University of Central Florida (UCF) has been awarded more than $800,000 to support advanced energy-efficient building technology
projects and the development of training programs for commercial building equipment technicians, building operators and energy auditors, the Department of Energy announced on Friday.
The projects selected today will help make the nation’s buildings more energy efficient and cost-effective. They will also support training programs for specialists to service and operate new and existing buildings, to develop and deploy best practices resulting in fewer greenhouse gas emissions, and to establish a green workforce with technical expertise to reduce energy costs for consumers.
“These projects will help the United States lead the world in advancing energy-efficient technologies,” US Energy Secretary Steven Chu said. “Energy-efficient commercial buildings will help our country cut its carbon emissions and energy costs while the training programs will upgrade the skills of the current workforce and attract the next generation to careers in the emerging clean-energy economy.”
The nation’s 114 million households and more than 74 million square feet of commercial floor space account for approximately 40 percent of U.S. primary energy consumption, as well as 39 percent of carbon dioxide, 18 percent of nitrogen oxides, and 55 percent of sulfur dioxide emissions. These projects will help lower the energy demands and emissions of commercial buildings and promote a specialized, energy-efficient buildings workforce.
The UCF projects selected are:
University of Central Florida (Orlando, Florida) – $552,338
This project will provide a detailed computer model for a Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) AC system in the EnergyPlus™ building energy simulation tool. This project aims to fully understand the complex interactions of VRF AC systems from an HVAC system perspective, and investigate the interactions of this HVAC system type within a real world building environment. Detailed laboratory testing of this advanced HVAC system will provide invaluable performance information which does not currently exist in the form required for proper analysis.
University of Central Florida (Orlando, Florida) – $256,461
The University of Central Florida is seeking to develop the best residential HVAC condenser technology currently available on the market by retro-fitting the unit with both a high efficiency fan system and an evaporative pre-cooler. The system will be adapted for high performance condensers using variable frequency drives and rotary compressors to achieve superior efficiency. Previous tests of a high efficiency fan and diffuser stage developed by researchers at the Florida Solar Energy Center have shown to reduce overall condenser power by 4%. Evaporative pre-cooling is known to improve efficiency.
Project award listing:
Advanced Building Control Strategies, Communications and Information Technologies for Net-Zero Energy Buildings: 12 selections
Organization
City, State
DOE Funding
Total Project Value
University of California
Berkeley, California
$1,987,674
$2,363,148
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California
$1,987,025
TBD
United Technologies Research Center
East Hartford, Connecticut
$1,866,627
$2,333,284
United Technologies Research Center
East Hartford, Connecticut
$1,998,766
$2,498,457
Emerson Electric Company
St. Louis, Missouri
$1,650,838
$2,110,965
National Semiconductor Corporation
Annapolis Junction, Maryland 20710-1118
$1,998,125
$4,297,045
Honeywell International, Inc.
Golden Valley, Minnesota
$1,828,261
$2,285,326
Siemens Corporate Research
Princeton, New Jersey
$1,418,847
$1,773,574
Philips Electronics North America Corporation
Briarcliff Manor, New York
$2,192,713
$2,740,892
Verified Energy, LLC
Rochester, New York
$1,568,957
$2,562,781
Johnson Controls, Inc.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
$2,000,000
$3,211,800
Johnson Controls, Inc.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
$2,000,000
$3,317,734
Analysis, Design and Technical Tools: 5 selections
University of Central Florida
Orlando, Florida
$552,338
$690,428
Cornell University
Ithaca, New York
$1,660,468
TBD
Syracuse University
Syracuse, New York
$560,296
$702,354
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington
$1,196,580
$1,317,616
Eaton Corporation
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
$2,000,000
$2,500,000
Building Envelope and Windows: 14 selections
Soladigm, Inc.
Milpitas, California
$3,467,541
$5,779,236
Southwall Technologies, Inc.
Palo Alto, California
$1,429,326
$1,786,656
Applied Materials, Inc.
Santa Clara, California
$1,999,515
$3,999,330
EverSealed Windows, Inc.
