This year’s winning companies are , , and .

Each awardee will receive $10,000 to support product development and technological innovation. The companies were selected from a competitive pool of applicants who pitched their projects to a panel of external reviewers. Partner companies were invited to submit proposals aligned with SyracuseCoE’s key focus areas of indoor environmental quality, clean and renewable energy and water resources. The selected projects are:

Hydronic Shell Technologies: “Optimization of Hydrobox Terminal Units”

In this project, Hydronic Shell Technologies will work with its fabrication partners to further develop the HydroBox, a proprietary terminal unit that is key to the hydronic shell system. The funding will be utilized towards overall optimization of the HydroBox design, including air filtration, throw and distribution as well as development of the anchoring and support of the HydroBox to Hydronic Shell’s facade system.

M3 Innovation: “Autonomous Optimization of Energy Usage through IoT Wireless Control System”

This project involves the development and demonstration of Autonomous Optimization Energy Usage through an IoT Wireless Lighting Control System that utilizes a secure IoT platform at 915 MHz and enables long-range communication to remote sensor nodes. The system autonomously adjusts energy consumption, monitors power conditions and integrates with existing infrastructure to minimize energy usage and provide real-time data analysis.

ThermoVerse: “Smart Insulation Material System (SIMs)”

The SIMs project deploys ThermoVerse’s innovative smart insulation drop-ceiling panels in a quarter-scale test bed to reduce HVAC energy consumption by 40% or greater, without compromising the thermal comfort of building occupants. This work forms part of a larger project on grid-interactive smart building envelopes funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building Technologies Office (BTO) and the American-Made Lab MATCH Prize.

tomPhyzx: “Validation, Visualization and Optimization of Air Flow Analysis in Digital Twins of Hospital and Exam Rooms to Reduce Hospital-Acquired Infections with Minimal Energy Impact”

This project will extend initial Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) studies conducted through SyracuseCoE’s EPIC Buildings program to validate and improve air flow models in Upstate Medical Simulation Center’s single-patient hospital room and a medical exam room. The goal is to reduce hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) while minimizing energy consumption.

The external reviewers who evaluated applicant pitches included Marco Adolph of TROX; Scott MacBain of Carrier Corp.; Cindy Oehmigen of the Manufacturers Association of Central New York; Kate Oja of the Workforce Development Institute; and Dan Rickman of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

“The quality and creativity of these project proposals speaks to the strength of the innovation ecosystem that SyracuseCoE fosters,” says MacBain, director of compression module engineering at Carrier Corp, and chair of SyracuseCoE’s Industry Partners Council.

“SyracuseCoE is uniquely positioned to connect startups with academic experts,” says SyracuseCoE Executive Director Jianshun “Jensen” Zhang. “Through partnerships with Syracuse University faculty and students, these Innovation Fund projects will advance energy-efficient technologies and intelligent systems for human health, comfort, resilience and sustainability.”

Created in 2014, the has invested more than $640,000 in more than 60 projects, many of which are based in New York State. Participating companies have reported more than 264 jobs created and over $49,000,000 in additional public and private funding leveraged from the Innovation Fund projects.

All current members of the are eligible to apply to the Innovation Fund. To join the Partner Program or learn more, contact Tammy Rosanio, associate director of partner programs, at tlrosani@syr.edu.

From left: Professors Bing Dong, Jackie Anderson, Ian Shapiro and Jensen Zhang (Photo by Alex Dunbar)

The University has received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to create new Building Training and Assessment Center (BTAC) to train undergraduate and graduate engineering students and build a clean energy workforce. The SU-BTAC, aligned with the vision of the DOE BTAC program, will educate and provide hands-on training for engineering students to perform assessments focused on reducing the energy burden for commercial and institutional buildings with a focus on disadvantaged communities.

The SU-BTAC will be housed at the (SyracuseCoE), New York State’s Center of Excellence in Environmental Energy Systems which engages more than 200 private companies, organizations and academic institutions to create new products and services in indoor environmental quality, clean and renewable energy, and water resource management.

With SyracuseCoE, the SU-BTAC will create relationships and company screening opportunities to connect commercial and institutional buildings with existing programs in the region relating to unions, apprenticeships, trade organizations, community programs and others.

“I see the SU-BTAC as an expansion of the Syracuse University Industrial Assessment Center (SU-IAC), now SU-ITAC, and as a great experiential learning opportunity for our students. Not only are we able to help commercial and institutional buildings with reducing their energy burden, but we are also able to teach and mentor the next generation of energy engineers,” says , director of IAC and associate teaching professor in mechanical and aerospace engineering.

SU-BTAC will be led by faculty from Syracuse University and supported by faculty from the City University of New York. The center will be co-directed by Professor , with involvement from professors and .

The SyracuseCoE Faculty Fellows program supports and honors faculty members who demonstrate a strong commitment to interdisciplinary research and scholarship in the areas of energy, environmental quality and sustainable design, with additional support available for projects engaging New York state-based companies. These projects were selected from a pool of faculty proposals submitted during a funding solicitation issued by SyracuseCoE earlier this spring. Since 2015, over $1 million has been awarded to advance research and development projects led by SyracuseCoE Faculty Fellows.

“We are excited to include these exceptional faculty members in SyracuseCoE’s growing network,” says SyracuseCoE Executive Director , professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering in the College of Engineering amd Computer Science. “Their diverse expertise across disciplines and, in many instances, collaboration with local entrepreneurs will be critical in supporting our mission of promoting innovative solutions for human health, global energy and environmental challenges.”

“This is an excellent program for energy and environmental research and development,” says , associate dean for research in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. “The support from SyracuseCoE addresses a critical gap in aligning the technical needs of regional and national companies with the expertise of faculty and students at Syracuse University.”

Lindi Quackenbush, interim vice president for research at SUNY ESF, says, “SUNY ESF is a longstanding partner institution of SyracuseCoE, and the SyracuseCoE Faculty Fellows program provides important support for SUNY ESF faculty, often working in collaboration with regional companies and communities, to develop and expand their research capabilities and expertise while addressing global challenges.”

2024 Faculty Fellow awards include:��

• Bing Dong, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Syracuse University, “Smart Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERVs) for Schools”
• Scott Erdman, associate professor of biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Syracuse University, “Metal Doped Fungal Biomass as Material for Energy Storage Devices”
• Sevgi Erdogan, associate professor, School of Information Studies, Syracuse University, “Smart Cities Research Network Development for Sustainable and Resilient Communities”
• Jennifer Goff, assistant professor of chemistry, SUNY ESF, “Characterization of Bimetallic Nanoparticles for Usage as Air Filter Antibacterials”
• Mohammad Uzzal Hossain, assistant professor of sustainable resources management, SUNY ESF, “Revitalizing Local Waste Material in Low Carbon Construction Materials Through Materials Circularity for Decarbonizing the Built Environments”
• Tong Lin, postdoctoral research associate, Building Energy and Environmental Systems Laboratory, Syracuse University, “Enhanced Cooling Fan Design Coupled with Advanced Mixed-Flow Fan Rotor for Improved Efficiency and Compactness”
• Ericka Redmond, assistant professor of chemical engineering, SUNY ESF, “Innovative Nano-Sawdust Composites for Sustainable Thermal Insulation”
• Yilei Shi, associate teaching professor of civil and environmental engineering and undergraduate civil engineering program director, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Syracuse University, “A Pilot Study on Simulated Hygrothermal Behavior of a Novel Sustainable Roof System for Green Buildings”
• Endong Wang, associate professor of sustainable construction, SUNY ESF, “Facilitating Market Penetration of Sustainable Building Retrofitting Through Persuasive Technology”
• Yeqing Wang, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, College of Engineering amd Computer Science, Syracuse University, “Renewable and MOF-Coated Highly Porous Delignified Wood Composite for Gas Separation”
• Weiwei Zheng, associate professor of chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, Syracuse University, “Solid Oxide Fuel Cells for Emission Control Application”

The awards were made possible by funding to support SyracuseCoE activities, awarded by Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR).

One of 13 New York State Centers of Excellence, SyracuseCoE strategically brings industry partners together with researchers and students in a thriving culture of collaboration and innovation, ultimately creating new businesses and jobs, strengthening regional and state economies. SyracuseCoE supports growth and innovation through companies and researchers. Since 2002, more than 200 firms and institutions have been engaged in SyracuseCoE collaborative projects, in addition to more than 75 faculty in Central New York. For more information, .

Story by Kai Volcy

Xheneta Sopjani (left), Emeka Ossai (center) and Natasha Brao are among the recipients of the Spring 2024 Orange Innovation Fund grant.

Syracuse University Libraries is accepting fall 2024 applications for the grant now through Friday, Sept. 27, at 5 p.m. Interested applicants should plan to attend one of the information and proposal/grant writing workshops on Sept. 10, 11 or 12.

The Orange Innovation Fund supports student research initiatives emerging from campus innovation programs. The grant ‘concept to commercialization’ fund is designed to help move graduate and undergraduate student research or scholarly projects from ideation to proof of concept to commercialization. Initial funding from the program came from a gift to the Libraries from Raj-Ann Rekhi Gill ’98, a member of the University Board of Trustees.

Grants up to $5,000 per award will be made, with a total of up to $50,000 per academic year based on the merit of applications.

The program is administered through Syracuse University Libraries, in collaboration with the University’s research and commercialization programs such as the�� (SOURCE), the��,��, ,��, the��, the����at Syracuse,��,��, the����(NYSTAR designated Center for Advanced Technology) and the��. Applicants can also come directly through research classes, labs or independent study programs across the University.

Student applicants must identify specific tangible needs related to the product, service, technology or creative work they are developing. Grants will support defined projects over a clear timeframe with identified outcomes that will help move a research project or innovative venture toward proof of concept toward commercialization.

A prerequisite to applying is attendance at one of the proposal writing workshops being offered by Linda Dickerson Hartsock, advisor, strategic initiatives Syracuse University Libraries, and former founding director of the Blackstone LaunchPad. Students should attend one of the following workshops to create a successful application:

• Tuesday, September 10, from 3 to 4 p.m. in Bird Library
• Wednesday, September 11, from 3 to 4 p.m. in Couri Hatchery, Whitman Room 116
• Thursday, September 12, from 3 to 4 p.m. Hybrid in Bird Library or via

Dickerson Hartsock is also available to help coach applicants through the process and can be scheduled for sessions on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons by emailing ldhart01@syr.edu.

Applications are due Friday, September 27, by 5 p.m. to Syracuse University Libraries. For a link to the application or to register for a workshop, please e-mail orangeinnovation@syr.edu to indicate your interest in the program.

Following a cross-campus committee review process, announcements and award letters will be made in October.

Nine student teams were the

Designed to catalyze new, externally sponsored research at Syracuse University and its partner organizations, the Faculty Fellows program can help advance economic and workforce development for New York state businesses. Since 2015, the program has supported 63 researchers with 96 awards, totaling over $1 million in project funding.

Building America works closely with industry, academia and community-based organizations to advance commercial building and residential housing performance solutions. Following a request for proposals from DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), awards were granted to nine teams of experts from around the country to develop, scale and implement solutions that advance energy efficiency in residential buildings.

The “Reducing Applied Losses in Heat Pumps” project is led by Principal Investigator , a professor of practice in mechanical and aerospace engineering and the associate director of building science and community programs. “Our focus will be on reducing what we call applied energy losses in heat pumps,” says Shapiro. “We believe that we can substantially reduce energy use just by helping people make better choices in installation and operation. If this hypothesis is correct, it will help people in affordable housing reduce energy costs, reduce carbon emissions, and reduce the impact of electrification on the electric grid.”

This project will focus on improving efficiencies in air-source heat pumps by reducing applied losses. With SyracuseCoE as the team lead, project stakeholders also include the ��(ECS), the�� (AEA) based in New York City, and�� based in Ithaca, New York. This retrofit solutions team will receive $1 million in funding over five years.

Professor Ian Shapiro doing a baseline site visit of a heat pump installation at a residential home with two PhD students. (Left to right: Ji Zhou, Ian Shapiro, Wenfeng Huang, and Stan Linhorst)

In addition to Shapiro, affiliated faculty will include Professors �����Ի���. Zhang is a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at ECS and the executive director of SyracuseCoE. Dong is an associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at ECS and SyracuseCoE’s associate director of Grid-Interactive Buildings. The team will leverage local partnerships and access to SyracuseCoE’s to refine heat pump technology and operation and expand their application in underserved communities. “The DOE Building America Program has profoundly impacted the advancement of housing technologies and practices for new construction. SyracuseCoE is proud to host and support the project with state-of-the-art facilities and contribute to improving energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality through effective retrofitting solutions for existing buildings,” says Zhang.

Each of the nine selected awardees is given a period of one to five years to scale and implement their proposed retrofit solution appropriately. A is available from DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

Open to members of the , the Innovation Fund offers awards of up to $10,000 to companies working to advance innovations in indoor environmental quality, clean and renewable energy�����Ի���water resources. The awards for this program are funded through SyracuseCoE Partner Program member company contributions.

This year’s winning projects are:

• , Utica, NY: $10,000 to build a database and extraction tool for monitoring water quality in areas at risk of harmful algal blooms, making it easier to obtain reliable testing results quickly.
• , Ithaca, NY: $10,000 to support Fast Site Survey^TM, an AI-powered SaaS product that captures atomic-level equipment data to help customers estimate end of useful life and identify inefficient equipment.
• , Syracuse, NY: $10,000 to advance the development of a stadium lighting module that uses laser diodes in place of LED lighting for use in extended throw��applications, while improving the speed and reliability of optical communications.
• , Syracuse, NY: $10,000 to assist in the manufacturing and installation of the HydroPod XL, a retrofit system that provides heating, cooling, domestic hot water production and balanced ventilation, at a pilot NYSERDA housing site in Phoenix, NY.

“These projects are a win-win for Central New York,” says Jianshun “Jensen” Zhang, SyracuseCoE executive director. “Through the support of the SyracuseCoE Innovation Fund and its Partner Program community, these four companies will advance technical innovations and create economic opportunities that address pressing environmental and energy efficiency challenges.”

Each applicant pitched their project proposal to a group of reviewers. This review panel evaluated each project on the principles of sound engineering, innovation potential, feasibility and expected economic outcomes.

SyracuseCoE extends our sincere appreciation to this round’s review panel, including Linda Dickerson Hartsock of Syracuse University, Hugh Henderson of Owahgena Consulting, Kara Jones of CenterState CEO and The Tech Garden, Scott MacBain of Carrier Corp. and Christopher Neville of Upstate Medical University.

Since the program’s inception, SyracuseCoE has supported over 60 Innovation Fund projects, totaling nearly $640,000 in award funding. To learn more about the SyracuseCoE Partner Program or upcoming Innovation Fund opportunities, visit our page or contact Tammy Rosanio at��tlrosani@syr.edu.

Hydronic Shell Technologies will implement a patented building technology that uses prefabricated, modular panels to retrofit multifamily buildings. This high-efficiency system is designed to improve indoor air quality and lower residents’ energy bills.

Photo courtesy of Hydronic Shell Technologies

Based in New York City, Hydronic Shell Technologies is a member of SyracuseCoE’s Partner Program, a network of startups and established companies working on indoor environmental quality, renewable energy and other green technologies. Hydronic Shell Technologies is also an active industry collaborator in SyracuseCoE’s , which is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and executed in partnership with CenterState CEO.

“Syracuse was the birthplace of the modern HVAC industry in the early 20th century, and the culture of innovation still thrives here,” says David Goldstein, founder and CEO of Hydronic Shell Technologies. “SyracuseCoE and Syracuse University have been essential partners in helping us reach this point, and we’re thrilled to work with them and other local partners to showcase a transformative new approach to retrofitting buildings, achieving deep emissions reductions while addressing the urgent quality of life issues prevalent in affordable housing communities throughout the country.”

Hydronic Shell Technologies will work in collaboration with SyracuseCoE and the University, as well as other project partners that include two SyracuseCoE Partner Program members: and . The project will be implemented at a seven-story Syracuse Housing Authority residential building located at 418 Fabius St. on the city’s Near West Side.

As New York State’s Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems, SyracuseCoE is a hub for cutting-edge research and serves as a test bed for products that deliver clean energy solutions. Over the past twenty years, SyracuseCoE has engaged more than 200 firms and organizations in collaborative projects, as well as over 75 faculty members across Syracuse University and partner institutions.

“We are very excited to support the efforts of Hydronic Shell Technologies,” says Syracuse COE Executive Director , professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. “David and his team have designed a unique product that will make our community’s public housing stock more energy-efficient and livable.”

