SyracuseCoE Research & Technology Podcast

SyracuseCoE

SyracuseCoE is dedicated to bringing together researchers, industry leaders and technical practitioners to exchange the ideas and experiences that accelerate innovations in environmental and energy systems technologies. These podcasts highlight research, collaborations and projects by SyracuseCoE faculty and industry partners.

Episodes

  1. 10/19/2021

    Energy & Equity in Buildings - DOE EPIC GEB Project

    Buildings account for more than 70% of U.S. electricity consumption and power sector CO2 emissions. By combining energy efficiency and demand flexibility, grid-interactive efficient buildings (GEBs) can remake buildings into a clean and flexible resource, saving billions in power system costs, reducing carbon emissions and relieving stress on the nation’s grid. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, Grid-interactive Efficient Buildings (GEB) work to remake buildings into a clean and flexible energy resource by combining energy efficiency and demand flexibility with smart technologies and communications to deliver affordable, comfortable, productive, and high performing homes and buildings. SyracuseCoE held a kickoff webinar showcasing the new Energy & Equity in Buildings Project based on a $750,000 award from the U.S. Department of Energy to accelerate development and commercialization of innovations for energy hardware innovations, in the upstate New York region, designed to enhance ‘Grid-Interactive’ and Energy & Efficient Buildings. The panel included Monica Neukomm, Technology Manager for Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings (GEB) in the Energy Department’s Building Technologies Office (BTO), as well as by Ed Bogucz, Bess Krietemeyer, Bing Dong from Syracuse University, and Sarah Hood and Juhanna Rogers from CenterState CEO and Joseph Borowiec from NYSERDA. For more information about this program, visit the Energy & Equity in Buildings Project webpage or contact Tammy Rosanio at tlrosani@syr.edu.

    Energy & Equity in Buildings - DOE EPIC GEB Project
  2. 09/03/2021

    COVID Safety in Schools: A New Variant for a New Year

    Widespread school closings, like we've seen through the COVID-19 pandemic, create long-term individual and societal costs. It is in the best interest of children and families for schools to remain open. To do that, every effort must be made to keep children healthy. In the last year, we have learned a great deal about preventing COVID-19 transmission with in-person instruction. The delta variant now challenges us to make use of every layer of prevention. The good news is that children are at a lower risk than adults and there is a new body of evidence that shows that kids can be kept safe at school with a holistic, multi-layered plan to reduce exposure, limit transmission and respond to outbreaks. This fall, how can schools prioritize risk reduction measures for COVID-19? We will speak with Harvard researcher and exposure science expert Joseph Allen and East Syracuse Minoa School Superintendent Donna DeSiato to describe the most valuable strategies and how they can be effectively implemented in schools, even with limited budgets and staff. Read Dr. Allen's guest essay in Monday's New York Times, The Hard Covid-19 Questions We’re Not Asking. Speakers: Dr. Joseph G. Allen, Associate Professor of Exposure Assessment Science, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and co-author of Healthy Buildings Dr. Donna J. DeSiato, Superintendent, East Syracuse Minoa Central School District Moderator: Dr. Eric A. Schiff, Interim Executive Director, SyracuseCoE and Professor of Physics, Syracuse University

    COVID Safety in Schools: A New Variant for a New Year
  3. 04/09/2021

    Reopening Restaurants: How safe is it to dine-in again?

