competitively through the 2012 Advanced Manufacturing Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge. Economic Development Administration and National Institute of Standards and Technology; the U.S. Department of Energy; and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration and Small Business Administration. The SyracuseCoE team won one of 10 projects awarded nationally from 55 applications.
“This massive federal investment is great news for Central New York and will serve as a catalyst for job creation and further private investment,” says Senator Charles E. Schumer. “I am thrilled that the Economic Development Administration and the other participating federal agencies have invested nearly $1.9 million in this program, which aims to harness Central New York’s strengths in education, technology development and high-tech manufacturing to create jobs.”
“America was built by New York’s manufacturing,” Senator Kirsten Gillibrand says. “Our manufacturers powered our economy through the 20th century and will be the key to fueling our economy in the 21st century. It’s time to see ‘Made In America’ again starting right here in New York. When we harness the full potential we have right here in Central New York, we can spark more growth in clean-tech and high- tech manufacturing by strengthening our businesses and attracting new businesses with our highly skilled, highly trained workforce, and create more family-supporting jobs right here where we need them the most.”
The AM-TECS initiative originated from the new approach to economic development established by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2011. Ten Regional Economic Development Councils (REDCs) across the state each developed strategic plans based on local strengths and opportunities. The plan developed by the CNY REDC targets strengthening of the region’s existing industry strengths, including advanced manufacturing and clean energy and environmental systems. Through a competitive review process, the CNY REDC plan was judged to be one of four “best plans” in the state, earning the state’s top award of more than $103 million for projects, including $3.3 million in investments that are leveraged in the AM- TECS project.
Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Kenneth Adam states, “We congratulate the Syracuse University-led team on this award, and we are pleased to be their partner in this endeavor, further supporting and advancing the manufacturing industry that is critical in Central New York and across the state. Governor Cuomo believes our best opportunity for the growth of the manufacturing sector lies in strategic partnerships combining the technology strengths of our universities with the production and marketing expertise of our manufacturing community. By leveraging the resources of our ESD/NYSTAR network and by providing a 10 percent state match to the federal award, we are helping provide the tools necessary for economic growth.”
Francis J. Murray Jr., president and CEO of NYSERDA, adds, “NYSERDA congratulates Syracuse University and its partner organizations on being chosen as an award recipient in the Advanced Manufacturing Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge. NYSERDA is proud to provide funding for this project given that manufacturing is the backbone of our local economies. So that this sector may expand in New York, Governor Cuomo has stressed innovation in technology working through public-private partnerships that will stimulate the economy, create jobs and train a skilled workforce.”
AM-TECS will build on Central New York’s long-standing strengths in thermal and environmental control systems by accelerating technology development, workforce training, and export opportunities for more than 30 existing small- and mid-sized manufacturing firms throughout the region. The award underscores both the collaborative strength of the lead partners and the region’s strong potential— based on its deep talent pool, knowledge centers, and vast manufacturing experience—to support the successful transition of existing companies to an advanced manufacturing cluster model.
Robert Simpson, president of CenterState CEO, states, “We have a goal of doubling this region’s exports in the next five years, diversifying our economic base, increasing private investment and creating new jobs. This grant will help us reach these goals by directly supporting export assistance to businesses as outlined in the CenterState Metropolitan Export Initiative. Critical to a successful implementation of this initiative is our ability to target and capture the compelling international growth markets for environmental systems businesses. We look forward to working with the CNY International Business Alliance and thank our partners at MACNY, the SyracuseCoE and Syracuse University for their support and collaboration in the successful application.”
“From the Erie Canal to the Syracuse Center of Excellence, Central New York has a long legacy of pioneering innovations designed to meet the needs of our community, region and world,” says Syracuse University Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor. “The significant support shown for the Advanced Manufacturing-Thermal and Environmental Central Systems Cluster Accelerator—by multiple agencies and partners—affirms both the immense wisdom of building on our long-standing historic strengths and the immense power of cross-sector engagement to drive economic prosperity.”
“The Manufacturers Association of Central New York is excited to be a part of this grant to support the thermal and environmental control systems cluster in Upstate New York,” says Randy Wolken, president of the association. “We at MACNY strongly believe that introducing new advanced manufacturing materials and processes to New York state companies in this cluster will certainly aid in accelerating the cluster’s growth and vitality.”