“We are thrilled to welcome these outstanding faculty members to the SyracuseCoE community as Faculty Fellows,” says Jianshun “Jensen” Zhang, executive director of SyracuseCoE and professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. “Their interdisciplinary expertise and, in several cases, work with area entrepreneurs will be invaluable in advancing our mission to support the development of innovative solutions to human health, global energy and environmental challenges.”��

“The SyracuseCoE Faculty Fellows program plays a critical role in advancing interdisciplinary research and scholarship in the areas of energy, environmental quality and sustainable design,” says John Stella, vice president of research at SUNY-ESF. “SUNY-ESF faculty have been supported with multiple Faculty Fellows projects, which target innovative solutions to global environmental and energy challenges.”��

SUNY Oswego is a long-time academic partner of SyracuseCoE. “We appreciate the support the Faculty Fellows program offers our faculty,” says Mary C. Toale, officer in charge at SUNY Oswego. “The program brings together scholars and industry from a range of disciplines across the Central New York region to address critical environmental and energy challenges facing our communities, and we are proud to support the important work being done by this year’s cohort of Faculty Fellows.” ��

2023 Faculty Fellow Awards

• Elizabeth Carter, assistant professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Syracuse University, “Operational Monitoring of Urban Flooding: IoT Integration for Flood Viz”
• Ian Hosein, assistant professor of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Syracuse University, “A Commercial Calcium-Sulfur Battery for Low-Cost, Sustainable Stationary Energy Storage”��
• Jeongmin Ahn, associate professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Syracuse University, “Development of a Gel Polymer Electrolyte Battery for use in Extreme Environments”������
• Jiajue Chai, assistant professor, Department of Chemistry, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, “Characterizing HONO uptake and production potential on prototype indoor surfaces”
• Mohammad Islam, department chair and associate professor, Department of Physics, SUNY Oswego, “Synthesis of Silicon Nanoparticles–Recycled Activated Carbon Composites as Anode Material for Next-Generation Lithium-Ion Batteries”
• Quinn Qiao, professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Syracuse University, “Higher Safety and Larger Energy Density Solid State Batteries for Electric Vehicles and Off-Grid Applications”��
• Sara Eftekharnejad, assistant professor of Electrical and Computer Science, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Syracuse University, “Development of a 120 Volt Heat Pump Water Heater Testbed“
• Shalabh Maroo, graduate program director and associate professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Syracuse University, “Laser Diode Thermal Management (LDTM) Module”��
• Weiwei Zheng, associate professor, Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, Syracuse University, “Functional Low-Dimensional Nanocrystals for Selective Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction”����

The awards were made possible by funding to support SyracuseCoE activities, awarded by Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR).����

Story was written by Kai A. Volcy ’23, intern for SyracuseCoE Communications.��

Chen

In their active leadership roles, Chen and MacBain will play a key role in advancing the mission of , a pioneering research and innovation center dedicated to fostering academic and industrial collaboration for sustainable development and economic growth in indoor and urban environmental quality, clean and renewable energy and water resources. Their expertise and vision will be instrumental in advancing SyracuseCoE’s collaborative initiatives.

Chen is executive director of engineering for Carrier Advanced Technology at Carrier Corporation and is responsible for the company’s centralized technology groups globally. She has held various leadership positions in research and development, engineering and product management at Carrier Corporation, a global leader in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and solutions. She holds an MBA from Syracuse University, a master of science in mechanical engineering from Clarkson University and a master of science in digital signal processing in geophysics from Northwestern University in China. Chen has been awarded 16 patents in her fields of expertise.

MacBain

MacBain is director, Global Compression and Motors/Aero-Acoustics and Vibration Engineering at Carrier Corporation and responsible for the development of compression, air management, and sound and vibration technologies for Carrier products worldwide. He has over 28 years of experience in the HVAC industry. Scott holds a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from Syracuse University and a master of science in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

As co-chairs of the SyracuseCoE Industry Partners Council, Chen and MacBain will provide strategic guidance and support to SyracuseCoE’s mission of advancing sustainable technology and practices through collaborative research, education, and outreach. The Industry Partners Council is a select group of industry leaders and experts who advise SyracuseCoE on emerging trends, technologies, and market opportunities, and help connect SyracuseCoE’s academic and research expertise with industry needs and challenges.

“We are thrilled to welcome Yu Chen and Scott MacBain as the new co-chairs of the SyracuseCoE Industry Partners Council,” says , SyracuseCoE executive director and professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at Syracuse University. “Their extensive knowledge, experience and passion for sustainability and innovation make them ideal leaders to help guide SyracuseCoE’s efforts in addressing pressing environmental and energy challenges facing our region, nation and the world.”

“I am honored to serve as co-chair of the SyracuseCoE Industry Partners Council,” says Chen. “I look forward to working with Scott and the rest of the council members to promote the development and adoption of clean and sustainable energy technologies that will benefit our community, human health and well-being, and the planet.”

“Carrier is committed to advancing sustainable solutions that improve indoor environmental quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” says MacBain. “I am excited to collaborate with SyracuseCoE and its partners to drive innovation, education and economic development in Central New York and beyond.”

Syracuse University and SyracuseCoE remain very grateful for the leadership of Neil Webb, director of growth and strategy Americas for Ramboll, for his service as chair of the SyracuseCoE Industry Partners Council over the past several years. “We look forward to his continued participation and guidance, as well as partnership with Ramboll, a global engineering, architecture and consultancy company with leading capabilities in developing net-zero energy buildings, reducing carbon emissions and transition to renewable energy,” says Zhang.

If you’ve been on the market for a new home, properties with a natural gas-powered stove were probably promoted as especially valuable. How Americans heat and cook in their homes is facing a major potential energy shift as more states explore natural gas and other fossil fuel bans.

Ian Shapiro

Ian M. Shapiro, an award-winning engineer and author, is the new associate director of Building Science and Community Programs with . He will serve as the leader for the new SyracuseCoE Building Assessment Center, and will also begin teaching in the fall semester as professor of practice at the ��in its Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

Shapiro, who is a leading expert on building electrification, recently spoke with about the building industry’s readiness to electrify.

He answers six questions below about the future of fossil-fuel-free buildings, and is available for interview.

Q: For years, the gas-powered stove was often featured as an attractive selling point for homeowners. Break it down for us – is my gas-powered cooktop, oven or furnace making my home unhealthy?�� �� ��

A: Yes, in several different ways. Many people die each year from carbon monoxide poisoning, and many more are hospitalized, per the��.��This is not hypothetical, I have served as an expert witness for a family that was hospitalized with extreme symptoms of illness, due to a malfunctioning gas furnace.�� Many of us will remember the tennis champion Vitas Gerulaitis who was killed by carbon monoxide poisoning. There are other risks, including gas explosions, fires, and more, contributing to many more deaths, per the�� (NFPA).�� A variety of other pollutants also come from the combustion of fossil fuels, including particulates, oxides of nitrogen, and more, contributing to variety of other health problems.�� There are also burn safety risks, especially for children, seniors, and the disabled.

Q: New York state has become the first state to ban natural gas stoves and furnaces in new buildings starting in 2026. What is your take on this development?����

A: This is a great development and shows New York to be a leader in the fight for safety, protecting people from unnecessary fire/explosion/carbon-monoxide/burn accidents and deaths, and eliminating the carbon emissions that place our planet at such great risk.

Q: Can you talk about the larger environmental impact of gas-powered appliances, especially in residential buildings?������

A: The carbon emissions from these fossil fuels are a leading cause of climate change, and the existential risk it poses to all of us.����

Q: What are some of the best alternatives to gas powered stoves and furnaces?����

A: Chefs are increasingly being won over by high-efficiency electric induction cookstoves, according to the��NY Times.�� These cook extremely quickly and are very safe (cool to the touch). Standard electric stoves are another well-proven option. If a homeowner wants to keep the option of gas-cooked food, and does not care about the environment, gas grills are always an option.

Q: If I already have this sort of appliance in my home, are there steps I can take to improve the indoor air quality?

A: An exhaust fan or hood above a stove will reduce indoor pollutants but will not eliminate risk from explosion or fires.

Q: As a building scientist, what are you paying most attention to or think is not being discussed enough in the conversation about gas-powered items in our homes?��

A: The risk of accidents (fires, burns, explosions, carbon monoxide poisoning, and other fatal risks), quite aside from the existential risk to the planet.��These risks of accidents are getting very little coverage. The focus of the debate has mistakenly been cooking convenience versus the environment.��There is much more to the issue than just that.��And we need to be talking about how to get these fossil fuels out of existing buildings, not just not having them in new buildings.��Separately, the role of the fossil fuel industry in the debate is not getting enough coverage. Most of the debate on the “keep gas” side is being financed by the fossil fuel industry.��We have seen ads on the little TVs at gas stations, we have seen full page ads even in local papers, and I believe virtually all of these are traceable to the fossil fuel industry.��

To request interviews or get more information:

Daryl Lovell
Associate Director of Media Relations
Division of Communications

M��315.380.0206
dalovell@syr.edu |

Syracuse University

The BAC will be focusing on assessing and improving the energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality of non-industrial buildings (e.g., residential, commercial and schools), complementing Syracuse University’s , funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s and led by MAE assistant teaching professor Jackie Anderson.��

Prior to joining the University, Shapiro founded in 1989, a successful full-service consulting engineering firm in Ithaca, NY, specializing in sustainability, energy efficiency, engineering design, research and consulting. The firm has grown to over 30 staff with satellite offices in five other U.S. cities. The name of the company is an acronym, consistent with its mission, “Technology As If The Earth Mattered.” Shapiro will continue to sit on the board of directors for the company. Taitem has been an active SyracuseCoE Industry Partner for many years, with Shapiro collaborating on many sponsored research and demonstration projects.

Before founding Taitem Engineering, Shapiro was an employee of Carrier Corporation in Syracuse where he designed heat pumps and air conditioning equipment. His work has generated nine patents, including the most recent in 2008, for an innovative desiccant cooling system.

Shapiro was honored as Green Building Advocate of the Year in 2016 at the New York State Green Building Conference at SUNY ESF for his work promoting the need to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on humans and the natural environment.

“We are thrilled to have Ian Shapiro join our team,” says Jianshun “Jensen” Zhang, SyracuseCoE Executive Director. “With his extensive expertise in sustainable building practices and engineering, coupled with his influential contributions as an author and inventor, Ian is well-positioned to make a significant impact on Syracuse University students, faculty, SyracuseCoE partner companies and our community. We are excited to see the innovative projects and research that will emerge under his leadership and are confident that he will bring positive changes not only to SyracuseCoE but also to the larger community.”

“And I am equally thrilled by this opportunity,” says Shapiro. “To join SyracuseCoE’s nationally-recognized work, to teach at Syracuse University, to return to Syracuse after 30 years, are all things I could not have imagined. I hope I can contribute in a helpful way to SyracuseCoE’s work, to bring in ideas from the design and consulting world, and to channel SU’s findings back into the world. I’m also so excited to teach and interact with students. I always find that I learn so much from students!”

With over 35 years of experience in the industry, Shapiro has led several applied energy conservation research projects and worked on design and energy projects in New York and nearby states. He has led the development of several software applications that are used in the areas of HVAC, energy and indoor air quality fields, including TREAT (Targeted Residential Energy Analysis Tools), which was awarded the 2005 National R&D 100 Award. Shapiro has developed and delivered workshops to owners, developers, designers and contractors in the area of energy and HVAC to advance sustainability efforts in the industry. With his deep expertise in engineering and green building, he has presented at many Syracuse University and SyracuseCoE forums, symposiums and events.

He has co-authored the textbook Green Building Illustrated, 2nd Edition (Wiley, 2020) and the professional reference book Energy Audits and Improvements for Commercial Buildings (Wiley, 2016). Green Building Illustrated is a graphical and methodical presentation of the theory, practices and complexities of sustainable design, illustrated by Francis D.K. Ching. It has been translated into several languages, including Chinese, Spanish, Korean and Portuguese. Shapiro is also the co-author of the Ithaca Energy Code Supplement, one of the most advanced energy codes in the nation. Shapiro helped to develop New York State’s Integrated Physical Needs Assessment, which is required for all affordable multifamily projects undergoing rehabilitation, as well as other state and local technical policy requirements. He has been a visiting lecturer at Cornell University, Tompkins Cortland Community College, and Syracuse University.��

Shapiro holds an undergraduate degree from McGill University, and an M.S. from Columbia University, both in mechanical engineering. Shapiro is a licensed engineer in the states of New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.

There’s a new publicly accessible website from American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), , that informs educators and practitioners like designers and energy modelers how people all over the world use buildings.

SyracuseCoE Associate Director and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Professor Bing Dong and several students have compiled research from 15 countries on how building occupants behave – more specifically, how they interact with building systems like windows, doors, light switches, thermostats and fans.

World map showing contributors to ASHRAE’s global occupant behavior database.

Why this matters: Even with good intentions to get outside more, we actually spend most of our lives indoors. As a result, the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning used in commercial buildings accounts for nearly 10% of global electric energy use. This will increase as the world electrifies to shift away from fossil-fuels.

The race is on to innovate for efficiency. Intelligent building technologies and retrofits are part of the solution. Occupant behavior is a crucial, but often overlooked component. Both buildings and people need to get smarter about energy use.

Industry organizations are steering best practices to reduce carbon footprint, but is it enough? The and have developed standards and guidelines to support sustainably upgrading building design and construction practices. Out of these efforts, processes like LEED Certification have been launched to promote energy-efficient buildings. However, these are mostly in developed countries. And, a recent study showed that LEED-certified buildings perform with only about 10% less energy.

Zoom In: There are many factors that influence energy consumption, including architectural design, engineering technologies, cultural background, occupant behavior and social equity. On closer inspection, researchers found there was not a performance gap, but an information gap. The building systems were not underperforming, but a lack of understanding about human-building interactions led to suboptimal operations and limited the development, testing and deploying new energy-efficient building technologies. More occupant behavior information is needed.

Why Create a Database?: Human behavior is complicated. In addition to privacy considerations and technology issues, there is the complex nature of how humans use buildings. Over 500 papers have been published but it is hard to find actionable conclusions for making buildings more efficient with so many variables.

Researchers need to undertake a bigger and more comprehensive effort to understand the nuances of how people behave in various building types, climates and nations. To influence energy-efficient building design and operation, performance monitoring, benchmarking, information visualization, better controls, fault detection and diagnostics are needed.

Zoom Out: The ASHRAE Global Occupant Behavior Database was built with inputs from 51 contributors, in 15 countries, from 39 institutions. Users can obtain information about different behavior types, cities, countries and building types from 10 different climate zones.

This comprehensive collection of building information from all over the world will inform building designers, energy modelers and consultants to accurately simulate building energy use and forecast building energy consumption.

The database was funded by ASHRAE (1883-RP), as part of the International Energy Agency’s Energy in Buildings and Communities Programme (IEA EBC), , with additional supports from Building Technologies Office of the United States Department of Energy, U.S. National Science Foundation (Award No. 1949372). The effort leveraged ASHRAE’s global society of 51,000+ members who advance research, write standards and publish continuing education for practitioners.

What’s Next: Occupant behavior testing continues around the world and in Syracuse. Professor Dong and Syracuse University student researchers are using the and other occupied spaces in the SyracuseCoE HQ building to conduct additional testing that will contribute to the growing pool of occupant behavior knowledge.

The database has been promoted to practitioners in the international community through presentations at industry conferences. Hopes are that the database will stimulate new ways of thinking and expand through contributions from global users, and additional funding will enable training and creating occupant behavior machine learning models. Ultimately, the information will inform ASHRAE standards and guidelines for buildings and contribute to energy efficient buildings by understanding how people interact with them.

Read more about .

The ASHRAE Global Occupant Behavior Database was developed by Wei Mu, and (Syracuse University, project lead), (LBNL), (Technical University of Denmark), (University of Georgia) and (Texas A&M University) as part of the research grant URP-1883.

SyracuseCoE is seeking applications for its 2023 Faculty Fellows program. Proposals are invited from faculty researchers for innovative research and development efforts in SyracuseCoE’s focus areas:

• Healthy and efficient buildings
• Clean energy
• Resilient, low carbon communities

Funding amounts of up to $15,000 per award is available for projects without industry collaboration. Up to $25,000 per award is available for projects that engage a New York state company seeking technology, intellectual property or technoeconomic expertise. SyracuseCoE intends to make multiple awards.

Award funds may be used to support the project many ways, including:

• Research, development and demonstration expenses
• Market or policy analysis
• Project supplies
• Use of labs and equipment
• Student employment
• SyracuseCoE events that further research and collaboration
• Travel for scholarly purposes or SyracuseCoE business

The purpose of the program is to catalyze new, externally sponsored research at Syracuse University and its partner organizations, ultimately contributing to economic and workforce development for New York state businesses. Beginning in 2015, the program has supported 59 researchers with 87 awards with approximately $923,500 in project funding.

To be eligible to apply, faculty members must hold full-time appointments at a SyracuseCoE academic partner institution: Syracuse University, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and SUNY Oswego. Tenured, tenure-track and non-tenure-track faculty are eligible.

Proposals are especially encouraged that emphasize use-inspired research that have the potential to lead to new and useful methods and procedures, software and hardware platforms and licensable patents. Cross-campus teams from multiple departments, colleges and institutions that engage multiple faculty members are also welcomed.

The deadline for applications is April 21. For detailed information about this request for proposals and how to submit an application, visit the webpage.

The program is funded by ).

Led by Syracuse University, SyracuseCoE is one of�� that brings industry partners together with researchers and students who are creating new tech products and businesses.

The winning projects are:

• , of Potsdam, was awarded $10,000 to develop a new blade and hub design for its��3.5 kW wind turbine. The innovation offers improved power production, increased part reliability, reduced cost and higher safety margins
• , of New York City, received $9,988 to deploy a pilot of its Q Sense thermal-LiDAR sensor and software platform. It generates thermal digital twin layouts of buildings to gauge reductions in energy consumption and improve occupant comfort.
• , of New York City, was awarded $10,000 to advance development of HydroBox. The product is key to the Hydronic Shell deep energy retrofit system that, when integrated into a façade, allows for complete conditioning of a dwelling unit from the exterior wall.
• , of Dundee, received $10,000 to optimize the system design parameters of its patented uvcPhyzx device, which integrates with controlled environment agricultural (CEA) HVAC systems.

“SyracuseCoE’s Innovation Fund Awards continue to serve as an effective way to help companies achieve commercialization of their technologies,” says Jianshun “Jensen” Zhang, SyracuseCoE executive director. “These awards strengthen both the company and Central New York’s position as a leader in technology innovations that address energy and environmental challenges.”

SyracuseCoE has supported 60 Innovation Fund projects��with awards totaling over $635,000 to date.

To compete for the awards, companies that��are members of the could submit proposals to help commercialize projects within SyracuseCoE’s core focus areas: indoor environmental quality, clean and renewable energy and water resources.��The awards are funded by member companies of the SyracuseCoE Partner Program.