Evergreen, Colorado
$2,169,327
$2,521,257
Dow Chemical Company
Midland, Michigan
$2,955,156
$5,910,312
Dow Corning Corporation
Midland, Michigan
$1,241,120
$1,551,399
Pleotint, LLC
West Olive, Michigan
$402,547
$805,095
SAGE Electrochromics, Inc.
Faribault, Minnesota
$1,633,301
$2,041,627
3M Company
St. Paul, Minnesota
$1,966,611
$3,575,657
Syntroleum Corporation
Tulsa, Oklahoma
$1,009,300
$1,261,600
Traco Delaware, Inc.
Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania
$1,317,819
$2,635,638
Quanta Technologies, Inc.
Malvern, Pennsylvania
$853,962
$1,912,537
Industrial Science & Technology Network, Inc.
York, Pennsylvania
$2,005,139
$2,709,647
CPFilms, Inc.
Fieldale, Virginia
$356,591
$564,982
Residential and Commercial HVAC, and Crosscutting Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Research: 10 selections
University of Alaska
Fairbanks, Arkansas
$617,583
$771,988
PAX Streamline, Inc.
Novato, California
$2,000,000
$3,689,397
United Technologies Research Center
East Hartford, Connecticut
$1,998,439
$2,498,049
Chemtura Corporation
Middlebury, Connecticut
$1,452,140
$1,930,540
University of Central Florida
Orlando, Florida
$256,461
$320,576
Creative Thermal Solutions, Inc.
Urbana, Illinois
$1,010,611
$1,263,268
Purdue University
West Lafayette, Indiana
$1,331,435
$1,606,435
TIAX, LLC
Cambridge, Massachusetts
$760,383
$950,478
General Electric
Niskayuna, New York
$1,471,291
$1,961,723
University of Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
$246,249
$326,927
Water Heating, Residential and Commercial Appliances and Miscellaneous Electric Loads: 4 selections
TIAX, LLC
Cambridge, Massachusetts
$954,931
$1,193,662
Whirlpool Corporation
Benton Harbor, Michigan
$2,042,700
$3,963,600
Porticos, Inc.
Morrisville, North Carolina
$1,682,532
$2,118,427
Stone Mountain Technologies, Inc.
Unicoi, Tennessee
$1,353,083
$1,756,184
Training Program Development for Commercial Buildings Efficiency Experts
To achieve the full potential of highly energy-efficient buildings, the United States needs commercial building experts who know how to properly run and tune building heating and cooling systems. The combination of efficient operations and advanced design will improve the internal building environment, including energy use, comfort, safety, and environmental impact.
The 13 projects selected today to receive up to $7.6 million to develop training programs for commercial building equipment technicians, building operators, and energy commissioning agents and auditors will leverage nearly $1.5 million in private industry cost share, for a total project value of nearly $9.1 million.
The training projects selected include:
Organization
City, State
DOE Funding
Total Project Value
Building Equipment Technicians: 4 Selections
International Union of Operating Engineers
Washington, D.C.
$748,744
$748,744
Gas Technology Institute
Des Plaines, Illinois
$448,405
$473,405
Texas A&M University
College Station, Texas
$749,037
$749,037
Northwest Energy Efficiency Council
Seattle, Washington
$549,169
$927,300
Building Operators: 4 Selections
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
$589,843
$589,843
The Research Foundation of the City College of New York
New York, New York
$422,528
$472,528
University of Turabo
Gurabo, Puerto Rico
$335,745
$335,745
University of Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
$934,712
$934,712
Building Energy Commissioning Agents/Auditors: 5 Selections
Association of Energy Engineers
Atlanta, Georgia
$462,000
$462,000
University of Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
$405,741
$405,741
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Newark, New Jersey
$468,495
$468,495
Portland Energy Conservation, Inc.
Portland, Oregon
$749,153
$1,573,189
Milwaukee Area Technical College
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
$740,364
$960,364
Source: West Orlando News, UCF Awarded $800,000 for Energy-Efficient Technology and the US Department of Energy.