MIT turns to smart ventilation as campus greening continues

MIT's green efforts could save the campus $50 million.
MIT’s green efforts could save the campus $50 million.

An advanced ventilation system that adjusts airflow according to outdoor temperatures and how many people are in a room could help the Massachusetts Institute of Technology save $100,000 annually as the university continues to trim its energy use.

MIT teamed up with air quality company Aircuity on Aug. 16 to equip the university’s Hayden Library and the Sloan School of Management with a ventilation infrastructure that will help reduce electricity use by 15 percent in the next three years, according to Aircuity’s web site.

The new system, called OptiNet, includes an HVAC optimizer mode and sensors that constantly measure air quality–critical elements for schools and businesses looking to bring down energy costs.…Read More

Universities use stimulus money to build high-tech research labs

The University of Maryland will build its quantum physics lab by 2013.
The University of Maryland will build its quantum physics lab by 2013.

Ten colleges and universities will use a total of $123 million in stimulus funds to build scientific facilities that will help campus researchers study coral reef ecosystems, experimental physics, quantum science, and a range of other fields.

A mix of state funds and $10.3 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will help the University of Maryland build an advanced quantum physics laboratory, where sensitive scientific tools and materials will be kept for researchers.

Officials at the University of Maryland’s College Park campus announced last month that the Recovery funds—also known as the federal stimulus bill passed by Congress last year—will be matched with $5.2 million in state and university funds.…Read More

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