By Steve Rizer
Research and development into new, ultra-efficient HVAC systems, enhanced foam thermal insulation, and equipment for modeling energy in buildings received a boost last week when the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) revealed its intention to invest about $14 million in R&D for these and a dozen other technologies that the agency believes will save significant amounts of energy in commercial buildings and other structures.
Among the entities receiving funding are the following:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley, Calif.) with California Energy Commission (Sacramento) -- The project aims to develop a hybrid energy modeling method that combines physics-based simulations with in-situ measured temperature data to create a more robust model for retrofit analysis.
Sandia National Laboratories (Livermore, Calif.) with Creative Thermal Solutions (Urbana, Ill.) -- In this project, scientists are striving to develop an ultra-efficient air conditioning and heating system based on an air-bearing rotary heat exchanger for building-scale HVAC systems.
Alcoa Inc. (Alcoa Center, Pa.) with Adhesive Systems Inc. (Frankfort, Ill.), DIAB Americas (DeSoto, Texas), and Ellsworth Adhesives (Germantown, Wis.) -- This project focuses on an enhanced foam thermal insulation for commercial window systems that is placed between the inner and outer frames of the window to prevent temperature transfer through the frame and condensation on the inside frame. The final product is expected to enable cost-neutral manufacturing of highly-insulating windows.
The ConstructionPro Network member version of this article includes information about the other 12 projects receiving funding.