Judges included Michael Birnkrant��of , Brian Carter; SyracuseCoE; Jeffrey Fuchsberg, ; Jamie Newtown, ; Nathan Prior, ; Marcus Webb, and Mike Wetzel,��.

Based in Somerville, Massachusetts, NECEC represents more than 300 member companies involved in climate technology throughout New York State and New England. The joint NECEC–Syracuse University initiative offers a unique opportunity to leverage the engagement expertise of NECEC in policy and innovation for clean energy and climate with the research strengths of the University, an R-1 (top-tier) international research institution.

As part of the agreement, the University will host an operating office for NECEC at Syracuse University’s Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems (SyracuseCoE)�� facility to be staffed by student researchers from the , a research unit in the . The office is set to open in the spring semester.

“Through partnerships with strategic leaders such as NECEC, we aim to harness the research and creative activities of our faculty and students for the benefit of our community, our nation and our planet as we face pressing climate and sustainability challenges,” says the University’s Vice President for Research , who is also the Charles Brightman Endowed Professor of Physics. “Our partnership with NECEC will provide unique opportunities for Syracuse University students from many different academic programs to work together with climate and energy experts and innovators on real-world and impactful projects that will better prepare them for successful careers after graduation.”

NECEC President says the stage has been set for students to enter new climate-conscious professions, due to $369 billion in federal investment from the Inflation Reduction Act and important action by New York State and beyond on converting to a clean energy grid.

Duncan Brown, center right, University vice president of research, and Joe Curtatone of NECEC shake hands upon signing the collaboration agreement. At left is Alistair Pim of NECEC and at far right is Jay Golden, director of the University’s Dynamic Sustainability Lab.

“Decarbonization is a whole-of-society effort that must reach every home on every street in every neighborhood before we can deem it a success,” says Curtatone. “That’s going to mean generations of new jobs as we break our fossil fuel dependency and embrace localized energy production, clean energy consumption and sustainable industrial practices. It is essential to have top-flight institutions like Syracuse not just preparing students to succeed in the climate economy, but in leading efforts for a rapid and opportunity-laden transition to a decarbonized world.”

, Pontarelli Professor of Environmental Sustainability and Finance and director of the Dynamic Sustainability Lab in the Maxwell School, who developed the idea for the partnership with Curtatone, says the alliance is an exciting development at an opportune time. The Dynamic Sustainability Lab from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to advance climate-smart commodities and products.

“Our partnership with NECEC will help accelerate our progress in developing practical solutions and speed the growth of a new generation of innovators, entrepreneurs and green-tech businesses in New York state. And through this partnership, these innovations now will benefit not only the people of New York, but also those living throughout the Northeast,” Golden says.

Jay Golden, right front, director of the Syracuse University Dynamic Sustainability Lab, leads a discussion during a panel presentation by visitors from the Northeast Clean Energy Council. (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

, executive director of SyracuseCoE, says the SyracuseCoE is pleased to welcome the Northeast Clean Energy Council and Dynamic Sustainability Lab researchers to the downtown Syracuse facility. “We have��complementary strengths and common goals to bring new technologies to the market that will help New York state and the U.S. transition to��resilient, clean energy and low-carbon communities and cities,” Zhang says.

NECEC leads the just, equitable and rapid transition to a clean energy future and a diverse climate economy. NECEC is the only organization in the Northeast that covers all of the clean energy market segments, representing the business perspectives of investors and clean energy companies across every stage of development. NECEC members span the broad spectrum of the clean energy industry, including clean transportation, energy efficiency, wind, solar, energy storage, microgrids, fuel cells, clean buildings and advanced “smart” technologies.

The Dynamic Sustainability Lab serves as a non-partisan partner to industry, government and nongovernmental organizations regarding the risks, unintended consequences and opportunities of the global sustainability transition while providing unique applied learning and engagement experiences for Syracuse University students.

Jessica Smith, director of communications and media relations in the Maxwell School, contributed to this story

The organization recognized , professor of physics in the , and , associate teaching professor of in the (ECS). Schiff was presented with the organization’s 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award and Yung was recognized as College Educator of the Year. The awards were presented at the group’s recent 22nd annual celebration event.

Eric Schiff

Schiff began teaching at the University in 1981. He has twice chaired the and has led initiatives that more than tripled the number of undergraduates in that major while expanding the department’s sponsored research efforts. While associate dean for the natural sciences and mathematics departments, he oversaw the $110 million Life Sciences Complex construction project and had management responsibility for eight academic departments. He also served for a time as interim executive director for the Syracuse Center of Excellence (SyracuseCoE) in Environmental and Energy Systems.

Schiff’s research areas include solar cell device physics and semiconductor charge carrier transport. He has co-authored more than 100 research publications with more than 3,000 citations and is a co-inventor on three U.S. patents. He also has been principal investigator for many externally funded projects from such government agencies as the Department of Energy and National Science Foundation, and corporations including United Solar Ovonic LLC, Boeing, First Solar and SRC. He additionally spent research leaves working with Silicon Valley companies, and for three years he was program director for the U.S. government’s Advanced Research Projects Administration–Energy.

Pun To (Doug) Yung

Yung came to the University in 2016 after a six-year teaching career at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. In addition to his current role as an associate teaching professor, he also serves as undergraduate program director for ECS’s program. He advocates a hybrid teaching and learning environment that includes project-based, hands-on work, experiential activities and peer collaboration.

Yung has received a number of educational recognitions. They include a NASA postdoctoral fellowship in 2008 and several awards from the Chinese University of Hong Kong: the vice chancellor’s exemplary teaching award (2012), dean’s exemplary teaching award from the faculty of engineering (2011 and 2012), and outstanding teaching award from the department of electronic engineering (2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013).

His research focuses on the interfacing of microbes with engineering tools on the micro- and nanoscale levels, finding methods to rapidly assess the viability of superbugs and to harness energy from extremophiles using a combination of electrochemical, optical techniques and MEMS devices. Yung also assists with the , which helps undergraduate students learn about design, product development and intellectual property, then create and prototype an original invention and receive feedback from guest evaluators.

He earned dual bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering and in mathematics and applied sciences in 2003 from the University of California, Los Angeles. He earned a Ph.D. in bioengineering from the California Institute of Technology in 2008.

TACNY was founded in 1903. Its mission is to facilitate community awareness, appreciation and education of technology and to collaborate with like-minded organizations across the region.

Student teams in the EnergyTech Up competition will have the opportunity to compete for a total of $370,000 in cash prizes as they present their plans to a panel of industry judges.

The Syracuse Center of Excellence (CoE) is once again hosting the DOE’s��EnergyTech UP’s innovative prize, which asks student teams to identify an energy technology, assess its market potential and then develop a strategy for commercialization.

Student teams will have the opportunity to compete for a total of $370,000 in cash prizes as they present their plans to a panel of industry judges.

Syracuse CoE was selected as one of 15 EnergyTech UP Regional Convening Partners, as part of a collaboration with NYSERDA and CenterState CEO’s Clean Tech Center. Syracuse is hosting the Regional Explore Event, where students have an opportunity to build their leadership and entrepreneurial skills while providing exposure to all of the innovative energy technologies waiting to be commercialized.

Any interested students or faculty are encouraged to start following�� to stay current on submission deadlines and requirements, prize rules and more. Prize administrators are holding an informational webinar to share details about the $370,000 available to students, inspire ideas around energy technologies, and answer questions from potential participants. , which takes place at 3 p.m. ET on Oct. 26.

Grant applications from companies who are new or existing members of the are being accepted through 5 p.m. ET on Thursday, Oct. 20. Awards of up to $10,000 each for up to five projects may be presented.

M3 Innovations’ Chris Nolan, left, and Joe Casper with their Mako Solution System. The company received Innovation Fund grants in 2020 and 2022. (Photo by Kerrie Marshall)

Companies at all —industry, affiliate and start-up—are invited to apply for the grants. Project proposals must address a challenge in the SyracuseCoE’s core focus areas of indoor environmental quality, clean and renewable energy and water resources.

Led by Syracuse University, SyracuseCoE is one of�� designed to foster collaboration between the academic research community and the business sector to develop and commercialize new products and technologies and promote private sector investment in emerging high-technology fields in New York state.

SyracuseCoE Executive Director , who is also a professor of in the University’s , notes that many SyracuseCoE partners have leveraged their Innovation Fund awards��to commercialize their technologies and strengthen their companies.

Jianshun “Jensen” Zhang, executive director, SyracuseCoE.

“These awards accelerate research and development and help transform innovative discoveries into commercially viable products and services, making the companies more competitive. The entrepreneurial culture that is inherent in university-industry collaboration contributes to a strong economy for New York state, while addressing important, multifaceted societal challenges,” Zhang says.

Zhang cites the success of three prior grantees as a measure of the potential the awards can mean. used its 2016 grant to build financial and physical models of their system to advance critical conversations with utilities. The company is now working with National Grid to build New York state’s . 2014 award allowed it to test new, innovative LED sports lighting technology that they used the following year to light the Super Bowl. ’s 2016 grant helped it test the heat management system for its portable electric vehicle chargers. The startup built its first prototype at SyracuseCoE headquarters and has won millions in other grants. Founder Josh Aviv ’15 G’17 has received multiple “best entrepreneur” honors. Recently, he introduced President Joseph R. Biden Jr. L’68 at the White House signing of the CHIPS and Science Act.

Those who are interested in joining the partner program now to be eligible for grant consideration for this October’s awards can contact Tamara Rosanio at tlrosani@syr.edu.��More details about the program and application process can be found on the .

Bicycle riders will deliver “meals”—consisting of clean empty milk cartons—to stops all across the city. There are several route options throughout the city, including a few routes around the University.

The cost is $35 per person, with proceeds benefiting Meals on Wheels of Syracuse.

“Syracuse University has been one of our key community partners.��They provide interns and volunteers that help us produce and deliver over 200,000 meals a year to those in our community who might otherwise go hungry,” says Michael Nortman, community relations director for Meals on Wheels of Syracuse.

The fourth annual ride starts and ends at the SyracuseCoE, with event registration also occurring at SyracuseCoE. Each rider will receive a route sheet containing their meal delivery stops, along with a bag of “meals” to deliver.

Riders determine the order of their stops, the path they will take to get there and the members of their team. Riders also choose how many stops they want to make on their route before returning back to SyracuseCoE to complete their ride.

“We are so appreciative that this year Syracuse has not only sponsored the ride, but will host the start and finish location at the Syracuse Center of Excellence. The event is a charity bike ride with an emphasis on fun, and one of our committee members says it is the most fun you can have on a bike,” Nortman says.

This is a family-friendly event. For more information, including how to register, visit the .

appointment to the renewable three-year term was announced by Ramesh Raina, interim vice president in the University’s Zhang will lead research activity and operations at the downtown SyracuseCoE building and serve as principal investigator for the contract that provides the center’s annual operating funds.

The SyracuseCoE engages with more than 200 private companies, organizations and academic institutions to create new products and services in indoor environmental quality, clean and renewable energy and water resource management. Its research areas include systems that monitor and control comfortable air temperature, air quality, lighting, sound and water quality in built and urban environments, and innovative energy systems, including clean technologies and renewable fuel sources.

“Now is an especially critical time for innovation in climate change, energy and fuel sources, and air quality and temperature control research, and the University is thrilled that Professor Zhang has accepted this important role,” says Raina. “His unique multidisciplinary background, notable international reputation, extensive applied research strengths, recognized industry knowledge and high degree of dedication to the University, fellow faculty and student communities will be instrumental in leading the SyracuseCoE forward.”

Zhang, who has more than 30 years of research experience in built environmental systems, also retains his position as a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and his role as one of three co-leaders of the University’s and is its Heathy and Intelligent Built Environments subcluster lead. He will report to the University’s vice president of research.

Aiding Zhang in his transition to the SyracuseCoE position will be , who had been chair of the Department of Physics in the College of Arts and Sciences and who has served as SyracuseCoE interim executive director since May 2020. A professor of physics at Syracuse University since 1981, Schiff has led interdisciplinary research groups and collaborations with laboratories from other universities and private organizations the world over.

“We extend much gratitude to Professor Schiff for maintaining the integrity of SyracuseCoE operations and its research momentum these past two challenging years. The University is extremely appreciative of the steady hand and thoughtful guidance he provided during a time when focus on both the importance of indoor air quality and the impacts of climate change experienced heightened world attention and concern,” says Raina.

Excited for the Future

As someone who has been involved with the development of the SyracuseCoE since its inception, and who has maintained a keen interest in its research activities through the years, Zhang says he is particularly honored to have been asked to lead its operations.

“I’m quite excited at the opportunity to lead a center like this. It’s a unique platform where you can integrate research and product development along with the commercialization and licensing aspects of bringing applied research to industry. I’m also excited because there is a huge demand and a need for technology that can improve human health and combat climate change by reducing carbon emissions,” he says. “There’s much more opportunity for research and product development in that arena now, as evidenced by an increase in requests for proposals we’ve seen from the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, as well as the increasing interest and significant funding supports from the relevant industries.”

Zhang’s goals for the organization include furthering the center’s engagement with faculty at Syracuse University; initiating and continuing partnerships with other universities; and expanding the center’s intersection with industry innovators and business partners.

He’d also like to raise the SyracuseCoE’s national and international profile and foster further collaboration with international researchers and companies. He is also interested in working more closely with startups to bring new ideas in active research applications to the marketplace.

Syracuse Center of Excellence

Assessment Center, Testbed

Another vision of Zhang’s is developing a building assessment center to educate students on how to assess building’s energy and environmental performance, make recommendations on what improvements can be made and how to make them and then quantify the energy savings and health impacts those changes would create. Due to Schiff’s initiating the proposal for piloting such a center and the strong support from ECS, SyracuseCoE will be well positioned to compete for future funding opportunities in this area, Zhang says.

Working in concert with SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and other universities, Zhang also wants to guide the development of a testbed in Syracuse that would examine air quality in buildings and in urban microenvironments around buildings. Its focus would be on improving people’s health by reducing their exposures to both the indoor atmosphere of the buildings they frequent as well as the outdoor environment they experience on the street, he says.

Zhang earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in systems engineering from Beijing Agricultural Engineering University, and a Ph.D. in agricultural engineering with a specialty in structures and environment from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Before he joined Syracuse University in 1999, he had been a researcher at the National Research Council of Canada for eight years.

His areas of expertise include combined heat, air, moisture and pollutant simulations in buildings; material emissions; air filtration/purification; ventilation; indoor air quality and intelligent control of building environmental systems. He has developed advanced experimental methods and apparatus, computer simulation models and environmental control technologies. He has authored or co-authored more than 200 technical papers and three standard methods for testing organic emissions from building materials and furnishings.

Zhang is a fellow of American Society for Heating, Refrigerating, and Airconditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and a member of the International Academy of Indoor Air Science (ISIAQ fellow). He also is currently vice president of IAQVEC (Indoor Air Quality, Ventilation and Energy Conservation) Association. He also served as president and chairman of the board of the International Association of Building Physics from 2018 to 2021.

Instead of reaching for a sweater or donning another layer, researchers in the School of Architecture are advocating cutting-edge steps to make low-income housing units more energy-efficient, thanks to being selected to negotiate a contract��for a $5 million award as part of Phase 2 of the .

A team of researchers in the School of Architecture is helping to improve energy efficiency of low-income dwellings through a $5 million award from the Department of Energy.

In the process, they hope to improve the lives of these residents while providing a blueprint for how cold-weather cities across the country can retrofit existing multifamily homes to better withstand the elements.

Think of it as wrapping up these energy-inefficient buildings in a thick, airtight, waterproof coat that will keep warm air inside during the cold winter months, and ensure a dwelling stays a little cooler during the hot summer months.

Bess Krietemeyer, associate professor in the School of Architecture, is the project lead.

“We’ve got a vast number of existing buildings that are going to be around for a while. Many of these were built prior to building codes that require improved energy performance. Rather than demolish these older buildings and build new construction, which can be incredibly energy-intensive, there’s a tremendous opportunity for energy savings through deep energy-efficiency retrofits. Making retrofits affordable and appealing to the market is a multifaceted challenge and one of the reasons why the Department of Energy’s Advanced Building Construction Initiative was developed,” says Bess Krietemeyer, associate professor in the School of Architecture and the project lead.

The is the collaboration of a multidisciplinary team, led by Syracuse University’s School of Architecture in partnership with the Syracuse University College of Engineering and Computer Science and SyracuseCoE. Project partners also include Taitem Engineering, Cycle Architecture, Signetron, TKFabricate, FunForm, Tremco, Eldred Harris, and VIP Structures, with strong collaboration with New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

Dean Michael A. Speaks

“We are so proud of associate professor Krietemeyer and the entire team for securing such an important grant,” says Michael Speaks, dean of the School of Architecture. “Over the last several years, this team has dramatically increased the research profile of our school and has, in addition, developed strong new partnerships with other colleges and research units on campus, most notably the College of Engineering and Computer Science and SyracuseCoE. We are excited to see the results of this grant and look forward to continued growth in the research profile of our school and the University.”

Krietemeyer touts three major innovations that are at the core of the project: a highly-insulated envelope system that provides thermal performance and airtightness at the walls, roof and foundation while being attached to the exterior of an existing building; a high-efficiency mechanical pod system featuring real-time performance monitoring for heating, cooling, ventilation and hot water that is incorporated into the envelope panel system; and pre-retrofit assessment software that captures the building’s measurements to facilitate the retrofit design configuration and panel fabrication.

Researchers in the School of Architecture are advocating cutting-edge steps to make low-income housing units more energy-efficient.

One of the goals of the project’s energy-efficient retrofit system is that it can be configured and installed on a building in as little as one week, reducing labor costs while offering minimal disruptions and better comfort for the occupants.

