MONTREAL/May 30, 2006—
The President of Concordia University, Dr. Claude Lajeunesse, today announced the creation of a new research network. The Solar Buildings Research Network will be headquartered at Concordia University and will provide a nationally accessible base for research and development into the adaptation and innovative integration of new and existing solar and building technologies for the Canadian climate and marketplace.
“Solar energy is an important research topic for Canada,” said Dr. Lajeunesse. “This Network, headed by Dr. Andreas Athienitis, brings together an exceptional team of experts in the field. Their research promises to revolutionize the energy efficiency of our buildings and aid the development of new government policies.”
“This is a great example of the kind of research and technology development that are essential to achieving economic benefits for all Canadians,” said the Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) which is providing $4.7 million of the $5.4 million federal contribution to the initiative.
The Network will focus on four research themes: integration of solar energy systems into buildings, led by Dr. Athienitis; use of solar thermal systems for heating and cooling led by Dr. Stephen Harrison of Queen’s University; solar electricity generation in buildings led by Dr. Liuchen Chang of the University of New Brunswick; and simulation tools for solar building design led by Dr. Ian Beausoleil-Morrison of Natural Resources Canada.
“This is the first time that Canada has undertaken such a concerted effort to develop and integrate solar technologies into buildings,” said Dr. Athienitis. “This unique effort will place Canada among the world leaders in the development of cost-effective, solar-optimized buildings, with net-zero annual energy consumption, and improve the competitiveness of our industry in the growing sustainable products sector.”
The Solar Buildings Research Network consists of 24 researchers from 10 Canadian universities: University of Calgary, Concordia University, Dalhousie University, McMaster University, University of New Brunswick, École Polytechnique de Montréal, Queen’s University, Ryerson University, University of Toronto, and University of Waterloo.
The federal government’s financial support, which will be provided over five years, comes from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council’s (NSERC) Strategic Network Grants program ($4.7 million), Natural Resources Canada ($430,000), and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation ($250,000). In addition, to demonstrating and transferring the technologies that it develops, the Network is counting on the involvement of Hydro-Québec ($75,000) and more than 20 other Canadian industry partners, all with an interest in using solar energy in buildings. Together, these partners will provide contributions in the form of goods and services that will bring the total value of the financial assistance for the Network’s research activities to $5.5 million cash and over $1 million in-kind support. More than 100 graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and undergraduate students will also benefit from their association with the Network.
Dr. Gaétan Lantagne, Officer-in-charge of the Energy Technology Laboratory (LTE), Research Institute of Hydro-Québec, stated that “He is pleased to announce that Hydro-Québec will participate in the Solar Buildings Research Network. The participation of the Research Institute is in conformity with the commitment of Hydro-Québec in favour of renewable energies”.
The Solar Buildings Research Network is one of 18 networks that NSERC supports through its Strategic Network Grants program. This program funds large-scale, complex research proposals that involve multi-sectoral collaborations in targeted areas that will strongly enhance Canada’s economy, society and environment within the next 10 years.
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Source :
Tanya Churchmuch
Senior Media Relations Advisor
Concordia University