Robert Trachtenberg, president and CEO of the CNY Technology Development Organization, thanked the SyracuseCoE for its leadership in putting the collaborative project together, adding, “Along with our partners on the project, we will be addressing the needs and opportunities for the 30-plus small- and medium-sized enterprises involved in thermal and environmental control systems in Central New York. We will work to accelerate job creation through focused assistance, including innovation engineering growth services, introduction to emerging technologies and manufacturing processes, and continuous improvement and quality systems.”
Cornelius B. Murphy Jr., president of SUNY ESF, says of the collaboration, “SUNY ESF is proud to be part of the SyracuseCoE /Syracuse University-led AM-TECS initiative. The initiative focuses on a vital economic development opportunity within our region. SUNY ESF, along with the Manufacturers Association of Central New York and our project and industry partners, will provide an AM-TECS training and externship program, as well as a Regional Advanced Manufacturing Symposium and Career Exposition. Our goal is to foster career exploration and development that supports Central New York’s AM-TECS industry. We appreciate the leadership of SyracuseCoE/Syracuse University, our project partners, and our regional collaborators. Linking our region’s public, private, and educational resources is key to ensuring near- and long-term economic vitality.”
Onondaga Community College Interim President Margaret M. “Meg” O’Connell says, “The Small Business Development Center at Onondaga Community College has been providing assistance to small businesses in Central New York for more than 26 years. We are pleased to be a part of this project, recruiting and engaging disadvantaged start-up and existing businesses into the cluster.”
Cities looking to renovate and sustainably adapt existing buildings for mixed use face unique construction challenges, says Josh Stack, a partner in Northeast Green Building Consulting. But sometimes a little challenge can lead to brilliant outcomes.
The sustainable renovation of the vacant, 100-year-old Lincoln Supply Building in downtown Syracuse’s Near Westside earned a Platinum rating from the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® program, one of the first in the country to earn the top rating in the mid-rise, multi-use category, and the very first in New York to earn the designation outside of metropolitan New York City. The project was conducted in partnership with the Near Westside Initiative and Syracuse University’s School of Architecture.
“The project married the vision of the Near Westside Initiative with SyracuseCoE’s leadership in sustainable design and construction,” says Stack, whose firm consulted on the infrastructure, systems, and materials used on the project as well as provided LEED® for Home rater services.
Two of the major players on the project have a long history with SyracuseCoE. C&S Companies, the project engineers, is a SyracuseCoE charter member and Northeast Green Building Consulting is a frequent SyracuseCoE collaborator. “It’s a vision that couldn’t have become reality without SyracuseCoE. They make the key connections,” Stack says.
The renovation, completed during 2009 and 2010, was designed to demonstrate innovations in green technologies for energy and environmental systems, with SyracuseCoE funding the design of the green systems for the project. The 30,000 square feet of mixed-use commercial and residential spaces boasts green building technologies that include energy-efficient geothermal heating and cooling, high-performance windows and insulation systems, heat recovery ventilators for residential spaces, solar panels, and stormwater retention strategies such as a green roof and permeable pavement. The first and second floors contain office space and are currently home to the La Casita Cultural Center and Say Yes to Education. The third and fourth floors feature 10 live-work artist lofts.
“The home and office are completely different and somewhat foreign environments from each other in terms of ventilation, air sealing, and energy efficiency,” Stack says.
Accordingly, he says the LEED® mid-rise rating system is designed to allow multi-family and mixed-use buildings a way to earn LEED® certification more affordably than by pursuing the commercially focused LEED® for New Construction rating system. “The mid-rise rating system takes into account the difference between new commercial construction versus home construction,” he says. “The finished project exemplifies ideal environments for living and working in a mixed-use space,” he says.
Stack says the project’s platinum rating reflects the creative and innovative uses of the most advanced sustainable building practices today.
Collaboration to find innovative sustainable solutions is a hallmark of SyracuseCoE, perhaps best exemplified by the academic-industry cooperation to clean up Onondaga Lake. The lake that surrounds the northern part of Syracuse was long known as one of the most polluted inland lakes in America, contaminated both by industry and household pollutants coming from a regional wastewater treatment facility. In 2004, the Onondaga County Metropolitan Wastewater Treatment plant (Metro) began advanced treatment of wastewater to address some of the negative effects caused by high nutrient inputs. The water quality improved. But Syracuse University Professor Charles Driscoll, who has studied the water quality of Onondaga Lake for more than 25 years, noticed something else: the mercury levels in the lake’s fish were dropping too.