Besides improving tenant comfort and energy performance, Krietemeyer and her team envision a design that will enhance the building’s visual appeal while providing additional benefits, like better indoor air quality, reduced noise of surrounding high-traffic areas, and greater durability and resiliency in extreme weather.

“The low-rise, multifamily building types are all over the Northeast as well as other cold climate regions across the U.S. We’re targeting low- to moderate-income buildings in cold climates, which are typically poorly insulated, to make it easy for building owners to implement. Creating access to healthier and more comfortable housing options is one of our major motivations,” says Krietemeyer.

Krietemeyer says her team has been in consultation with the Syracuse Housing Authority to determine solutions that meet the building owner’s needs while addressing the concerns, considerations, and desires of the tenants.

The project has identified which University buildings will serve as the model for their retrofitting efforts: two apartment buildings on South Campus.

“We see this as a model that can be replicated across these cold climate regions, first targeting these low-rise, multifamily housing units. But because our approach is so modular and scalable, we easily see this solution being applied to mid-rise multifamily buildings, or even, eventually, single-family homes,” says Krietemeyer.

Phase 2 builds upon , which was announced in July 2020 and featured a $625,000 contract from the DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Building Technologies Office to research, develop and test advanced building construction technologies and practices to reduce energy bills.

Besides Krietemeyer, the following Syracuse University faculty and staff served as co-principal investigators for the project:

• Amber Bartosh, assistant professor in the School of Architecture
• Nina Sharifi, assistant professor in the School of Architecture
• Jianshun “Jensen” Zhang, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, Syracuse Center of Excellence Faculty Fellow and director, building energy and environmental systems laboratory in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS)
• Ed Bogucz, associate professor in ECS
• Tamara Rosanio, associate director of partner programs with SyracuseCoE

For this round, SyracuseCoE partner companies were invited to submit proposals in SyracuseCoE’s focus areas of indoor environmental quality and building energy efficiency, clean and renewable energy, and water resources.

Projects that include research engagements with faculty and students, support for product development and testing, market analyses and proposal match requirements were encouraged. Awards for this program are funded by member companies of the SyracuseCoE Partner Program with the purpose of helping companies advance product development and technological innovation.

The 2022 winning projects are the following:

• Power Converter Development for Off-Grid Renewables, Mission Drives: This project will help develop next generation electronics for off-grid solar, wind and storage applications with a longer-term path of revolutionizing power conversion technology generically. This program will complete a preliminary design of a new off-grid system configuration that is more flexible and lower cost.
• HABAlert: AI-Powered Real-Time Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring, BloomOptix & Ramboll: HABAlert is a mobile, cost-effective handheld harmful algal bloom (HAB) monitoring system that can detect and quantify the presence of HAB-causing cyanobacteria in 10 minutes or less. Using artificial intelligence and a cellphone-based miniature microscope, HABAlert can provide users with cyanobacterial ID and counts in near-real-time, replacing traditional methods, which require multi-day processing times.
• MAKO Smart EV Charging Station, M3 Innovation, based at SyracuseCoE, is developing a smart EV charging station and gateway that integrates seamlessly into their Sports Lighting Platform and eliminates the barriers of cost and added infrastructure to install conventional charging stations.

“The Innovation Fund awards are intended to help companies bridge the gap to commercialization of new products, as well as to provide thoughtful, constructive feedback from a panel of reviewers with expertise in the application of new technology in the marketplace,” says Eric Schiff, SyracuseCoE executive director. “The projects highlight Central New York’s expertise in environmental and energy systems, as well as area companies’ enthusiasm for innovation and commercialization of new technologies.”

With these awards, SyracuseCoE has supported more than 49 clean energy commercialization projects by 30 companies throughout New York State, totaling over $525,000. Participating companies have reported more than 176 jobs created and over $3,000,000 in additional funding leveraged from the Innovation Fund projects.

Eligibility for Innovation Fund 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 Partner Program.

Learn more about the Partner Program or contact Tammy Rosanio at tlrosani@syr.edu.

The “Smart i-Floor” proposal, submitted by a student team from University of Connecticut, was selected as the EnergyTech UP Regional Winner for the New York/tri-state area. The team was awarded $2,500 for their plan for durable integrated tiles that sense information and harvest energy from each footstep. The winning team will move on to compete in the next phase of the competition, the Refine Phase, held as part of Carnegie Mellon University’s Energy Week in mid-March, where they’ll refine their market analysis and business opportunity.

Additionally, two student teams were selected as Technology Bonus Prize semi-finalists:

• Fossil Energy and Carbon Management: Pantheon, A Carbon-Negative Cement Replacement, Binghamton University State University of New York
• Solar: Tri-Sol: A 3-in-1 Solar Skylight System, University of New Haven

Technology Bonus Prize semi-finalists from all 11 regional Explore events will compete for $2,000 prizes in each of the six categories; winners will be invited to compete in the Refine and Pitch Phases alongside the regional winners.

“Competitions like DOE’s EnergyTech UP give students a valuable opportunity to envision and communicate the transformation of a technical energy innovation into a successful business,” says SyracuseCoE Executive Director Eric A. Schiff. “SyracuseCoE was pleased to host the event.”

Judges for the New York/tri-state regional competition included Jackie Amable, managing director of Nextcorps’ Venture for ClimateTech; Andrew Graceffa, principal of the Energy and Sustainability division of SOCOTEC USA; and Jamie Newtown, head of digitalization and innovation at Ramboll Americas. Two teams from Syracuse University competed in the competition against teams from Columbia, University of Connecticut, Cornell, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Rutgers, SUNY Binghamton and SUNY Buffalo. Over 80 people attended the virtual event. For more information about the competition, including other regional events, visit the .

Please note, this image pre-dates the COVID-19 pandemic.

Companies at all partner levels—Industry, Affiliate and Start-Up—are invited to apply. Projects must��address a challenge within SyracuseCoE’s��, which include indoor environmental quality, clean and renewable energy, and water resources. Projects that include research engagements with faculty and students, support for product development and testing, market analyses and proposal match requirement are encouraged.

Previous companies that received Innovation Fund awards include:

Visit the�� page to see how other partners have used these funds.

Applications, due by Thursday, Feb. 17, at 5 p.m. ET, will be invited to give a proposal pitch, via Zoom, with a panel of judges. Visit the SyracuseCoE ��to learn more, or, if interested in joining the Partner Program, contact Tamara Rosanio at tlrosani@syr.edu.

The Syracuse Center of Excellence (CoE) was selected as one of 15 EnergyTech UP Regional Convening Partners, as part of a collaboration with NYSERDA and CenterState CEO’s Clean Tech Center. Students can team up and take part in a competition to win more than $250,000 in prize money for successfully identifying an energy technology, assessing its market potential and proposing a strategy for commercialization.

Syracuse Center of Excellence

Interested in competing?

• possible technology opportunities on the Lab Partnering Service, read more about prizes and the official rules.
• a team and/or submit an idea by Jan. 31.
• Participate in the virtual regional Explore Event, hosted by NYSERDA, SyracuseCoE and the CleanTech Center, from 3 to 5 p.m. on Feb. 18 to qualify for the national competition. More information will be announced.

During the first phase of EnergyTech UP, students explore business and energy technology opportunities and present their findings at the regional Explore Event. Once the regional event wraps up,�� judges will identify which team will advance to the national competition in March.

In addition to winning cash prizes, students competing in EnergyTech UP will:

• Receive tailored mentorship and Energy I-Corp materials.
• Develop business plans specifically for the energy industry.
• Work directly with the U.S. Department of Energy and national laboratories.
• Network with industry professionals at Carnegie Mellon University’s Energy Week.

Up to $15,000 per award is available for projects without industry collaboration. Up to $25,000 per award is available for projects that engage a New York state company seeking technology, intellectual property or technoeconomic expertise. SyracuseCoE intends to make multiple awards under the announcement. Awards will total approximately $100,000 in this round. Funding is expected to be available starting in February 2022.��

Proposals should address how the use of the Faculty Fellow seed funding could lead to a significant “next step” in research and technology development, strengthen New York industry engagement and help establish��SyracuseCoE��and its Partner institutions as thought leaders in the targeted area.��

The 2022 Faculty Fellows Program is open to faculty members who hold full-time appointments at SyracuseCoE Academic Partner institutions: Syracuse University, SUNY ESF or SUNY Oswego. Tenured, tenure-track and non-tenure-track faculty are eligible. SyracuseCoE welcomes proposals that engage multiple faculty members, including cross-campus teams from multiple departments, colleges and/or institutions. Teams are encouraged, but not required, to include non-university participants. However, funds may be disbursed only to academic institutions.����

The deadline for proposals is 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 14, 2022. Read the full announcement and how to submit your proposal on the .��

The next round of funding is available for projects undertaken between May 16, 2022, through June 30, 2023. All proposals must clearly address how the projects relates to climate disruption, and all must include outreach or educational activities that promote awareness of sustainability-related issues on the Syracuse University campus. Projects may include (but are not limited to) faculty or student research, applied research, campus infrastructure or landscape projects, outreach campaigns, service projects or course development.

Two projects were awarded funding in April 2021:

• Assessment of the Ecological and Engineering Services of the Established, Extensive Green Roof at the Syracuse Center of Excellence, Professor Svetoslava Todrova, $24,997
• Development of Advanced Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Systems for Nitrogen Oxide Mitigation During Hydrocarbon Combustion, Thomas Welles,Ph.D. candidate in mechanical and aerospace engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, $25,000

Todorova, professor of practice in civil and environmental engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, submitted the grant to study the green roof at the Syracuse Center of Excellence.

“We are excited for the opportunity to bring students and faculty from engineering, urban planning, construction management and public health to study the long-term performance of the green roof at the Center of Excellence,” she says.�� “The team will focus on the hydrological and water quality function of the roof, its ecological adaptation and impact on the building systems, visitors,and occupants. Understanding the long-term performance of green roofs is vital to the success of the technology in urban areas. Using one of our facilities on campus, the green roof at the Center of Excellence, allows us to develop a demonstration project, engage the campus community and foster new ways of interdisciplinary learning.”

��The Syracuse University Climate Action Plan, which was released in 2009, is providing the competitive funding as part of the CALS program, overseen by a team of faculty and staff from across the University. The program merges academic scholarships with the University’s broad initiative to meet energy efficiency goals, while having faculty and students use the Syracuse University campus as a testbed for innovative ideas.

“The grant winners are instrumental in facilitating the University with research and educational programs that are instrumental in helping us with our carbon neutral goals,” says Melissa Cadwell, sustainability coordinator. “What makes this grant the perfect campus as a lab grant is our students and faculty are using the University as a test bed with their innovation and education awarded funding. Additionally, being able to work with the students and professors has created a stronger working relationship with Sustainability Management and the campus community.”

The Call for Proposals, budget template and application materials can be found . The deadline for submission of proposals is midnight on March 16, 2022.

As the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated anew, indoor spaces are crucial to the health, comfort and productivity of occupants. At the same time, building operations are responsible for nearly half of the energy used in the U.S. The DOE’s Building Technology Office envisions that a clean-energy future requires innovations for “grid-interactive buildings” (GEBs) that integrate energy generation or storage capabilities and management systems that interact with the regional electrical grid.

Participating companies will receive assistance to develop and commercialize energy hardware innovations for buildings, including heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, building envelope systems, building-integrated energy generation and harvesting technologies, and building-integrated battery and thermal energy storage systems. Beyond the innovation cluster, the goals of the project are to promote equity and public health in this sector and further the nation’s transition to net-zero carbon emissions.

“This award gives us the opportunity to strengthen and grow the regional cluster of businesses that are developing building technology innovations and products,” says Eric Schiff, interim executive director of SyracuseCoE. “This project supports SyracuseCoE’s mission to catalyze these innovations in New York state.”

The project will sponsor a series of events and resources for networking, technical, marketing and equity issues, as well as provide access to funding opportunities and national lab resources. Startup companies can join the which offers a suite of services with additional financial support from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). All companies can propose collaborative projects involving intellectual property, prototypes and proof-of-concept for their potential products for buildings.

“The ‘smart’ and high-performance building technologies regional innovation cluster is critical to Central New York’s economy. We are excited to partner with the SyracuseCoE on this project as it will leverage and build on that existing regional expertise, and strengthen strategies to improve public health, particularly in disadvantaged communities,” says Rob Simpson, president of CenterState CEO. “Ensuring that we can help companies and innovators advance these systems to drive more equitable health outcomes is central to our vision of creating a place where business thrives and all people prosper.”

Kickoff Event
A kickoff webinar will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 19, at 4 p.m. The event will give a brief introduction to the program, including the opportunities available for Central New York companies. Event panelists will discuss the needs and opportunities for energy hardware innovations for “smart buildings,” including products that promote equity and health in addition to grid interactivity and energy efficiency. Monica Neukomm, technology manager for grid-interactive efficient buildings, with the , will join the panel. The event will also be joined by Eric Schiff, Ed Bogucz, Bing Dong and Bess Krietemeyer from Syracuse University, and Sarah Hood and Juhanna Rogers from CenterState CEO, and Joseph Borowiec from NYSERDA. For more information about the program, contact Tammy Rosanio at tlrosani@syr.edu. Interested participants can ��for the kickoff webinar event.

About SyracuseCoE
Led by Syracuse University, SyracuseCoE is part of Central New York’s innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem. The center is a hub for innovative research and product development to improve indoor environmental quality, energy efficiency in buildings, clean and renewable energy and water resources. One of , SyracuseCoE strategically brings industry partners together with researchers and students in a thriving culture of collaboration and innovation, ultimately creating new businesses and jobs, strengthening regional and state economies.

About CenterState CEO
is an independent and forward thinking economic development strategist, business leadership organization and chamber of commerce; dedicated to the success of its members and the prosperity of the region. We serve as an advocate and resource for smart business, catalyze and facilitate regional growth, and promote community prosperity through results-driven partnerships, planning and problem-solving.

Launched in 2014 with an initial focus on supporting scalable solutions to reduce the energy impact of commercial buildings, IN² has since expanded its focus to advance technologies that address the sustainable production of agriculture and housing affordability. IN² supports clean energy startups and agriculture companies by providing funding for projects of up to $250,000, including technical assistance that leverages the capabilities, facilities, equipment and deep expertise that exists at NREL, as well as at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center (Danforth Center).

“Relationships with DOE national labs are critical to growing the clean-tech innovation cluster in New York state,” says SyracuseCoE director Eric Schiff. “We are thrilled to become an IN² Channel Partner. In addition to providing much-needed support for project funding, startups that are invited to join an IN² cohort are paired with experts from NREL or the Danforth Center who can help them address critical milestones on their paths to commercialization.”

SyracuseCoE is one of only two New York state-based clean tech partners to join the nationwide network of Channel Partners, which includes more than 60 colleges and universities, business incubators and accelerators, and their affiliated clean technology programs. To date, 56 portfolio companies have each received up to $250,000 in technical and project assistance from the program. For every IN² program dollar awarded, on average, IN² companies raise more than $95 dollars in external follow-on funding. IN² portfolio companies have gone on to raise $1.1 billion from external follow-on funding, creating 774 jobs.

An invitation-only program, IN² relies on Channel Partners like SyracuseCoE to refer promising companies to the program for consideration in a competitive application and down-selection process prior to being invited to join the next cohort. Cohort 10, a Cleantech Demonstration Cohort, will be launched within the next few months. For more information about IN² ��and the application process, please contact Tammy Rosanio at SyracuseCoE.

The winning projects are:

• Acumen Detection Inc., to provide an rt-PCR machine, positive controls and other reagents, and advice, guidance and support to SyracuseCoE researchers developing a test for COVID-19 in room air. This will allow schools, offices and other gathering places to detect if someone with COVID-19 has entered the space. is a startup partner, co-located at the SyracuseCoE research facility, that is transforming the way dairy producers across the globe monitor the environment and health of their herds by providing pathogen detection at the point of need–on the farm. Acumen Detection joined the SyracuseCoE Partner Program in 2019 soon after its spin-off from SRC Inc.
• Air Innovations Inc., is enhancing their HEPAirX ventilating air purifier and HVAC unit to reduce disease transmission with negative pressure settings and UV-C light. After conducting the redesign, marketing materials will be created to address the needs of the dental market. is an affiliate partner that designs, tests and manufactures environmental control systems for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), custom HVAC projects and unique environments. They specialize in achieving consistent results in temperature control (low temperature and precision temp control), humidity control (desiccant to near saturation) and air filtration (HEPA to molecular).
• Elizion Tech will develop medical grade, bio-based thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) for the manufacture of sustainable, biodegradableand recyclable filtration materials. Several sources will be assessed for their feasibility of processing into a source component for subsequent manufacturing of the antipathogenic filtration technology. Such materials can be useful in the production of personal protective equipment (PPE). Elizion Tech, based in Ontario, Canada, is developing an antipathogenic nanocoating, PPE, air filtration systems, high-contact surfaces and other applications.
• M3 Innovation, LLC, co-located at the SyracuseCoE research facility, is developing a revolutionary platform for sports venues that will both provide efficient high quality lighting and also use ultraviolet lighting to sterilize the facilities from bacteria and viruses (specifically COVID-19). M3 Innovation is a startup partner comprised of founders and former engineers from Ephesus Lighting Inc., focused on developing lighting technology for the LED sports lighting market.

