Michigan State University Researchers to Work with Dow on Department of Energy Grant
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EmailAs part of its $30 million program on energy retrofit, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently awarded a major grant to Dow Building Solutions, a business group within Dow's Advanced Materials Division.
Contact: Eileen Gianiodis
517-432-1555, ext. 230
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Tim Mrozowski has seen conservation efforts come and go over the past three decades.
But this time, it’s different, he says.
“The big difference between now and the (19)70s and 80s is that corporations and government agencies are embracing sustainability and green buildings,” says Mrozowski, professor in the Michigan State University (MSU) School of Planning, Design and Construction (SPDC).
As part of its $30 million program on energy retrofit, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently awarded a major grant to Dow Building Solutions, a business group within Dow’s Advanced Materials Division. Dow will lead the multi-year project that will combine research and residential in-home testing to develop enhanced home energy efficiency retrofit solutions and best practices.
MSU’s School of Planning, Design and Construction and the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research’s Office for Survey Research join Dow on the grant. Other subcontractors include Habitat for Humanity International and Ferris State University.
Mrozowski and M.G. (Matt ) Syal, also a professor in SPDC, will lead the MSU portion of the work, along with two other co-investigators: Suk-Kyung Kim, assistant professor, and Marcus Metoyer, specialist, in SPDC.
Fifteen teams will work together on the 18-month project, Syal says. Each group will receive between $500,000 and $2.5 million and complete a portion of the overall project. After the initial 18 months, this grant can be renewed for up to three more years.
“Being a part of this project is a natural outgrowth of our broad work in sustainability and energy,” Syal says. “It’s a result of our strong relationships within the industry and with Dow.”
The Dow-led team will focus on applying innovative retrofit technologies in partnership with Habitat for Humanity. These efficiency technologies will focus on addressing affordable housing in cold and mixed-humid climate regions.
The team’s vision is to improve retrofit methods by validating the cost-effective strategies through test homes and identify technology gaps that must be addressed.
Existing techniques and technologies in energy efficiency retrofitting – such as those used in airtight ducts, windows and doors, heating and cooling systems, insulation and caulking – can reduce energy use by up to 40 percent per home and cut energy bills by $40 billion annually, says the DOE.
The DOE retrofit project is part of a broader effort to reduce both energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and establish national guidelines and standards for retrofit methods, materials and practices.
“If we’re going to have an impact on energy consumption, we really need to retrofit the existing housing stock,” Mrozowski says. “One of the issues we need to explore is if these fits are proven to save energy, why don’t people use them?
About Dow Building & Construction
A business group within Dow’s Advanced Material Division, Building & Construction, is comprised of two business units – Dow Building Solutions andDow Construction Chemicals – each of which offer strengths in channel management, branding, technology development/support and demand creation. The two business units collectively employ about 1,700 people worldwide, and generate almost $2 billion of revenue while operating more than 30 plants worldwide. Through its strong sales support, customer service and building science expertise, Dow’s Building & Construction business units provide meaningful solutions for customers today, while also addressing the industry’s emerging needs and demands with advanced industry knowledge.
About the School of Planning, Design and Construction at Michigan State University
The School of Planning, Design and Construction at MSU is known for leading education, research and outreach toward the integration of planning, design, and construction to create a sustainable built and natural environment. Its goal is to create knowledge that enriches communities, advances economic and family life through leadership, fosters the development of entrepreneurial creativity, imbues a sense of social responsibility, promotes the appreciation of cultural relevance, and above all, advances the understanding of environmentally beneficial planning, design and construction.