“It was an Aha! moment,” says Driscoll, a Syracuse University faculty member with an international reputation for his work on water quality issues.
Inorganic mercury in sediments can be converted to methylmercury, which can bioaccumulate in high concentrations in organisms, specifically the fish that populate the lake. “That’s why even low concentrations of mercury in water can result in very high concentrations of mercury in fish,” explains Driscoll. “The discharges of nitrate from Metro limited methylmercury production, but didn’t completely shut down the process.” A SyracuseCoE collaborative study between Syracuse University and the Upstate Freshwater Institute (UFI) was undertaken to address the seasonal and year-to-year variability in mercury in the lake resulting from the water quality improvements.
As a result, Driscoll, a UFI boardmember, began working with UFI, Honeywell and local engineering firms to devise a means to treat the lake’s mercury contamination by adding additional nitrate. “We’ve gone from theory, to getting information on how to implement this, to building devices, to installing them and applying the technology, which has never been tried elsewhere in the world,” says Driscoll.
Honeywell International is well underway in a $451 million cleanup project to remove waste and chemical contamination from the lake. The cleanup includes dredging that will continue through at least 2016. Also in a three-year pilot test, Honeywell engineers are adding calcium nitrate to the water right above the sediment/water interface. “It settles to the deepest part of the lake and essentially shuts off the production of methylmercury,” says Driscoll, who is monitoring the results with fellow researchers.
Driscoll’s research on mercury pollution was previously supported by SyracuseCoE, with a $100,000 grant in 2008 to analyze mercury pollution in Lake Ontario and surrounding watersheds. In addition, SyracuseCoE cosponsors annual scientific forums on Onondaga Lake with Syracuse University, SUNY-ESF, and the UFI. At the end of the three-year study, the New York Department of Environmental Conservation and the Environmental Protection Agency will examine the data and determine whether the operation should continue. “So far, it’s been an unbelievable success,” says Driscoll.
“It’s been a team effort, really a model for the kind of collaboration SyracuseCoE promotes.”
e2e Materials is working to provide a new environmentally sustainable model for manufacturing and boost the Upstate New York agricultural economy in the process. The company uses an exclusive technology that converts agricultural waste and byproducts into a completely bio-based composite that can be used to manufacture products from skateboard decks and automobile trunk liners to kitchen cabinetry and office furniture. This innovative biocomposite is a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to wood, petroleum-based plastics, and composites such as MDF and particleboard. Unique engineering capabilities allow the material to be processed into complex shapes, with a higher strength-to-weight ratio approaching mid-weight steel. In addition, the material is 100 percent formaldehyde-free, biodegradable, and naturally fire resistant.
The company’s proprietary biocomposites are made from soy flour and natural grass fibers such as jute and flax—crops grown everywhere in America—and require much less energy to manufacture than wood composites. The company is working with the USDA to source the grass fiber used in the biomass material regionally in Upstate New York. By using a “Regionally Integrated Manufacturing ” model designed to create economic impact within a 500-mile radius, each new manufacturing job should result in five new agricultural jobs in the region. A new manufacturing facility in Geneva, New York, is expected to employ 200 workers over the next five years.
e2e Materials began its relationship with SyracuseCoE by conducting necessary third-party testing to prove performance of the material in various applications and confirm there was no toxic off-gassing. SyracuseCoE strengthened its partnership with e2e by using its innovative material in its LEED®-Platinum headquarters building, including cabinetry for three kitchens, benches that line the hallways, and the security guard desk in the first-floor atrium.
“They saw the potential for our technology to contribute to a healthy and innovative built environment and gave us our first major purchase order,” says Clayton Poppe, vice president of engineering at e2e. “This milestone propelled us forward and has become a meaningful part of our history.”
The company won a competitively awarded SyracuseCoE Commercialization Assistance Program (CAP) award in 2010 to support its purchase of unique manufacturing equipment. SyracuseCoE gave additional support by co-exhibiting at several Greenbuild tradeshows, providing the fledgling company with exposure to potential customers.
In 2012, e2e Materials won four prestigious awards: a 2012 Best of NeoCon Gold Award, a Best of NeoCon 2012 Product Innovation Award, a 2012 ACE Award for Composites Sustainability, and a 2012 Buildings Magazine Award for Product Innovation. The company also achieved Biopreferred® status, becoming certified by the USDA as a 98-percent bio-based product. The USDA certifies and awards labels to qualifying products to increase consumer recognition of bio-based products and designates categories of bio-based products that are afforded preference by federal agencies when making purchasing decisions.