“There is an established history of innovative research and commercialization in environmental and energy systems in the Central New York region,” says Eric Schiff, interim executive director of SyracuseCoE. “Many SyracuseCoE partner companies, like Ephesus Lighting, Air Innovations, NuClimate, SparkCharge and others, have used their Innovation Fund awards on their path to successful commercialization. We hope this award will give companies the potential to play a critical role in helping communities reopen and function safely as we continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

SyracuseCoE is New York State’s Center of Excellence for Environmental and Energy Systems. Awards are chosen by a panel of members of the SyracuseCoE Industry Partners Council, select SyracuseCoE staff and collaborators. Eligibility for funding is open to all current members of the . Innovation Fund proposals must be submitted and led by Partner Program members, but may include collaborations with academic partners or with firms outside of the Partner Program. With the second round of the 2020 Innovation Fund awards distributed, SyracuseCoE has helped finance more than 49 projects by 30 companies, totaling over $527,000.

The COVID-19 public health emergency has had an unprecedented impact on our nation’s economic health and well-being. Companies throughout New York State are contributing to solutions addressing these challenges, from developing new applications for existing products to complete transformation of manufacturing operations to produce items most needed by frontline workers. To support these efforts, proposals are restricted for this round to innovations that specifically target the COVID-19 public health crisis and are consonant with the center’s focal areas: indoor environmental quality, renewable energy and energy efficiency, and water resources.

Applications of up to $10,000 are invited from current and new 2020-21 firms. Companies at all partner levels—industry, affiliate and start-up—are invited to apply. Projects must address a COVID-19 challenge with SyracuseCoE’s core focus areas of indoor environmental quality, clean and renewable energy and water resources. We welcome research engagements with faculty and students, support for product development and testing, market analysis, proposal match requirement, and more.

is an agtech, Start-Up member of the Partner Program who has already put a SyracuseCoE Innovation Fund award to work addressing the pandemic. Acumen, a recipient of a 2020 round 1 award, has been commercializing its innovative technology for detecting the pathogens causing disease in dairy cows. “The Innovation Fund award we received earlier this year gave us an important opportunity to respond to the need for diagnostic testing reagents,” says CEO of Acumen Detection Chuck Stormon. “We are adapting our testing technology and helping to find critical solutions for the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Acumen is developing a fast, point-of-use test that would dramatically assist efforts to mitigate the virus as we return to work and school. The company will manufacture and distribute test kits, once FDA Emergency Use Authorization is received. In addition, SyracuseCoE is working closely with the company’s CEO to help identify potential collaborators that can help expedite their path to market on this critical effort.

“The Central New York region has remarkable record of research, innovation, and commercialization in environmental and energy systems,” says Eric Schiff, interim executive director of SyracuseCoE.�� “The Innovation Fund awards have been used by many SyracuseCoE Partner companies to help further the commercialization of new products and services. Winning an award gives companies the potential to play a critical role in helping communities reopen and function safely as we continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Applications, due by Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020 at 5 p.m. ET, will be invited to give a brief pitch, via Zoom, with a panel of reviewers in early October 2020.

Visit the SyracuseCoE to learn more, or, if interested in joining the Partner Program, contact Tamara Rosanio at tlrosani@syr.edu.

This diagram illustrates key elements of the proposed whole-building retrofit solution.

A multidisciplinary team of Syracuse University researchers recently received a $625,000 contract from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Building Technologies Office (BTO) to research, develop and test advanced building construction technologies and practices to reduce energy bills.

Led by Bess Krietemeyer, assistant professor in the School of Architecture and a Syracuse Center of Excellence for Environmental and Energy Systems (SyracuseCoE) faculty research fellow, the Syracuse University team will partner with cocoon construct co. (CC) and tkFabricate LLC to develop energy-efficiency retrofits for homes in cold/very cold climates.

Co-principal investigators on the project are Jianshun “Jensen” Zhang, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and director of the Building Energy and Environmental Systems Laboratory in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS); Edward Bogucz, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering in ECS and former executive director of SyracuseCoE; Amber Bartosh, assistant professor in the School of Architecture; Michelle Knapp, co-founder of CC; and Thomas King, founder of tkFabricate LLC.

“We’ve created an incredible interdisciplinary team with extensive experience in research, design, fabrication, commercialization, implementation and construction,” says Krietemeyer. “This makes for a holistic approach that tackles some of the biggest challenges with deep energy retrofits, including cost, aesthetics and occupant comfort.”

Another unique element of the team’s approach is the formation of its Market and Implementation Collaborators advisory board, which will provide key stakeholder input throughout the project. Tammy Rosanio, associate director of partner programs at SyracuseCoE, was instrumental in assembling this advisory group of industry partners, which includes the Syracuse Housing Authority, Conifer Realty, Energiesprong, Upstate Parts & Supply and Taitem Engineering.

The Syracuse University team’s proposal was one of 29 from organizations across the United States to receive funding for pursuit of innovations that further the goals of BTO’s (FOA), which supports research and development of solutions that can be applied to many segments of the building sector, including existing and new buildings, residential and commercial, and across multiple climate zones.

The FOA underpins the , one of BTO’s principal efforts to unlock deeper energy savings in the U.S. residential and commercial building sector, which accounts for 40 percent of the nation’s total energy use—greater than that for either industry or transportation—and nearly 75 percent of its energy consumption.

The goal of the Syracuse University team’s project is to develop a transformative solution for whole-building energy efficiency retrofits in single-family attached residences in cold/very cold climate regions that are extendable to single-family detached and low-rise multifamily housing.

While retrofit products that could deliver energy and cost savings are currently available in the U.S. market, there are significant challenges with market fragmentation, project complexity and cost, disjointed workflows for design and implementation, disruption for residents during installation, and barriers to acceptance of the final product’s aesthetic appearance.

The team’s project addresses the critical need for innovation in integrated processes for design, analysis, fabrication and installation to capture economies of scale, compress time and cost, and facilitate widespread acceptance and applicability. Their solution includes three key technical innovations: a prefabricated exterior building envelope retrofit wall system; an envelope-integrated, high-efficiency HVAC system; and a design decision-making platform and retrofit protocol.

“The process will be highly integrative and iterative, as our design and testing of both the envelope and mechanical prototypes will inform each other’s development along the way,” says Krietemeyer. “This includes laboratory, field and model-based testing at multiple scales using Syracuse University’s Building Energy and Environmental Systems Laboratory (BEESL) and Building Envelope Systems Test Lab facilities.”

By leveraging the team’s expertise and prior work to address current challenges—including Syracuse University’s expertise in decision tools and high-efficiency mechanical innovations, CC’s innovations in patented envelope systems, and tkFabricate’s experience in integrated mechanical pod solutions for actual building projects—the team aims to find an overall approach that is affordable enough for public and private building owners to implement with a return on investment of 25 years and an expected 75 percent energy savings.

“I’m honored and thrilled to be leading this project as a faculty member of Syracuse University, where I’ve found tremendous support in research over the years,” says Krietemeyer. “In particular, I’ve learned a great deal from Chetna Chianese from the Office of Research, whose experience with DOE projects and proposal development has provided invaluable guidance from the start. I’m confident that our project team, with the support and resources at Syracuse University, will deliver outcomes that have big impacts across the region and country.”

The Syracuse University team’s project will be conducted over an 18-month period for Phase 1 of development and testing of their integrated solution.

To learn more about all of the projects selected to receive funding under the FOA, visit .

Eric A. Schiff

To support a smooth transition in leadership at the Syracuse Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems (), Interim Vice President for Research Ramesh Raina has appointed , chair of the Department of Physics in the College of Arts and Sciences, as interim executive director. Schiff succeeds Laura J. Steinberg, who is leaving the University for a new role at Boston College. Schiff begins his new role on May 1.

“We are fortunate to have someone with stellar academic credentials and a strong background in project management and collaborative leadership,” says Raina. “And we are so grateful to Eric for stepping up to steer SyracuseCoE and keep it on course as a catalyst for innovation in clean energy, healthy buildings and resilient communities. Eric has dedicated much of his own research portfolio to developing solutions for problems related to energy consumption by consumers, including managing projects related to hybrid solar-thermal/photovoltaic energy conversion, aluminum recycling and efficiency retrofits of single-pane windows.”

Schiff has a long and distinguished history of leading complex research projects that bring together academics, industry scientists and other partners to discover solutions to society’s energy-related problems. In his new role at the helm of SyracuseCoE, he will collaborate with industry to enhance research, development, demonstration and deployment of innovations in SyracuseCoE core focus areas—clean and renewable energy, indoor environmental quality and water resources.

“I am truly honored to have the opportunity to work with the talented researchers and committed partners of SyracuseCoE,” says Schiff. “Their work is transformative in addressing global challenges and finding ways to fund innovative solutions.”

Schiff has been a professor of physics at Syracuse University since 1981, leading interdisciplinary research groups and collaborating with laboratories from other universities and private organizations throughout the world. He has been a principal investigator for externally funded research projects from government agencies (Department of Energy, National Science Foundation and the Empire State Development Corp.) and corporations (United Solar Ovonic LLC, Boeing Inc., First Solar Inc. and SRC Inc.). From 2014-17, he served concurrently as a program director at ARPA-E, an agency of the Department of Energy.

Schiff’s research accomplishments include the development of low-mobility solar cell device physics for thin film solar cells such as perovskites, amorphous silicon and cadmium telluride. His fundamental physics contributions include work on electronic transport and defects in semiconductors as well as plasmonics. He is co-author of more than 100 refereed research publications with more than 4,000 citations and he is co-inventor on three U.S. patents. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society.

Raina says a national search will be conducted for a permanent SyracuseCoE executive director.

The supports seed projects that strengthen faculty scholarship in clean and renewable energy, indoor environmental quality and water resources. The program brings together a diverse community of faculty members from many disciplines. Researchers from four schools and colleges at Syracuse University, two at SUNY-ESF, one from SUNY Oswego and one from SUNY Upstate received awards.

The goal of faculty fellows program is to bolster collaboration and discovery, strengthening Syracuse University’s growing research portfolio. The program is critical to SyracuseCoE’s core mission to create innovations in environmental and energy technologies. In addition, projects are encouraged to strategically target research topics that contribute to economic development of local and New York state businesses.

“We are extremely proud of the momentum that the SyracuseCoE Faculty Fellows Program has had in the past four years, growing to nearly 60 researchers,” says Laura J. Steinberg, SyracuseCoE interim executive director. “These awards can lead to a significant next step for faculty by fostering further exploration, allowing them to publish new findings or even by helping them to win additional funding.”

The projects, principal investigators (listed first) and their collaborators are:

A High-throughput Analytical Workflow for Identification and Quantification of Cyanobacterial Toxins in Environmental Water Samples

• Teng Zeng, Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science

A New Approach to Evaluate Energy Savings, Thermal Comfort and IAQ from Occupant-Centric Building Controls��

• Bing Dong, Associate Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Meng Kong, Research Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Steven VonDeak, Co-founder and Chief of Staff, Density Inc.
• Jianshun Zhang, Professor, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Development of Improved Poplar Lines for Biofuel Production

• Heather Coleman, Associate Professor, Biology and Biotechnology, College of Arts and Sciences

Establishment of Initial Exploratory Research for the Mycelium Research Group��

• Daekwon Park, Assistant Professor, School of Architecture
• Jeongmin Ahn, Associate Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Zhao Qin, Assistant Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Nina Sharifi, Assistant Professor, School of Architecture

Measuring the Vertical Profile of Air Pollution and Noise Near Interstate-81

• Jamie Mirowsky, Assistant Professor, Chemistry, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
• Judy Crawford, Visiting Researcher, SUNY Upstate Medical University
• John Hassett, Professor, Chemistry, SUNY-ESF
• Meng Kong, Research Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Net Zero Retrofit Campus Housing Pilot Project

• Nina Sharifi, Assistant Professor, School of Architecture
• Bing Dong, Associate Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Production and Evaluation of Activated Biochar from Shrub Willow for Water & Wastewater Treatment Applications

• Nosa Egiebor, Professor, Environmental Resources Engineering, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
• Tao Wendong, Associate Professor, Environmental Resources Engineering, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Synthesis of Silicon, Tin and Phosphorus Nanoparticles as Anode Materials for High-Performance Sodium Ion Battery for Grid Scale Energy Storage

• Mohammad Islam, Associate Professor, Physics, SUNY Oswego

Projects were selected based on responses to a request for proposals issued by SyracuseCoE earlier this year. Each faculty member who is involved in a project is appointed as a SyracuseCoE Faculty Fellow for a three-year term. Eight new faculty members have been appointed. The program has supported nearly 60 researchers to date.

SyracuseCoE is New York State’s Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems, which is led by Syracuse University in collaboration with SUNY-ESF, SUNY Oswego, CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity and dozens of industry partners. To learn more visit the .

The goal of the Faculty Fellows program is to promote new research that will lead to future opportunities, including funding from federal agencies or commercial sources. The program began in 2015 and has supported 49 researchers and approximately $684,000 in project funding. Successful applicants are appointed to a three-year term as a SyracuseCoE Faculty Fellow and have opportunities to engage with cross-disciplinary faculty or industry members.

��SyracuseCoE Faculty Fellows collaborate to develop an urban building energy model. Pictured: Bess Krietemeyer, assistant professor in the School of Architecture; Jason Dedrick, professor in the School of Information Studies (iSchool); and Tarek Rahka, former professor in the School of Architecture.

The Faculty Fellows Program is open to full-time faculty members at SyracuseCoE’s current academic partner institutions: Syracuse University, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF) and SUNY Oswego. Projects with single faculty applicants may request up to $10,000 and projects that engage multiple faculty up to $20,000. All proposals must address how the funding will lead to a significant “next step” in their research and lead to or leverage follow-on funding opportunities. Research projects that strategically target cross-disciplinary collaboration, student engagement or economic development are encouraged.

SyracuseCoE is a designated New York State Center of Excellence and a unit of Syracuse University’s Office of Research. Awards under the Faculty Fellows program are made possible by funding from Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR).

Visit the for more information and to apply.

It is estimated that illnesses in dairy cow herds cost farmers more than $2 billion annually in the U.S. A startup led by alumnus Chuck Stormon ’83, G’86 has a solution that could revolutionize the industry. The company, Acumen Detection, has created technology that allows dairy farmers to definitively detect contagious pathogens in their herds earlier, and more accurately, than ever before, allowing them to improve the health of their cows and helping them optimize their milk production. Farmers use this data to prevent disease outbreaks, rather than just treating them when they arise.

Years before Stormon had any inclinations to serve dairy farmers, he was mastering computer engineering at Syracuse University. He earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree and had started his Ph.D. course work when his entrepreneurial side took over. He halted work on his Ph.D. and started a company based on an artificial intelligence chip that he had designed in grad school. It was the first of six successful companies that he cofounded. Stormon also established a venture fund for seed-stage startups.

His wealth of experience ultimately led him to his current position as CEO of Acumen, which indirectly brought him full-circle back to the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS). Acumen’s headquarters are in the Syracuse Center of Excellence (CoE) alongside many of the college’s research labs and industry partners. Professor Edward A. Bogucz, a former dean of the college, is the founding executive director of the CoE. Another former ECS dean, Professor Laura Steinberg, will step in as the CoE’s interim executive director when Bogucz returns to the ECS faculty this fall. Acumen also has lab space in Upstate Medical University’s Central New York (CNY) Biotech Accelerator, whose proximity and partnership with the CoE form the CNY Innovation Crossroads.

Acumen Detection’s products, the Acu-POLARIS system and assays, use “real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology” to identify Mycoplasma and other mastitis-causing pathogens by analyzing their DNA in just three hours. Anyone can efficiently operate the system right at the farm—no chemistry degree required. The system’s software guides through each step in the process.

On the same day that farmer identifies a pathogen, they can begin to treat the sick cow saving countless lost hours and gallons of wasted milk. Other solutions require farmers to send samples to a lab to identify the pathogens, adding days or weeks to the process.

“Illnesses can spread rapidly through a herd,” says Stormon. “With our product, a farmer can detect the contagion before a cow begins to show symptoms and isolate the infection there.”

Chris Terra, the general manager of RedTop Jerseys in Chowchilla, California, is a current Acumen customer. He says, “In our 6,000-head Jersey herd, we test 150 to 200 cows a week for Mycoplasma and Prototheca with the Acumen Detection system. We run composite samples from up to five cows on one test, and if one comes up positive, we just re-run the test for each cow. We act fast because in a herd this size, one or two Mycoplasma cases could turn into 20 or 40. With Acumen, we are able to learn in three hours what used to take seven days. This makes it easier to stop outbreaks and prevent positive cows from contaminating the herd.”

To date, Acumen serves dozens of farms, vets and milk labs throughout the U.S. and Canada. Stormon is confident that number will continue to grow as farmers learn about Acumen’s groundbreaking technology. Their detection system and assays are currently available through various dairy distributors. To learn more about Acumen, visit acumendetection.com.

Stormon credits his experiences at Syracuse University with setting him on the successful career trajectory that he enjoys today. As a student, he was mentored by Professor and Dean Emeritus Brad Strait ’58, G’60, G’65, who taught him about the importance of win-win partnerships between researchers and industry through the Center for Advanced Systems and Engineering at Syracuse University. CASE’s mission inspired Stormon and Strait’s support was formative for him as a young entrepreneur.

He says, “I think Syracuse University does great work in the area of entrepreneurship. CASE helped me on my entrepreneurial journey and now new activities around entrepreneurship, like the Blackstone Launchpad and the Invent@SU invention accelerators, carry on in that tradition. Entrepreneurship is an important part of any effective education ecosystem, and Syracuse University has properly made it central to their mission. I’m proud to live and work in a community of committed individuals who give of themselves daily to pay-it-forward and create the entrepreneurial ecosystem we enjoy today.”

Ed Bogucz, at podium, with U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, to his immediate right, and local officials at a SyracuseCoE media event.

For more than 15 years, has helped put Syracuse University at the forefront of addressing global challenges for cleaner energy and healthier built environments. Now, the founding executive director of SyracuseCoE, New York State’s Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems, is returning to the classroom—to teach, research and mentor—to prepare the next generation of innovators.

