UNT plans green building research lab
The University of North Texas is building a state-of-the-art Zero Energy Research Laboratory, where students and faculty will get firsthand experience with sustainable energy technologies of tomorrow.
The facility is designed to test emerging technologies that allow building systems to have a net-zero consumption of energy, and once completed it will be the first of its kind in the United States. The UNT Board of Regents approved the facility on June 17, and construction on the lab is slated to begin this month at UNT's Discovery Park.
The 1,200-square-foot structure will be completed in early 2012. The building will include a main utility core, a bathroom with a shower, a small kitchen with a refrigerator, and an open flexible laboratory space for research. Initially, the facility will be powered by solar energy and will be expanded to include other alternative energy sources such as wind to allow a wide range of zero-energy building research.
Students and faculty will use the lab as a testing ground for present and future sustainable technologies, such as structure integrated insulation, integrated solar panels, energy-efficient windows, energy storage and energy monitoring systems for smart grid, as well as energy efficiency strategies involving user behaviors and social impact. The lab will contribute to the global education and research infrastructure for collaborative initiatives in sustainable buildings.
The Zero Energy Research Laboratory will be an important facility for UNT's research cluster in Renewable Energy and Conservation. The university created the seven-person team in 2010 to study technology strategies that address the region and nation's 21st-century conservation needs.
The $1.15 million project is funded with a combination of higher education assistance funds, operating funds and gifts-in-kind. It was made possible by donations from Schneider Electric, Acme Brick, Axium Solar, Benchmark Precision Buildings and Nuconsteel. Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. is the architect, and Nouveau Construction has been selected as the general contractor.
Prasad wins award for collaborations abroad
Vish Prasad, vice president for research and economic development at UNT, has been selected as a 2011 recipient of the Michael P. Malone International Leadership Award, sponsored by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities.
Prasad was recognized for his success in establishing international research partnerships. He has created dozens of new research collaborations and academic partnerships in more than 40 countries, spanning four continents.
Prasad was one of three recipients selected for 2011.
Since arriving at UNT in 2007, Prasad led the development of a dual-degree master's program between UNT and the Universidad de Magallanes in Punta Arenas, Chile, which has been recognized by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of State and multiple agencies within the Chilean government.
Prasad also led UNT's effort to establish strategic alliances with seven elite research institutions and research centers in three major cities in India: Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai. The initiative worked to expand exchange opportunities for faculty members and graduate and post-doctoral students. Prasad was honored by the Greater Dallas Indo-American Chamber of Commerce in 2010 with a Texas-India Educational Partnership Award for outstanding contributions that facilitate educational exchange between the two countries.
A former dean of Florida International University's College of Engineering and Computing, Prasad served as founding consultant and academic sponsor of Future House USA, an industry-supported net-zero-energy building demonstration project inaugurated during the 2008 Beijing Olympics Games.
UNT Printing wins Best in Show award
For the second consecutive year, UNT Printing and Distribution Solutions won Best of Show at the In-Print Competition, sponsored by In-Plant Printing and Mailing Association and In-Plant Graphics magazine. The competition is the only printing contest exclusively for in-house printers.
UNT won Best of Show in the non-offset category for the "Emerald Ball Goes Gatsby" invitation, produced for the Office of Advancement. About 2,000 invitations were mailed to guests announcing the 2011 Emerald Ball, an annual fundraising event to support the Emerald Eagle Scholars Program. Judges unanimously chose UNT's piece for its die cuts, gatefold, exact crossovers, vibrant colors and UV coating on both sides. The materials were printed using a HP Indigo 5500 digital press.
UNT also won a gold award for the invitation and five gold awards for other projects, including a brochure for the Division of Institutional Equity and Diversity, a booklet about research clusters for the Office of Research and Development, a newsletter for UNT-International, the 2010 holiday card for the UNT President's Office, and a brochure for the UNT Honors College. The winning materials were produced by a 25-member staff led by Jimmy Friend, director of UNT Printing and Distribution Solutions.
Last year, UNT Printing and Distribution Solutions earned Best of Show for the College of Business New Building Campaign and 10 awards.