    A SyracuseCoE Research & Technology Forum and Panel Discussion What should restaurant goers take into consideration before reserving that table? What can restaurateurs do to make indoor dining safer? Approximately one year ago, the coronavirus pandemic shut down some of our favorite places to go – bars and restaurants. Frustrated and desperate, restaurateurs have been agile by innovatively reworking their business models, where possible, just to stay open. Take-out, outdoor dining and ghost kitchens helped keep restaurants afloat, but most state and local guidance does not allow 100% occupancy yet. There is light at the end of the tunnel. With vaccines rolling out and community transmission rates slowly descending, many are anxiously pondering – how safe is it to go out to eat now? Listen to a round table discussion with three experts: a buildings expert, a restaurateur and a public health expert who bring perspective and clarity to this complex question. The conversation highlights the factors that contribute to a safer restaurant reopening and dining out experience. Audience members ask the expert panel intriguing questions during the Q&A session. Panelists: Charles Bertuch, P.E., Principal, Bergmann Architects, Engineers and Planners Bertuch has more than 30 years professional experience as a consultant and plant engineer. He is currently Principal - Energy Solutions for Bergmann Associates in Syracuse, NY. He holds a M.S degree in Mechanical Engineering from Syracuse University. Visit Bergmann's website. Caitlin Gambee, Co-Owner, The Brewster Inn, Cazenovia, NY Gambee focuses on many of the important non-culinary aspects of running an award-winning restaurant and inn. She does the day-to-day bookkeeping as well as managing front desk / concierge staff, overseeing the hotel, managing the marina and all of the consumer-facing communications including website, social media, email blasts, etc. Her background is in marketing and events and she previously ran public relations and community relations campaigns for clients including the Boston Celtics, Dunkin’ Donuts and Converse. Visit The Brewster's website. Lisa Letteney, P.E., Director, Division of Environmental Health, Onondaga County Health Department, Syracuse, NY Letteney is currently the Director of Environmental Health for the Onondaga County Health Department and has been with the department for over 33 years. She holds a M.S. degree in Chemical Engineering and is a NYS licensed P.E. (Professional Engineer). In her Director's position she oversees the following programs: Food Protection (Restaurant Inspections), Temporary Residences and Recreational Facilities (Hotel/Motels, swimming pools, beaches, camps), Environmental Lead, Public Water Supply, Septic Systems, Mosquito Control, Rabies, and Tanning. Visit Onondaga County Health Department's website. Moderator: Eric A. Schiff, Ph.D., Interim Executive Director, SyracuseCoE and Professor of Physics, Syracuse University

    Reopening Restaurants: How safe is it to dine-in again?
  4. 12/16/2020

    Unexpected New Directions for the Future of Green Building

    Ian Shapiro, co-author of the newly released Green Building Illustrated, 2nd Edition, joins Dr. Nina Sharifi, an Assistant Professor of Architectural Technology at Syracuse University’s School of Architecture, to talk about updates to the new edition of the book, including: Will central heating systems be replaced by installing heat pumps in every room? Shape efficiency helps reduce energy and construction costs. How can we maximize this new metric and retain the character of external features? Lighting gains by LEDs and the thermal loss of excessive glazing may sunset a favorite green building strategy. Are the days of daylighting over? This is Shapiro’s second collaboration with Francis D.K. Ching, the illustrator and co-author of both editions of Green Building Illustrated. Ching is a well-known architecture and design graphics writer. Adobe Originals typeface, Tekton, was modeled after his hand-lettering style and is the font used throughout the book. Both editions present a fully illustrated guide to the theory and practice of sustainable design. The new edition continues to create a typology through strategy, theory and standards, while building the visual lexicon for sustainable design and construction. Students, faculty, practitioners and green building advocates – tune in to join the conversation about new directions in green building! Learn more and purchase your copy at Wiley.com or Amazon.com.

    Unexpected New Directions for the Future of Green Building
  5. 07/22/2020

    How Can Schools Manage Indoor Air to Stop the Spread?

    Experts Agree on Aerosol Transmission of COVID-19: How Can Schools Manage Indoor Air to Stop the Spread? A new school year is beginning soon. Understanding the ventilation and air quality of indoor spaces is critically important. With strong recommendations from 239 scientists from 32 countries, including faculty from Syracuse University, the World Health Organization is now acknowledging the evidence that COVID-19 can be transmitted through aerosol droplets. Viral particles become airborne when people sneeze, cough, sing, talk or breath. As students return to campuses and classrooms, how can faculty, teachers and building managers optimize ventilation and filtration strategies to help keep students and faculty healthy? From improved ventilation modifications, to HVAC and air filtration, to physical modification of spaces, we will be discussing the current knowledge of how to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus in indoor environments. Transcript coming soon. Speakers: Cliff I. Davidson, Thomas C. and Colleen L. Wilmot Professor of Engineering, Environmental Engineering Program Director of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University Jianshun “Jensen” Zhang, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Syracuse University and Visiting Professor, School of Architecture and Urban Planning at Nanjing University, China Mike Wetzel, PE, President & CEO, Air Innovations Visit the event webpage to view speakers bios.

    How Can Schools Manage Indoor Air to Stop the Spread?

About

SyracuseCoE is dedicated to bringing together researchers, industry leaders and technical practitioners to exchange the ideas and experiences that accelerate innovations in environmental and energy systems technologies. These podcasts highlight research, collaborations and projects by SyracuseCoE faculty and industry partners.