Beginning Sept. 1, , professor of civil and environmental engineering and executive director of the Syracuse University Infrastructure Institute, will serve as interim executive director of SyracuseCoE while a national search takes place. A search committee will be appointed once the new dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science is announced.

Ed Bogucz

Long before he took the helm of , Bogucz was building successful collaborations among university, industry and government partners in education, research, technology transfer and economic development projects as a faculty member and dean in Syracuse University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science. In August 2003, he was appointed SyracuseCoE executive director. To date, SyracuseCoE has engaged more than 200 companies and institutions in collaborative projects to tackle regional and global challenges in clean energy, indoor environmental quality and water resources. Bogucz helped to create an innovation ecosystem of research, demonstration and commercialization projects to bring energy and environmental innovations from lab to market.

“Ed is one of those stellar thinkers, innovators and inspiring leaders who helped elevate the entire research enterprise,” says John Liu, the University’s vice president for research. “He helped to bring significant federal and state funding to catalyze research, development and demonstration projects to accelerate innovations for cleaner energy, healthier buildings and more resilient communities. And he has attracted international attention to the University through his leadership in this field, including hosting the Healthy Buildings conference in 2009 and opening the LEED-Platinum living laboratory headquarters in downtown Syracuse, a thriving hub for industry-university collaborations. Last year, SyracuseCoE hosted the International Building Physics Conference, attracting hundreds of high-caliber researchers from all over the world to Syracuse.”

“I have had the privilege of helping Syracuse University rise to national prominence in the field of energy and environmental research and innovation,” says Bogucz. “Now, I look forward to returning to the classroom and collaborating with fellow faculty members to help prepare our students to be leaders in creating solutions for a low-carbon, resilient future.” Bogucz will be on a yearlong sabbatical before returning to the classroom in fall 2020.

Bogucz once told that the City of Syracuse was a laboratory “at a great scale … big enough to have density and small enough that you can study the whole thing.” At the time, the SyracuseCoE teamed up with collaborators from the����and , a local nonprofit developer,��to develop innovative designs for low-energy affordable homes, build them and verify their performance.

Under Bogucz’s leadership, SyracuseCoE supported more than 200 projects that assisted more than 70 local companies, which report creating or retaining more than 1,100 jobs to date. In addition, SyracuseCoE has supported more than 30 Syracuse University faculty members in seven schools and colleges through its Faculty Fellow program, which provides competitively awarded funding for seed projects.

Prior to the SyracuseCoE, Bogucz served more than eight years as dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science, where he is an associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, with teaching and research expertise in fluid mechanics, heat transfer and multidisciplinary analysis and design. Bogucz is a 2011 recipient of the Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence. The SyracuseCoE received the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership Award in 2010.

Bogucz is principal investigator or co-PI, or has served in these roles, for projects totaling more than $90 million to date from sponsors that include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Economic Development Administration, NASA, the National Science Foundation, NYSTAR, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, Empire State Development, the New York Power Authority, Carrier/United Technologies Corp. and National Grid.

Bogucz holds bachelor’s and doctoral degrees in mechanical engineering from Lehigh University and a master’s degree in heat transfer engineering from the University of London’s Imperial College. He joined the Syracuse University faculty in 1985.

Bush Technical Founder Bill Bush, Syracuse CoE Research Engineer Brian Carter, Elton Zhang ’19, and Chaohe Chen ’19 work on the micro-chiller breadboard.

While many people work in climate-controlled buildings, certain jobs require workers to toil in oppressive heat. Military personnel, firefighters, construction workers and many others don’t have many good options for keeping cool in their line of work.

This spring, a team of Syracuse University mechanical engineering students completed a senior capstone project to help solve this problem by designing a wearable system that provides “personal cooling.” ��The battery-powered system, a portable micro-chiller, will be compact and lightweight.

Affixed to a worker’s belt, it will connect to a tube-lined vest worn close to the wearer’s skin. Water circulates��through the vest where it draws heat from the wearer and then through the micro-chiller where it is continually cooled. The team designed the system to operate up to four hours on a single battery charge and provide the wearer with temperature control through a smartphone app. They aim to create a product that will sell for under $2,000.

The students’ work is the second phase of a three-year project for , a one-man technical consulting and contracting company that specializes in compressor technology. With his operations headquartered in the , Bill Bush oversees the students’ efforts and provides the micro-compressor technology that makes their design possible.

Under the advisement of Bush and their faculty advisor , this year’s student team advanced the project by designing a “breadboard” prototype and conducting experiments that demonstrated that their concept could work. This year’s work was completed by Matthew Barni ’19, Chaohe Chen ’19, Joseph DePalma ’19, Molly Donovan ’19, Sarah Mathison ’19 and Elton Zhang ’19.

“I’ve seen engineers design a great system that can’t be realistically made and scaled,” says Bush. “With the working unit this team built, we can develop our parameters, uncover limitations, and gather the data to inform how to run a real system that can be built and rebuilt at a reasonable cost.”

Bush established his relationship with Syracuse University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science through a research partnership with . Khalifa turned to Bush to develop a tiny micro-scroll compressor for a project sponsored by the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) to develop .

Bush says, “When Dr. Khalifa first told me what he wanted me to design, I didn’t think it would perform. We gave it a try, and we actually beat our target by 17 percent. This started with a sketch on a napkin, and now we’re contemplating a factory design to produce these.”

The wearable personal micro-chiller that the students designed relies on a similar system.

Bush hopes that next year, a new team of mechanical engineering seniors will be tasked with creating a functional prototype of the personal micro-chiller that is small enough to be worn comfortably. There will also be an opportunity for computer science students to develop an application that controls the device.

Bush is also an adjunct professor in ECS, teaching senior design lab sessions. Given his experience and involvement with Khalifa’s high-profile research, Bush located his company’s operations in SyracuseCoE’s cutting-edge research facility. Last year, Bush Technical won funding from SyracuseCoE’s Innovation Fund that supported a team of mechanical engineering students who completed a capstone design project that focused on manufacturing the micro-scroll compressor. Bush Technical is an exemplar of SyracuseCoE’s mission to connect companies with students and faculty to develop new technologies.

Both Bush and his students, speak positively about the project’s potential and the experience. From providing authentic engineering experience for the students and skilled labor for a small local tech company, the partnership offers clear benefits for everyone involved as well as an opportunity for innovation to bloom.

“By getting paired with an actual company, it definitely simulates working in the real world. This project was almost a mini-internship,” said Donovan. “It’s been a really cool experience.”

No pun intended.

Image courtesy of Michael Pelken and Vasilena Vassilev

When College of Engineering and Computer Science Professor Jianshun “Jensen” Zhang set out to develop a software platform that would integrate and optimize the design of green buildings, little did he know it would lead to an international collaborative project and the creation of a demonstration building for indoor air quality (IAQ) and energy conservation in China.

“It’s quite an interesting project that is still evolving,” says Zhang, an IAQ, and material emissions expert. “Now we are getting into the building performance with measurements and feedback.”

Known as the P+ Demonstration Building, it is located in the Wujin Green Building Industry Demonstration Zone in Changzhou, a city situated in the Yangtze delta between Nanjing and Shanghai. Among its features, the 6,500-square-foot building is equipped with environmental smart-control sensors, hybrid ventilation (natural and mechanical), a solar chimney that creates natural ventilation, solar panels, photovoltaic glass and an outdoor air purification system provided by project collaborator HealthWay, a Central New York-based company and Syracuse Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems (SyracuseCoE) partner.

The three-story building has space designated for classroom training, offices and a demonstration apartment. Outside the entrance, a buffer layer introduces clean air into the building. The building, funded by the local government and completed in 2016, is one of many in the demonstration park, which introduces the green building technologies of international companies to the Chinese market.

The country’s booming construction trade and pollution concerns create ideal opportunities to implement such technologies, Zhang says. “If you make some improvement in air quality, the impacts are huge, and the potential for improvement is huge.”

According to Zhang, who heads SU’s Building Energy and Environmental Systems Laboratory in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, the project began as academic research more than a decade ago and has expanded through several international collaborations. With funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and SyracuseCoE, Zhang and then School of Architecture professor P. Michael Pelken went to work developing the Virtual Design Studio (VDS), a software platform for integrated, performance-based building system design.

Originally envisioned as a teaching tool, VDS sparks collaboration between architects and engineers through simulation exercises, analysis of energy and environmental systems, and design modifications. Zhang also collaborated with Professor Menghao Qin, then director of the Center for Sustainable Building Research at Nanjing University (NJU), and now a faculty member at the Danish Technical University. Qin, Zhang, and Pelken launched a VDS summer course through Syracuse Abroad at the NJU School of Architecture and Urban Planning to train and educate SU and NJU engineering and architecture students in integrative design.

The partnerships continued to build as well. In 2015, SU and NJU established the International Center for Green Buildings and the Urban Environment, which focuses on sustainable building technology research. When the opportunity arose to employ VDS in creating the demonstration building, the P+ Design Group was formed with Pelken and Vasilena Vassilev (cofounders of P+ Studio in London), Zhang, Qin, and Charlie Cheng, a Changzhou businessman who became project construction manager. The five met via Skype every Saturday for six months to discuss the design.

Along with showcasing new green building technologies and serving as a case-study building for the VDS course, the P+ Demonstration Building is used as a research testbed for the ongoing International Energy Agency Project Annex-68 Indoor Air Quality for Low-Energy Residential Buildings, a collaboration with participants from Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, and the United States. Designated by the U.S. DOE and supported by SyracuseCoE, Zhang serves as the U.S. representative.

While Zhang’s work on VDS continues with ECS doctoral students, he sees the P+ Demonstration Building and ongoing collaborations with Chinese colleagues as a small piece in the complex puzzle of improving energy conservation, controlling pollution, and reducing carbon emissions. “Ultimately,” he says, “the goal is to improve the health and well-being of the people.”

Jianshun “Jensen” Zhang

IBPC2018 was organized by the , the�� and the .

Zhang, a world-renowned expert in building energy and environmental systems engineering and design, says the conference brought a great deal of visibility to the University. “Syracuse has a lot to offer. It was a good opportunity for us to show what capabilities we have, including the multi-disciplinary faculty expertise and the world-class research facilities.”

Zhang points out the unique role of the CoE, which fosters collaboration among many disciplines at the University. The conference drew more than 350 scientists, engineers, architects and Ph.D. students.

The theme of IBPC2018 was “Healthy, Intelligent, and Resilient Buildings and Urban Environments.” Its forums included presentations of original research and development work and findings, demonstrations and exhibitions of innovative green building technologies, and discussions of future challenges and opportunities.

Coinciding with the conference was a Ph.D. course sponsored by the International Association of Building Physics, where Zhang and Carsten Rode of the Danish Technical University and John Grunewald of Dresden University of Technology in Germany, presented lectures on modeling and measurement methods for coupled heat, air, moisture and pollutant transport and storage in buildings.

The course drew 20 students from the U.S., Canada and Europe. It included a forum and workshop on the CHAMPS (Combined Heat, Air, Moisture and Pollutant Simulations) software platform, which is a 15-year collaboration between the three countries along with the University of La Rochelle, France; the University of Tokyo, Japan; and Tsinghua University and Nanjing University, China. CHAMPS is used by researchers, engineers and architects.

“There were two purposes,” Zhang says. “The first was to teach state-of-the-art modeling in CHAMPS,” he said, which included lectures, labs and experiments. “The other was the opportunity for Ph.D. students in the field to exchange and discuss ideas. It was very nice and interesting to see their interactions, and some of which generated new research ideas and collaborative projects.”

Three major themes stand out for Zhang when reflecting on the entire conference. First was its breadth. Presentations and demonstrations ranged from the material level, nanoscale, to the room scale, to the building environment to urban scale, Zhang said. Second was the high quality of the presentations. “I was very impressed with the technical presentations,” Zhang says. “There was very good technical depth.” Third was the integration of different disciplines in exploring all aspects of buildings.

Increased multidisciplinary approaches to building are something Zhang has noted throughout his 30-year career. “You can see more architects who are interested in the performance of a building,” Zhang says. “And engineers are interested in form and how the buildings look.”

Looking forward, Zhang is excited about the most recent formation of the Syracuse University research clusters, one of which is Energy and Environment that encompasses healthy and intelligent buildings. The interdisciplinary research activities in the Energy and Environment cluster will no doubt further strengthen Syracuse University’s competitiveness in this important field.

Joshua Aviv receives his trophy from New York Lieutenant Governor and SU alumna Kathy Hochul ’80 at the 43North awards ceremony.

Joshua Aviv ’14 G’17, founder and CEO of , a company that produces a portable, fast charging battery unit for electric vehicles, has earned the top prize of $1 million at 43North, a Buffalo, New York-based startup competition.

The grew out of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Buffalo Billion initiative. Launched in 2012, Buffalo Billion provided for a $1 billion investment in the Buffalo-area economy to create jobs and spur new investment and economic activity and grew to generate new business ventures throughout Western New York.

Aviv credits the initial idea for his company, in part, to his undergraduate experience at Syracuse University and his class in Environmental and Resource Economics (ECN 437). His idea was later refined through graduate course work at the and with entrepreneurship support and coaching at the and the .

“It’s been thrilling to watch Josh take his project from the first gleam of an idea into the prize-winning, successful company it has become,” says Professor , an economist who teaches about energy and environmental policy at the and the , where he also directs the . “I remember when he first started talking about his idea for EV charging and his vision for bringing it into reality over the course of the semester. In fact, I still have his first business card from that semester on my wall. He’s a born entrepreneur: smart, hard-working, a natural leader and completely undaunted by obstacles.”

Aviv went on to complete his undergraduate degree in economics in 2014 and stayed at Syracuse to work on his venture as he transitioned to graduate studies in at the iSchool.

As a participant in the iSchool’s program, Aviv took his project to the accelerator, where he received guidance from iSchool adjunct faculty member and Sandbox director . His original business idea centered around stationary charging units for electric vehicles, and Aviv donated a set of his early prototype chargers to SU in 2017.

After several refinements to the original idea, SparkCharge’s vehicle charging unit is now small enough to fit in the trunk of a car, and charges electric vehicle batteries at level 3 speed, giving drivers one mile for every 60 seconds.

“Josh has shown the tenacity it takes to be a successful entrepreneur,” says Liddy. “As an avid supporter of electric vehicles, his pursuits have iterated from charging stations to portable batteries that prevent range anxiety.”

As his time at the Sandbox wound down, Aviv completed an internship at the SyracuseCoE and joined the Blackstone LaunchPad, where he worked to develop and refine his business plan.

The Blackstone staff and their far-reaching entrepreneurship network helped to coach Aviv and his team, which led to Aviv’s success in securing a slot at the TechStars accelerator earlier this year. In his run up to TechStars, Aviv also won the $100,000 grand prize at the New York State Business Plan Competition in 2017 and took in both the 2017 Compete CNY regional qualifier and the joint iSchool/Blackstone LaunchPad iPrize competition. Research and development initiatives for Aviv’s company are still based at the SyracuseCoE.

“Josh’s tremendous win at 43North showcases Syracuse’s strengths across data science, social science, technology and entrepreneurship, and demonstrates how the environment here gives students the tools and the support to imagine and build something amazing,” notes , dean of the Syracuse University Libraries, home of the BlackStone LaunchPad. “He did a masterful job of explaining his product, the company potential and why Buffalo should invest in him.”

In Buffalo, Aviv competed against 17 other finalists from across the country. In addition to the cash prize of $1 million, Aviv will receive formal mentorship, 12 months of free incubator space, marketing assistance and freedom from New York State taxes for 10 years, both for his company and the personal income of his employees. He is expected to move his company to Buffalo in early 2019.

“I love seeing student success like this. I see it as part of a continuously building effort of many people that started years ago,” says iSchool adjunct professor , co-founder of the IDS program. “It continues to increase momentum, scale and scope. Josh and his team are exemplary and demonstrate pure and relentless entrepreneurial spirit. Congratulations to Josh, his team and the entire Syracuse University startup community!”

The theme of the conference is “Healthy, Intelligent, and Resilient Buildings and Urban Environments.” The conference program includes six keynote presentations, more than 250 podium and poster presentations, workshops, networking and more.

The conference takes place every three years as part of the official international conference series of the International Association of Building Physics (IABP). The IBPC2018 is the first time the conference is being held in the United States; previously, the conference was held in Eindhoven, The Netherlands (2000); Leuven, Belgium (2003); Montreal, Canada (2006); Istanbul, Turkey (2009); Kyoto, Japan (2012); and Torino, Italy (2015).

Syracuse was selected as the host city for the IBPC2018 based on Syracuse University’s exceptional research and teaching strengths in multiple areas, including energy and environmental systems, healthy and equitable communities, and innovation and entrepreneurship. The conference is jointly organized by the (SyracuseCoE), (ECS) and the .

“IBPC2018 will be the first time this international conference is being held in the United States. It provides an opportunity for more North American delegates to participate in this important international event” says IBPC2018 Chairman , professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering in ECS. “Syracuse University is honored to lead the program committee as the first American host for this transformative event in building physics. A multi-disciplinary team of 15 faculty members from four Syracuse University colleges and schools serve on the Technical Program Committee to lead the organization of the various topic areas ranging from nano-scale materials to building and city-scale energy and environmental systems. ”

“Syracuse is the ideal location for IBPC’s inaugural U.S. location because Central New York’s
industry cluster in environmental and energy systems has become an international leader with research strengths in high-performance building systems,” says Edward Bogucz, executive director of SyracuseCoE. “SyracuseCoE looks forward to welcoming colleagues from around the world who will share the latest advances in research and innovations for healthy and resilient buildings and urban environments.”