The fast-growing Ithaca-based company was launched in 2007, a spin off from technology developed during 15 years in a research lab at Cornell University. The ongoing relationship with SyracuseCoE continues to be productive and successful by helping e2e Materials develop and market its innovative building material.
The Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency (OCRRA) will recognize five businesses and not-for-profits as Recyclers of the Year 2011 during a ceremony on March 1 at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo.
The Recyclers of the year are: Legrand/Pass & Seymour in the business category; Roberts Office Furniture Concepts Inc. in the manufacturing category; roji tea lounge in the food service category; Syracuse Center of Excellence in the education category and Upstate Medical University in the medical category.
Each will receive a plaque made of 100 percent recycled glass and wood harvested from fallen Colorado pine trees.
For more information about OCRRA, visit www.ocrra.org.
Looking to learn ways to “green” your classroom, lessons, and school? Then don’t miss the second annual “Spring Greening” teacher training and workshop at the Syracuse Center of Excellence. Hosted by the SyracuseCoE Center for Sustainable Community Solutions, Partners for Education & Business, GreeningUSA, OCRRA and Onondaga Community College, this event will highlight STEM innovations in classrooms, share resources and ideas, and much more!
– Space is limited
– Registration is complimentary
– Funding available for substitutes if needed
– Refreshments throughout the day
Agenda
8:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Keynote, Sessions and Exhibits
12:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Optional STEM Bus Tour w/lunch & stipend
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Optional tour of SyracuseCoE LEED Platinum HQ (for non-bus tour participants)
STEM Session tracks are “Waste to Resource” and “Going Green: Teacher to Teacher Exchange.” Sessions include:
– Composting in the Classroom
– Schoolwide Go Green Plans
– Funding Opportunities and Resources
– Subject Area Roundtable Discussions
Melissa Green runs the Flow Visualization Laboratory at SyracuseCoE, where her research focuses on vortex dynamics and bio-inspired propulsion. The lab itself—a water tunnel that allows researchers to visualize the complex dynamics of fluid flows by using sheets of laser light to illuminate dyes injected in a water tunnel—is located in the lab wing at SyracuseCoE headquarters.
It’s a natural fit, says Green, an SU assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, who anticipates collaborations with researchers from local industry and within Syracuse University. Currently, Green is using the lab to investigate the ways fish and aquatic mammals manage their locomotion to be extremely efficient. “The goal is to determine whether there are any simple physics that we can exploit for man-made applications,” she says.
It’s known as energy harvesting. Similar to a windmill that takes the kinetic energy of the wind already blowing and transforms it to work or store, fish swimming upstream will often “rest’’ behind pilings in a river, slaloming in its wake, says Green. “In this scenario, the fish is using the energy imparted to the wake by the shedding of vortices to minimize the energy it has to input,” she explains. Underwater vehicles might take advantage of the same types of opportunities to be more efficient.
Finding and exploiting sources of energy that occur more naturally has obvious connections to the mission of SyracuseCoE, but Green finds additional benefits in her lab location. “By locating the water channel facility in a LEED® Platinum building like SyracuseCoE headquarters, we can learn something about how to do even fundamental fluid dynamics research in a more sustainable way—by possibly sourcing the working fluid from rainwater and by reusing the water in the building after experiments,” she says. “That isn’t always a consideration in laboratories at other universities.”
Although SyracuseCoE headquarters is itself a “living lab,” with test facilities located throughout, the building ’s lab wing is outfitted with state-of-the-art laboratories and testbeds that focus on combustion and thermal power systems, biofuel production, flow visualization, photovaltaic power, window power, and smart building technologies.
The facilities were outfitted through a $3-million grant from New York State, awarded as part of a Regional Economic Development Council competition. University researchers and industry partners use these world-class facilities as a platform to discover and test the next generation of energy-efficient innovations for buildings and the environment.
Although each have specific focus areas, the juxtaposition of these labs and their researchers may spark new inquiry, or at least new ways of looking at old problems. “Interacting on a more regular basis with local industry and faculty from different labs at SyracuseCoE lets me see natural overlaps with the research being done in civil and environmental engineering, biomedical and chemical engineering, and by other faculty in mechanical and aerospace engineering,” says Green. “The proximity to the other research groups and interactions with local industry will be an invaluable source of inspiration and collaboration.”
