2006 Syracuse Symposium on Environmental and Energy Systems to focus on designing with nature in innovative, built environments

2006 Syracuse Symposium on Environmental and Energy Systems to focus on designing with nature in innovative, built environmentsOctober 23, 2006Kelly Homan Rodoskikahoman@syr.edu

The Syracuse Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems will host the 6th Annual Syracuse Symposium on Environmental and Energy Systems Oct. 30-31 at the Marx Hotel and Conference Center.The symposium is sponsored by Corning, O’Brien and Gere, Carrier Corp. and Syracuse University.

Invited participants from around the world will discuss the latest research and trends, development and applications within the theme of “Innovative and Built Environments: Design with Nature,” as well as other areas of research and commercialization within the Syracuse CoE. Presentations will focus on:

• High-performance buildings — advances in technologies and materials; design elements; and intelligent building systems and design
• Environmental systems research and development — human health and productivity; urban ecosystems, including air and water quality; and indoor air quality
• Energy systems research and development — renewable sources and biomass-based fuels and integrated heating, cooling and on-site power generation

“It is critical that we understand how nature has given us sustainable solutions as we face a world constrained in energy, building materials and other resources,” says Suresh Santanam, deputy executive director of the CoE. “This symposium brings together experts who study and understand natural systems and innovate to bring sustainable solutions for the built and urban environments. It is a great opportunity for the Central New York Community to use this knowledge to develop and advance solutions benefiting the local community and society at large.”

Among the featured symposium speakers are:

Monday, Oct. 30

• L. Hunter Lovins, president and co-founder of Natural Capitalism Inc., co-founder of the Rocky Mountain Institute and co-creator of the natural capitalism concept, will speak on “The Business of Sustainability”
• Peter Groffman, a microbial ecologist with the Institute of Ecosystem Studies, will discuss “The Complex Dynamics of Urban Ecosystems”
• Jason Pearson, executive director of GreenBlue, will speak on “Prototyping a Sustainable Future”
• Randy Carter, principal engineer with Steelcase, will speak on “New Tools for Sustainable Office Interiors”
• Gary Settles, professor of mechanical engineering at Penn State, will present “Sniffing Like A Dog to Improve Air Sensors”

Tuesday, Oct. 31

• Matthias Schuler, of the Transsolar Klima Engineering in Germany and a visiting professor in the Harvard Graduate School of Design, will speak on “Sustainable Buildings and World Class Architecture: Not a Contradiction”
• Winfried Heusler, chief technologist at SCHUCO in Germany, will speak on “Facade Engineering — State of the Art in Europe”
• John Vasselli, corporate chief of technology for indoor air quality with Carrier Corp., will discuss “Building Design for the Environment”
• James Lyons, director of GE Global Research-Renewables, will speak on “Energy Solutions for the 21st Century”
• Lawrence Flowers of the National Wind Technology Center at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, will speak on “The $ and Sense of Wind Energy — Applications in Urban Environments”

The registration fee is $125 per person, including meals ($175 after Oct. 20). The fees for students are $35 (including meals) and $25 (no meals). Registration may be completed online at http://www.syracusecoe.org/symposium/2006/ or by contacting Cynthia Nieman at 443-4445 or cnieman@syracusecoe.org.

Syracuse CoE is a federation of more than 70 firms and institutions that collaborate to create innovations to improve built and urban environments. Partners in the Syracuse CoE collaborate in research, development and education projects relating to clean and renewable energy, indoor environmental quality, human health and performance, healthy buildings and water resources.

The Syracuse CoE OIC leads the initiative to promote economic development in the cluster of energy and environmental systems firms located in the 12-county region at the center of Upstate New York. The Syracuse CoE OIC is an independent nonprofit corporation chartered by New York State in 2000.

For more information about the Syracuse CoE, visit http://www.syracusecoe.org.