“Syracuse University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science is home to international leaders in research, development and demonstration of technologies that contribute to healthy, intelligent and resilient buildings,” says ECS Dean Teresa A. Dahlberg. “IBPC2018 will bring together outstanding and accomplished thought leaders in indoor environmental quality and high-performance buildings, providing promising opportunities for future collaboration, innovation and entrepreneurship.”

“Architecture is a practice in transition, and Syracuse Architecture is evolving with it.,” says Michael Speaks, dean of Syracuse Architecture. “IBPC2018 will address crucial issues in architectural practice. Our new faculty have a strong focus on the research and design of high performance buildings, and there is tremendous opportunity for impactful international collaborations at this event.”

The conference runs from Sunday, Sept. 23, through Wednesday, Sept. 26, at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown (formerly the Hotel Syracuse). It covers a wide range of research topics cutting across multiple scales of built environmental systems ranging from nano-material applications to microenvironments around occupants, to rooms and whole buildings, and neighborhood and urban scales.

The goal of the conference is to advance the collective understanding of the nature and behavior of the cyber-physical systems in these different scales, how they interact, and what can be done to optimize their design and operation for healthy, intelligent and resilient buildings and urban environments.

IBPC2018 session topics include:

• Building Materials, Assemblies, And Enclosure Systems
• Interactions Between Buildings and the Urban Environment
• Intelligent Monitoring and Management Systems
• Human Factors: Occupant Perception, Behavior, and Impact on Building Performance
• Indoor Environmental Quality (Air, Thermal, Daylighting, Artificial Lighting, Acoustical,
Visual)
• Environmental Control Equipment and Systems
• Modeling, Simulation and Design Processes
• Innovative Energy and Power Generation and Management
• Policy and Economics
• Mission Critical Environmental Systems

More information on the conference, including an overview program, is available at .

About SyracuseCoE
SyracuseCoE is New York State’s Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems.
Led by Syracuse University, SyracuseCoE engages faculty, students and collaborators to
catalyze innovations that improve energy efficiency, environmental quality and resilience in
healthy buildings and cleaner, greener communities. Visit for more
information.

About Syracuse University

Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and nearly 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience. The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors and 100 minors offered through 13 schools and colleges; nearly 15,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit��.

The finalists in one of the world’s largest business plan competitions represent top companies in life sciences, B2B tech, consumer products and clean tech/manufacturing. They were selected from 485 applications.

Josh Aviv ’14, G’17

SparkCharge “launched” from the to acceleration stage as part of Techstars in Boston. SparkCharge developed a portable, ultrafast charging unit for electric vehicles that fits in the trunk of a car and charges at level 3 speed, giving users one mile every 60 seconds. Aviv developed and launched the company as a student at SU. R&D operations for the company are based at the , led by CTO Christopher Ellis and lead systems engineer Richard Whitney.

The company has achieved significant milestones, growing from a college student’s idea to an award-winning company that has won many awards, including the grand prize in the 2017 New York State Business Plan Competition.

SparkCharge has raised institutional funding and is now rapidly scaling. The company’s latest investment round closed in spring 2018.

Supporting SparkCharge’s growth is PJC, a Boston-based venture capital firm that focuses on consumer and enterprise technology investments. PJC takes an active approach to building market-leading companies with innovative founders and serial entrepreneurs. The firm and its partners have backed market-leading companies across multiple industries such as Nest Labs, Yandex, Expensify and GetWellNetwork.

The 43North Finalists for 2018:

• AXIS is developing a retrofit solution for motorizing window shades; the company developed Gear, a smart device that motorizes and automates any existing window shade in minutes. Hometown: Toronto
• Capti is reinventing reading to enable authentically inclusive education. Its mission is to empower people to process information more effectively. The company’s product is Capti Voice–a reading assistant for students of all abilities that helps students keep up with their reading. Hometown: Stony Brook, New York
• Dimien is a growing business dedicated to solving clear, defined market challenges in cleantech by leveraging chemical manufacturing routes to unique compounds that provide its strategic partners with a competitive advantage in the market. Hometown: Buffalo
• Forsake designs all-weather boots and sneakers for travel and adventure. Hometown: Boston
• HiOperator provides customer service-as-a-service. HiOperator helps companies overcome the classic challenges of customer service through a combination of automation, technology and amazing people. Hometown: San Francisco
• Immersed Games helps teachers deliver hands-on, Next Generation Science learning—with a video game! The game, Tyto Online, builds science and engineering skills with student experiences like solving an invasive species problem, building ecosystems and breeding dragons. Teachers assign standards-aligned content and receive student assessments based on gameplay. Hometown: Gainesville, Florida
• Innovative Wellness Systems is a biomechanical footwear, technology and data analytics company. The IWS team has more than 30 years of footwear, technology and medical experience to provide smart solutions for health and wellness problems as an integral part of the mobile health ecosystem. Hometown: Dover, Massachusetts
• Kickfurther is the world’s first inventory crowdfunding platform where anyone can support the growth of brands they love. Hometown: Boulder, Colorado
• LegWorks is a social enterprise revolutionizing access to high-quality prosthetics for amputees. The company believes every amputee, no matter where they live, has the right to walk with confidence. LegWorks designs, manufactures and distributes innovative and patented prosthetic technologies, and uses a tiered-pricing model to serve diverse patients globally. Hometown: Buffalo
• Magnusmode leverages mobile technology to help people with autism and cognitive special needs live with greater inclusion and independence. The company’s flagship product, MagnusCards, helps people worldwide to learn life skills (e.g. cooking, traveling, personal care) through partnership with content-producing customers, including Colgate, CIBC, A&W and Toronto Pearson Airport. Hometown: Waterloo, Ontario
• MF Fire is a team of fire scientists engineering the perfect wood stove. The company’s MIT-award-winning, app-driven, smart wood stove delivers the cleanest burn ever achieved. MF Fire re-imagined wood stoves as clean energy sources and created smart technology that’s up to 60 times cleaner, releases 30 percent less CO2 and achieves 90 percent real-world efficiency. Hometown: Baltimore
• NaturAll Club uses food technology to offer the first hair products on the market made from fresh ingredients like avocado pulp, bananas and coconut creme. NaturAll Club connects customers with the right hair ingredients using an algorithm quiz on its eCommerce site. Hometown: Philadelphia
• Routeique synchronizes supply chains. The company align partners, large and small, to enable data and product to flow seamlessly from partner to partner. From the largest manufacturers to their networks of distributors, to retailers large and small, Routeique ties them all together into a single, harmonious system, improving profitability along the way. Hometown: Vancouver
• Rozzy Learning Company is a subscription-based software company that sells digital education materials with a focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) and careers. In 18 months, the company signed up more than 400 schools, generated over $300,000 in revenue, and retained 98 percent of its clients. Hometown: St. Louis
• Savormetrics is a technology leader in Artificial Intelligence-driven, portable sensing devices that provide businesses in the food sector with meaningful food safety and quality metrics. Savormetrics helps food processors, grocery chains and grain elevators reduce shrinkage costs due to spoilage, regulatory issues and out-of-spec recalls. Hometown: Mississauga, Ontario
• SparkCharge offers a portable electric vehicle charging unit that is small, ultra fast and modular. Since the chargers are compact, they can be delivered to an EV owner on demand via Uber, Lyft or AAA. This creates a mobile on-demand charging infrastructure allowing electric vehicle owners to have their cars charged ultra fast anywhere. Hometown: Syracuse, New York
• Touchjet is a unified collaboration platform with hardware, software and a SaaS business model transforming how people collaborate digitally in meeting rooms and classrooms. The company’s solution is cost effective to enable large touchscreen interactivity with mobile integration and cloud services for people to share content and collaborate. Hometown: Campbell, California
• Water Hero is an IoT device that allows individuals to control water with their smartphone. The user gets real-time water usage information. A user can turn water on/off remotely, and if a pipe breaks in the user’s house, Water Hero automatically shuts off the water and sends the user a text. Hometown: Beverly, Massachusetts

More about the competition:

43 North is funded by New York State and supported by sponsors such as the New York Power Authority. As of September 2018, 43North’s portfolio of 37 companies achieved a combined $108 million in outside investment, and conservative estimates place the portfolio’s total valuation at $332 million, an increase of more than $300 million since 43North’s inception in 2014. These startups are collectively responsible for more than 250 full-time jobs based in Western New York, with new hires added nearly every day.

Those interested in attending this year’s finals are encouraged to reserve their seats now through , the Shea’s Performing Arts Center box office and .�� Details on the event are below:

43North Finals

Wednesday, Oct. 3

6-8:30 p.m. (Doors open at 5 p.m.)

Shea’s Performing Arts Center, 646 Main St., Buffalo

Amber Waves

Carr served as the lead for the project, which was designed for the SyracuseCoE, New York State’s Center of Excellence for Environmental and Energy Systems. Designers Rob Englert of RAM ID and Meyer Giordano, a part-time instructor in VPA’s Department of Transmedia, also served as members of the project team.

“Energy harvesting systems that capture wind and solar energy are currently based on mechanical systems,” says Carr. “However, the path forward for future energy solutions will need to be intelligent, benign and responsive to the smallest of atmospheric changes. As designers, it’s imperative that we pose ideas that question the status quo and point the way to a more sustainable future.”

Amber Waves is now eligible for a Core77 Community Choice Award, which is voted on by the public through July 12. To vote for Amber Waves and learn more about the project, visit the on the Core77 website.

Carr is a Syracuse CoE Faculty Fellow whose research focuses on biomimicry and biophilia. In VPA’s School of Design he is program coordinator of the master of fine arts (M.F.A.) in design and the undergraduate program in industrial and interaction design.

Recognizing excellence in all areas of design enterprise, the Core77 Design Awards celebrates the richness of the design profession and its practitioners. Fourteen categories of entry are presented, providing designers, researchers and writers a unique opportunity to communicate the intent, rigor and passion behind their efforts. From client work to self-initiated projects and entrepreneurial endeavors, they embrace a wide diversity of enterprise: commercial, cultural, social, environmental and discursive.

One of the current Faculty Fellow teams working on the project “Community Energy Dashboard: A Tool for a Community Energy Approach”: SU School of Architecture assistant professors Bess Krietemeyer and Tarek Rakha along with Jason Dedrick, professor in SU’s School of Information Studies.

The Faculty Fellows Program is open to faculty members who hold full-time appointments at SyracuseCoE Academic Partner institutions: Syracuse University, SUNY Upstate Medical University and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF). All proposals must address how the use of the Faculty Fellow seed funding will lead to a significant “next step” in the research, lead to or leverage follow-on funding opportunities, and contribute to establishing SyracuseCoE and its Partner institutions as thought leaders in the targeted area. In addition, projects are encouraged to strategically target research topics that hold promise for contributing to economic development of local entities and New York state businesses.

SyracuseCoE has released a Request for Proposals and intends to award up to $75,000 in this round. Proposals for seed projects that engage multiple faculty members may request up to $20,000. Seed projects involving a single faculty member are eligible to receive up to $10,000. The deadline for applications is July 15, 2018.

The 2018-19 round of projects in the SyracuseCoE Faculty Fellows Program were in October 2017. Eight research and innovation projects led by faculty members from Syracuse University, SUNY-ESF, and SUNY Upstate Medical University were competitively selected to receive awards totaling $112,750, engaging a total of 17 faculty members.

SyracuseCoE is a unit of Syracuse University’s Office of Research. Awards under the Faculty Fellows Program are made possible by funding to support SyracuseCoE activities awarded by Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR).

About SyracuseCoE

SyracuseCoE is New York State’s Center of Excellence for Environmental and Energy Systems. Led by Syracuse University, SyracuseCoE��engages faculty, students and collaborators to catalyze innovations that improve energy efficiency, environmental quality and resilience in healthy buildings and cleaner, greener communities. Visit for more information.

Take a test drive at the center at 727 E. Washington St. and enter to win a variety of prizes. Test drives are on a first-come, first-served basis with a valid driver license.

Vehicles include the following:

• BMW X5 E (Plug in SUV)
• Chevrolet Bolt
• Chevrolet Volt
• Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid
• Mitsubishi Outlander (Plug-In)
• Nissan Leaf (BEV)
• Toyota Prius Prime

Learn about available state and federal

Save money at the pump and never go to a gas station again, with an average savings of $700-$1,000 per year.

Reduce your environmental impact and your carbon emissions by 60 percent.

NYSERDA, Charge NY and SyracuseCoE are sponsoring the event.

The event will begin with the panel discussion “Canada: (Green) Building on Innovation,” featuring green building experts from Clarkson University, New York State Energy Research & Development (NYSERDA), Nedlaw Living Walls and Building Owners and Managers Association Canada. Discussions on green building are essential for progress toward a clean energy North American economy, as well as movement for a reduction of emissions. The panelists will discuss new technologies currently in development, the real estate market, current innovation growth policies and the climate change partnership between Canada and the Empire State. The panel will be moderated by Ed Bogucz, executive director of SyracuseCoE and associate professor in the , Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

Following the panel discussion, conversations will be continued over food and beverages at the reception in the SyracuseCoE lobby. The reception begins at 5 p.m. For more information, or to register by April 2, email rsvp.ny@international.gc.ca or call 716.566.2321. SyracuseCoE is located at 727 E. Washington St., Syracuse.

The Canada Day event coincides with the 16th Annual , which will be hosted in Syracuse April 5-6 at Marriott Syracuse Downtown. The conference brings together top green building researchers, educators and practitioners.

About Syracuse University

Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings and an��undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic , with a global footprint, and��, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience. The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors and 100 minors offered through 13 schools and colleges; nearly 15,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit .

Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) launches Monday, Nov. 13, with Syracuse University and community networking events, workshops, lectures and competitions. The celebration, from Nov. 13-17, is the world’s largest celebration of entrepreneurship. Its purpose is to inspire and educate ideators and innovators, and help them advance their ideas by connecting with campus, community and global leaders.

Coordinated on campus by the Blackstone LaunchPad at Syracuse University, in collaboration with many partners, #GEW2017Syracuse is part of a 165-country festival that empowers innovators at all stages—from start-up to scale-up.��This year marks the 10th anniversary of Global Entrepreneurship Week, with global activities ranging from large-scale competitions to roundtable discussions, pitch competitions and meetups. GEW is an avenue for aspiring entrepreneurs to discover possibilities and exciting opportunities.

Activities throughout the week will engage all parts of Syracuse’s entrepreneurship ecosystem—entrepreneurs, educators, researchers, resource providers, community members and more—to help entrepreneurs to unleash their ideas, become self-starters and engage in start-up thinking.

All events are open to the community free of charge, unless otherwise noted. Participants are encouraged to use social media to share their ideas and experiences this week using the hashtags #GEW2017, #GEW2017Syracuse, or @GEW2017, @GEW2017Syracuse.

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Featured events:

Monday, Nov. 13—Kick-off day

Noon-1 p.m., Bird Library, Peter Graham Scholarly Commons
Campus Kick-off event, Invent@SU, with founders of the Invention Factory and the Invent@SU team
Welcome by Dean David Seaman, Syracuse University Libraries, remarks by Dean Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg, , featured presentation by the founders of the Invention Factory at Cooper Union, who also helped collaborate to launch Invent@SU, Eric Lima and Alan N. Wolf.�� Featuring Invent@SU students. Opening reception.

Noon-1 p.m. The Tech Garden, 235 Harrison St., Syracuse
Community Kick-off event, Money Monday Luncheon
Join the Tech Garden team and guest speakers for a lively luncheon on how to learn and leverage tools and techniques to help grow your bottom line.

5-7 p.m., Flaum Hall, Whitman School of Management
Funder-Founder Forum speed networking event for top student ventures and potential funders
Sponsored by the Whitman School’s entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises program with the Falcone Center and Couri Hatchery, this popular event gives student entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch their ideas, one on one to a variety of funders, and get instant feedback on how to become investment ready.

7-��8 p.m., Café Kubal, University Avenue
E-Club Coffee Happy Hour

8-9:30 p.m., Whitman Room 007
E-Club Guest Speaker Joshua Anton, CEO of X-Mode Social
Joshua Anton co-founded his student venture at the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia, and quickly grew it to more than 1.5 million installs at more than 200 colleges, and raised more than $1.3 million in seed funding. How did he do it? Learn his secrets to “start and scale.”

��Tuesday, Nov. 14—Social Entrepreneurship Day

��8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. each day, first floor lobby, Nancy Cantor Warehouse, 350 W. Fayette St.
CONFRONTED.EDU
Through the process of design thinking, communications design majors in��the College of Visual and Performing Arts’ School of Design are confronting some of the social and political problems of our time through “CONFRONTED.EDU,” an education in social consciousness. Come see the multimedia solutions, including an interconnected exhibition scale model, posters and digital experiences.

��11 a.m., Whitman Room 004
Global Social Skype with SU EEE entrepreneurs in Syracuse and EEE entrepreneurs in London
A global idea jam to share tips, techniques, tools and practices from “across the pond.”

3-4:30 p.m., Check in at Blackstone LaunchPad, Bird Library, Syracuse University
Impact Prize Competition
/2017/11/finalists-announced-for-inaugural-impact-prize-competition/
Finalists pitch from 3-4 p.m. for the inaugural Impact Prize, a student social entrepreneurship competition to identify new products, services and technologies that can produce cultural, economic, environmental or civic impact. More than 36 teams applied, with 13 finalists selected to compete for $5,000 in prize funding. Prize announcement by Gisela von Dran, awards ceremony and reception at 4:30 p.m. in Room 114 Bird Library.

6:30-8 p.m., Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel and Conference Center
Dining for Dollars
Sponsored by Syracuse University Career Services as part of #GEW2017Syracuse, this reservation-only three-course meal features professionals coaching students through navigating dinner etiquette and strategically asking for money for your venture. Preregistration was required through Career Services.

