NEWS
Midday sun at the touch of a button
A t ETH Zurich , there is a room where the sun shines at the touch of a button ; one hour it ’ s noon in the Sahara , the next it ’ s January in Berlin . Researchers use it to test newly developed building systems , components and materials .
In the new lab , researchers can test more easily and more quickly how newly developed building systems , components and materials perform under different climatic conditions . The position of the sun , the composition of its radiation , the temperature and humidity can be adjusted to correspond to almost any point on Earth on any day of the year .
At the heart of the lab is a world first : an artificial sun made of hundreds of powerful light- emitting diodes . These are fixed to a movable arm , allowing the system to imitate the sun ’ s path in different locations . The simulator was developed by Schlüter ’ s group in cooperation with industry partners .
In addition to the artificial- sun room , there are two other test cells on the south side of the building that are exposed to natural sunlight and the outdoor climate .
Arno Schlüter , ETH Professor of Architecture and Building Systems , said : “ If you want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings , then you have to take materials , building technology and occupant behaviour into consideration . In the Zero Carbon Building Systems Lab , we can explore how these factors interact .”
Honeywell and Atlanta Hawks partner to help improve building sustainability efforts at State Farm Arena
Arena ,” said Adam Joiner , Vice President of Global Sales for Honeywell ’ s Building Automation segment . “ Our teamwork will help drive powerful change for the local community .”
H oneywell has announced that it has become the Official Sustainable Building Technology Partner for the Atlanta Hawks and the award-winning State Farm Arena . As part of this multi-year deal , Honeywell will implement a series of high-tech upgrades to State Farm Arena ’ s building operations systems to help decrease energy consumption and emissions while increasing visibility and control of the indoor environment .
“ We are extremely pleased that the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena chose Honeywell to collaborate on prioritising efficient , healthy and sustainable building operations at the State Farm
To help optimise the court ’ s playing conditions while improving the fan and guest experience , Honeywell will upgrade the arena ’ s building management system with a new system that includes its Honeywell Forge software solutions . The software leverages Machine Learning to monitor energy use and will autonomously adjust the arena ’ s HVAC system to operate more efficiently , help advance sustainability efforts and regulate indoor air quality . This partnership further supports Honeywell ’ s alignment of its business with the compelling megatrends of automation and energy transition .
“ Honeywell ’ s technology provides us with the solutions and tools that we need to make our arena more energy efficient , help meet our sustainability goals and make the arena healthier for our fans , players and staff ,” said Hawks ’ Executive Vice President and General Manager of State Farm Arena Brett Stefansson . “ With an approximate two million fans and guests visiting State Farm Arena each year , our building operations are fundamental to managing their experiences and improving our collective impact on the environment .”
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