8-9 p.m., The IceBox,��School of Information Studies (iSchool)
Blockchain E-Meetup
Explore blockchain technology, which is currently underlying the cryptocurrency industry. The new SU Blockchain Club, based in the Blackstone LaunchPad, explores the inner workings of blockchain: what it is, how it works, its applications in business and even start to work on projects relating to blockchain. Learn more about who has made millions in cryptocurrency investments, expert researchers in the field and people who are starting companies with a blockchain focus. Want to join the club?�� Learn More: .

Wednesday, Nov. 15—Women in Entrepreneurship Day

All Day:�� WISE WBC, The Tech Garden, 235 Harrison St.
WISE Women’s networking, coaching and special events
��10-11 a.m., Blackstone LaunchPad, Bird Library
F3Force:�� Entrepreneurship Fueled by Female Faculty
Join iSchool Dean Liz Liddy and Barbara E. Jones, professor of practice, television/radio/film, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications/founder of StayBillety, for a roundtable on the challenges and opportunities of being a female founder.

1-2 p.m., Blackstone LaunchPad, Bird Library
Wonder Women Power Hour
Spend a power hour with SU student entrepreneurs who are trailblazers. Growth hackers, hustlers and hipsters, they are shaking it up and doing it their way. Be riveted by their stories. Erin Miller, Out There Productions and iSchool IDS connector; Julia Haber, founder of VISION student entrepreneurship club; Jamie Vinick, founder of Women in Leadership student club; and Sarah Grosz, president of the Syracuse University Entrepreneurship Club. Learn how they connected with top entrepreneurs across the country and growth-hacked their way to success.

��3-4:30 p.m., CNY Biotechnology Accelerator, 841 E. Fayette St.
Claudia Campbell-Matland�� “The Medical Device Product Journey” Webinar
From a 25-year career perspective and senior positions in R&D and business development, Campbell-Matland offers insight on mitigating risks as a part of quality management system approach to the medical device product lifecycle.�� Interested in biomedical innovation? Get insight from an expert.

3:30-5 p.m., SyracuseCoE, 727 E. Washington St.
Powered by Women:�� Clean Energy Entrepreneurship
SyracuseCoE celebrates Global Entrepreneurship Week with a Research and Technology Forum that features three women who have worked to commercialize innovations in energy and environmental systems. Presenters will offer personal insights on opportunities and challenges along their unique path of entrepreneurship and innovation. Featured speakers:�� Amy Casper, Eaton (Ephesus Lighting); Karen Livingston, SBDC advisor, EEE faculty and energy entrepreneur; and Amanda Chou, Thrive. Moderated by Cindy Oehmigen, director of e nergy and corporate services at the Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY). Reception follows presentation and discussion.��

7 p.m., Newhouse Innovation Lab
5th Medium
Come explore the 5th Medium, SU’s student virtual/augmented reality club. Don’t have experience with VR? No problem! 5th Medium provides access to various technologies and offers hands-on experiential learning. Learn more:�� 5thmedium@gmail.com.

Thursday, Nov. 16—Founder’s Day

Noon-1 p.m., Blackstone LaunchPad, Bird Library
Founders Brown Bag Luncheon
New to entrepreneurship? Just exploring? Get your questions answered by some of the top award-winning student entrepreneurs at SU. They have collectively raised $2.5 million in seed funding through crowdsourcing, business plan competitions and early stage funds. Here is your chance to meet them and pick their brains on your big idea. Learn from the best and get some best-in-class peer mentoring. Get a warm welcome, witty wisdom and solid advice from the winners who have walked the road. BYOB (Bring Your Own Brownbag).

3-4 p.m., Room 608, Bird Library, Syracuse University
Global Entrepreneurship, an International Student Perspective
Organized by Blackstone LaunchPad Global Fellows, this event features students from six countries sharing perspectives on entrepreneurship from their global perspective. The event will be moderated by the founders of . Established in 2017 at Syracuse University, Globalists is a student organization and media outlet that gives students a voice to start conversations about global issues and express their perspectives on various subjects.

4-5:30 p.m., The Tech Garden, 235 Harrison St.
Entrepreneur Throwdown at the TechGarden
Join community entrepreneurs for a fun-filled Pitch Throwdown, ’Cuse Style. Lighthearted lighting pitches will pit entrepreneurs from The Tech Garden, WISE Women’s Business Center, CoWorks and InSourcing for “global bragging rights” as the top dog in town. Winner gets the coveted prize globe, and everyone gets a “Get Happy” reception to wrap up #GEW2017Syracuse in style.

Friday, Nov. 17—Tech Commercialization Day

8 a.m.-5 p.m., Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel & Conference Center
NEXT 2017 Conference
/2017/11/next-conference-to-feature-commercialization-experts/
��NEXT is a conference focused on innovation in technology, manufacturing and biotech. The event brings together fast-track companies, managers, researchers, medical professionals, investors and entrepreneurs to meet and learn from each other and from international thought leaders and industry experts. The dynamic full-day program boasts two world-class keynotes: artificial intelligence and robotics guru Hod Lipson and internationally renowned neuroscientist and medical intelligence expert Dave Warner, as well as interactive educational workshops in three concurrent tracks. A technology showcase features breakthrough science from university and industry research teams and displays from businesses developing cutting-edge products, giving attendees a unique first-hand look at NEXT generation opportunities, tools and discoveries.

The conference is sponsored by the Central New York Biotech Accelerator, Center for Advanced Systems and Engineering (CASE) at Syracuse University and CNY Technology Development Organization (TDO) and the NYS Science and Technology Law Center at Syracuse University.

The dynamic, full-day program features panels on “Biotech Innovation” and “Manufacturing Excellence,” along with the NYSSTLC-organized track on “Legal Issues in Technology Commercialization.” The conference also brings to Syracuse two world-class keynote speakers: artificial intelligence and robotics guru Hod Lipson and internationally renowned neuroscientist and medical intelligence expert Dave Warner. Parallel to the conference, a Technology Showcase will feature breakthrough science from university and industry research teams and displays from businesses developing cutting-edge products, giving attendees a unique first-hand look at “NEXT generation” opportunities, tools and discoveries.

��All week

VISION Wall Pop-up at the Blackstone LaunchPad, Bird Library, Syracuse University
Vision for Entrepreneurs organization is located SU’s Blackstone LaunchPad. It is an Adobe-sponsored club that focuses on academic diversity within entrepreneurship, working with students across campus on various product initiatives and events. Activities have ranged from using technology tools to build an interactive design lab, to creating and promoting pop-up events across campus. Watch for a pop up at the Blackstone LaunchPad.

Follow events and see photos all week @LaunchPadSYR as well as by the many program partners.

“The SyracuseCoE Faculty Fellows Program bolsters discovery and innovation, strengthening Syracuse University’s growing research portfolio,” says John Liu, vice president for research at Syracuse University. “These awards provide early-stage funding to support both individual faculty research and collaborative, cross-disciplinary projects that leverage our strengths in multiple fields.”

Projects were selected based on responses to a request for proposals issued by SyracuseCoE earlier this year. SyracuseCoE is New York State’s Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems, which is led by Syracuse University in collaboration with SUNY ESF, SUNY UMU, SUNY Oswego, CenterState Corp. for Economic Opportunity and dozens of industry partners.

Each faculty member who is involved in a project is appointed as a SyracuseCoE Faculty Fellow for a three-year term. Eleven faculty members are newly appointed, increasing to 38 the number of current SyracuseCoE Faculty Fellows.

“We are thrilled that the SyracuseCoE Faculty Fellows program has attracted a diverse community of faculty members from seven schools and colleges at Syracuse University, SUNY ESF and SUNY UMU,” says Edward Bogucz, SyracuseCoE executive director and associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering in the at Syracuse University. “We look forward to supporting the success of the new round of faculty fellow projects, which are targeted to create innovations in environmental and energy systems.”

The projects, principal investigators (listed first), and their collaborators are:

Atmospheric Deposition and Trace Gas Exchange, and the Function of a Green Roof on the Syracuse Urban Landscape
Charles T. Driscoll, University Professor of Environmental Systems and Distinguished Professor, College of Engineering & Computer Science, Syracuse University

Freshwater Harmful Algal Blooms: An Overlooked Source of Carcinogenic Disinfection Byproducts
Teng Zeng, assistant professor, College of Engineering & Computer Science, Syracuse University

Evaluating the Ability of Land to Replicate Indian Point’s Electricity Supply Profile
Tristan Brown, assistant professor, forest and natural resource management, SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry
Marie-Odile Fortier, assistant professor, forest and natural resource management, SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry
Mike Kelleher, senior research associate, forest and natural resource management, SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry
Robert Malmsheimer, professor, forest and natural resource management, SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry
Tim Volk, senior research associate, forest and natural resource management, SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry
Enabling Advanced Compression Ignition Engines through Modeling of Biodiesel-Gasoline Combustion Chemistry
Ben Akih-Kumgeh, assistant professor, College of Engineering & Computer Science, Syracuse University
Theodore S. Dibble, professor and associate chair of chemistry, SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry

Impact Of Relative Humidity On Human Performance In Cold Climate Office Buildings—A Pilot Study
Usha Satish, professor, psychaitry and behavioral science, UMU
Suresh Santanam, associate professor, director of industrial assessment��center, College of Engineering & Computer Science, Syracuse University

Community Energy Dashboard: A Tool for a Community Energy Approach
Bess Krietemeyer, assistant professor, School of Architecture, Syracuse University
Tarek Rakha, assistant professor, School of Architecture, Syracuse University
Jason Dedrick, professor, School of Information Studies, Syracuse University

Development of Novel Quartz Crystal Microbalance Sensors for Environmental Signature Detection
James T. Spencer, Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor, College of Arts and Sciences, Syracuse University
Fred Schlereth, associate research professor, College of Engineering & Computer Science, Syracuse University

Towards an All Solid-State Calcium Ion Battery
Ian Hosein, assistant professor, College of Engineering & Computer Science, Syracuse University

More information on these projects may be found on SyracuseCoE’s web site.

The projects were made possible by funding to support SyracuseCoE activities awarded by Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR). The next request for proposals for the SyracuseCoE Faculty Fellows Program is planned for in spring 2018 for projects beginning in summer 2018.

Keynote speakers for this year’s Symposium are:

• Brewster McCracken, president and CEO of Pecan Street Institute, who will present “Bring on the data: How you can use data to solve cities’ greatest resource and environmental challenges
• John Fernandez, professor and director of the building technology program and the urban metabolism group at MIT, who will present “The future of cities and the MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative”; and
• Jeff Peterson, senior advisor for entrepreneurship at the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, who will present “Clean energy innovation and research partnerships for a sustainable future.”

“SyracuseCoE is proud to offer our 17^th annual��symposium, featuring work being done by our faculty fellows, their students and collaborators from around the country,”” says Edward Bogucz, executive director of SyracuseCoE and associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering in the at Syracuse University. “We look forward to attracting a diverse community of students, faculty members and practitioners to attend, and to fostering ‘intellectual collisions’ that lead to new collaborations.”

SyracuseCoE Faculty Fellows developed the programs for nine separate symposium sessions, which are organized in three parallel tracks: Water in Urban Environments, Energy Resources and Design in Urban Environments. Individual sessions include:

• “Climate change and urban systems,” chaired by Charles Driscoll, University Professor of Environmental Systems Engineering, Syracuse University;
• “Urban water and infrastructure,” chaired by Christa Kelleher, assistant professor of earth sciences and civil and environmental engineering, Syracuse University;
• “Hydrologic behavior in urban environments,” chaired by Laura Lautz, Jessie Page Heroy Professor and chair, Department of Earth Sciences, Syracuse University;
• “Improving combustion engines through reliable ignition prediction and control,” chaired by Ben Akih-Kumgeh, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, Syracuse University;
• “Advanced energy conversion and storage technologies,” chaired by Jeongmin Ahn, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, Syracuse University;
• “Biorefineries, biofuels and bioproducts,” chaired by Biljana Bujanovic, associate professor of paper and bioprocess engineering, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry;
• “Designed material systems,” chaired by Daekwon Park, assistant professor of architecture, Syracuse University.
• “Big data, urban energy modeling and visualization for community engagement” (two sessions), chaired by Bess Krietemeyer, assistant professor of architecture, Syracuse University, and Tarek Rakha, assistant professor of architecture, Syracuse University.

Further details regarding the presentations in each session and registration are available on the Symposium website at http://syracusecoe.syr.edu/2017-syracusecoe-symposium/.

The award will support a three-year project led by the Syracuse Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems (SyracuseCoE). The project will help start-up ventures and established companies develop innovations that monitor and control energy and environmental quality in built environments—homes, schools, offices, factories and neighborhoods—and in related applications, such as food production, transport and preservation.

“Syracuse University is fortunate to have outstanding faculty, staff and facilities to support research and entrepreneurship in energy and environmental systems,” says Syracuse University Vice President for Research John Liu. “This award is a great opportunity for us to put the highest levels of scholarship to work on an issue of vital significance to our communities and world—and help position Central New York as a leader in energy entrepreneurship.”

The award builds on successes of a four-year initiative to spur the rebirth of a Central New York industry cluster in “Advanced Manufacturing in Thermal and Environmental Controls (AM-TEC).” The AM-TEC initiative, which was led by SyracuseCoE in partnership with six other organizations and institutions, engaged 66 regional manufacturers, created or retained 98 jobs and resulted in more than $4 million in increased sales.

“The new project will ensure the long-term vitality of the fledgling AM-TEC cluster by connecting innovators to customers in major markets, and developing and testing proofs-of-concept of envisioned innovations,” says Ed Bogucz, executive director of SyracuseCoE and associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at Syracuse University. “We want to continue to build on our region’s historic strengths in thermal and environmental control-related manufacturing—and to encourage development of innovations that promote healthier indoor environments.”

The project includes activities that are designed to support the development of 10 new ventures and 15 new products commercialized by existing companies. The project team envisions that successful results will include 50 jobs created within two years after the conclusion of the project and 200 jobs created within five years after its conclusion.

The RIS program, led by the Department of Commerce’s Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, seeks to build innovation capacity-building activities in regions across the country. This is the fourth cohort of RIS awardees under the program.

The Academic-Industry Forum in Central New York focused on the future of drones and other unmanned aircraft. It provided a platform for participants to share the latest technological developments in UAS and share visions for UAS in science and civilian applications at local and regional level. The forum was hosted by the .

Dave Whitaker from attended to hear about the latest research being undertaken by SU faculty and private compaies. It was an opportunity to meet and network with engineers and collaborators who are working on a variety of challenges.

“It’s not just technical,” said Whitaker. “It is business, it is legal.”

Whitaker also wanted to hear about the latest research from College of Engineering and Computer Science faculty.

“A lot of these ideas are years away but this is a long-term project,” he said.

Commercial drone kits are widely available, and Vijay Srinvas from Assured Information Security said he was looking forward to providing researchers with a view of the current marketplace.

“We want to help find ways to apply the research and funding being done here to customer projects,” said Srinivas.

Participants agreed that enhanced collaboration is needed to develop a strategy for the development of a skilled workforce. “The main problem we face is talent acquisition,” commented Matt Snyder from Omnimesh, a Syracuse-area startup and one of the six .

For law enforcement agencies, drones could be used in search and rescue operations, accident scene reconstruction and to gather information at crime scenes. Auburn Police Chief Shawn Butler came to the forum knowing that Syracuse University has .

“I think it is a good start to see what SU is doing, leading us in the technology field,” said Butler.

Butler also appreciated the expertise of the attendees at the forum. Drones have a lot of appeal, but Auburn Police and others want to be sure they have the most up-to-date interpretations of FAA regulations.

“Drones give us a different vantage point, but we want to do it the right way,” said Butler.

In an era where smart cities, intelligent buildings and responsive environments will be expected to equally adapt to the built environment and to the building occupant, the development of new design tools and energy feedback systems are critical for predicting the aesthetic and performance impacts of our future buildings and cities. How will architects, engineers and city planners visualize and integrate the quantitative and qualitative effects of dynamic energy flows in accordance with adaptable systems and diverse human preferences?

Assistant professors Bess Krietemeyer and Amber Bartosh (School of Architecture) and interactive artist and software developer Lorne Covington (NOIRFLUX) discuss “Hybrid-Reality for Environmental Design” through the lens of ongoing design research at the SyracuseCoE Interactive Design and Visualization Lab and at the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology.

For more information, visit the .

, professor of forest and natural resources management at the (SUNY ESF), and , professor of supply chain practice at the , will conduct the research, which will focus on the use of sustainable structural wood in multifamily housing and commercial structures. Specifically, the researchers will examine the regulatory, political and economic barriers that contribute to the lack of adoption of CLT in construction projects. CLT is an environmentally friendly, cost-effective, quality product.

“Using CLT in commercial buildings, rather than concrete, masonry or steel provides significant supply chain, environmental and cost benefits for companies and organizations in the U.S.,” says Penfield. “Our research will be useful to the U.S. Green Building Council to share with its members who may not be aware of all the benefits of CLT.”

To promote research in sustainable enterprise, the SEP annually awards a grant of up to $20,000, which may be used for stipends, research assistants, materials, travel and other expenses. All faculty, Ph.D. students and other researchers from Syracuse University, SUNY ESF and the (SyracuseCoE) with interest in sustainable buildings and infrastructure are invited to apply. In keeping with the SEP’s emphasis on transdisciplinary collaboration and integration, investigators from at least two disciplines are required for each proposal. Projects that are highly likely to have a meaningful impact—publication in a reputably scholarly or practitioner journal, attracting external support, and/or practical implementation—are given priority.

The Sustainable Enterprise Partnership links the extraordinary resources of four Central New York institutions—the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Whitman School of Management,�� and the —to offer world-class education and research on sustainable enterprise and provide transdisciplinary understanding of sustainability.