Amanda Morris receives Powe junior faculty award in support of her solar energy research

Oak Ridge Associated Universities has selected Amanda Morris, a Virginia Tech scientist investigating sustainable energy, for a 2012 Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award. The unrestricted grant is for faculty members in the first two years of their tenure track.

Morris, an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry, is searching for ways to harness energy from the sun in an easier, more efficient, less expensive method than currently available. The $5,000 Powe award, which is matched by Virginia Tech, is aimed at aiding Morris to foster new collaborations in her research field and advance her scientific investigations.

» Read more on the Virginia Tech website

University Honors students invited to Paris to compete as finalists in an international energy solutions case competition

Katie Gloe of Leesburg, Va., a junior majoring in chemical engineering, and Darius Emrani of Greensboro, N.C., a junior majoring in computer engineering, both in the College of Engineering, are one team out of 25 selected to enter the third and final round of the competition.

Gloe and Emrani will present their energy management idea, named EnerGymnasia, at the concluding event. "We were inspired by the number of students who use McComas Gym," said Gloe. "The idea is to capture energy from stationary equipment and walk-able surfaces, then input that energy back into a gym-wide electrical grid, making the gym more energy independent."

» Read more on the Virginia Tech website

Shashank Priya to host world energy harvesting conference at Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Shashank Priya will host a two-day conference Aug.7 and 8 on campus, bringing together a group of international experts on energy harvesting and its applications.

Priya directs Virginia Tech College of Engineering's Center for Energy Harvesting Materials and Systems, part of the National Science Foundation's Industry University Collaborative Research Center. He is organizer of the upcoming 7th Annual Energy Harvesting Workshop and 2nd Annual Center for Energy Harvesting Materials and Systems Conference.

» Read more on the Virginia Tech website

Energy conservation initiative begins in six campus buildings

A comprehensive energy conservation initiative is under way in six campus buildings that is expected to save the university more than $8 million in utility costs over an 11-year period.

Cassell Coliseum, Jamerson Athletic Center, Hahn Hall-South, Dietrick Hall, and McBryde Hall, as well as the central steam plant, will receive multiple upgrades, including new lighting, HVAC control upgrades, water conservation measures, variable frequency drives, kitchen ventilation upgrades, cooling tower retrofits, building envelope sealing, and steam system repairs. The $5.3 million project is scheduled to be completed by early 2013.

» Read more on the Virginia Tech website

Energy Initiatives at Virginia Tech — A Progress Report

PDF version of a report by Satish V. Kulkarni, Director of Energy Initiatives for the Office of the Vice President for Research. Presented to Virginia Tech's Board of Visitors November 6, 2011. Includes discussion of the national and local scene; Virginia Tech's energy portfolio, recent activities and new initiatives; coal, nuclear, bioenergy, solar, building energy efficiency, and transportation; and partnerships with DOE national labs, universities, and industry.

Energy experts sought for seminars, speakers' bureau

The National Energy Technology Laboratory – Regional University Alliance (NETL-RUA) is looking for researchers willing to improve NETL-RUA's visibility in the region and nationally as energy experts and to further the alliance mission to educate energy leaders for the future.

Toward those goals, a seminar series and a speakers' bureau are being sponsored by the NETL-RUA education committee and communication and outreach committee.

For the seminar series, NETL-RUA speakers may be asked to participate in webcasts among the institutions as part of a member institution's regular academic seminar series or as a special event. Additionally, NETL-RUA may invite a renowned guest lecturer to speak on an energy-related topic drawing attention to this region and the alliance as a resource for energy information and knowledge.

For the speakers' bureau, a list of experts will be made available to organizations seeking technical speakers. These events could range from chamber of commerce or social service organization meetings to keynotes at STEM associations or government agency meetings. This list will also serve as a resource for media requests for technical experts.

Input is requested via a short, web-based survey, which should only take a few minutes.

NETL-RUA is an applied research collaboration that combines NETL's fossil energy and energy systems expertise with the broad capabilities of five nationally recognized, regional universities: Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania State University, the University of Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia University.

If you have questions, contact Julianne Klara, Regional University Alliance manager, 412-386-6089 or julianne.klara@netl.doe.gov.

Department of Energy Relaunches Energy.Gov

The U.S. Department of Energy has announced the comprehensive reform of its website, Energy.gov. The new website makes it easier for visitors to get localized information specific to their cities, counties, and states on tax credits, rebates, energy-saving tips, and grant opportunities.

The new platform utilizes the latest technologies in information visualization, bringing updated and interactive charts and maps to Energy.gov and making energy information more relevant to individuals. The Department is also now able to offer more open data sets for individuals to use and apply to other online applications.

The Energy.gov reform initiative is part of the Obama Administration's Campaign to Cut Waste, a dedicated effort across the federal government to streamline operations, end unnecessary spending and save taxpayers money. Over the next year, the Department will continue to improve Energy.gov by moving more program websites and features to the centralized platform.

Learn more about the new Energy Department website at www.energy.gov.

Energy experts discuss Japan's nuclear crisis and the possibility for a similar event in the U.S.

Can an event like that at the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear plant happen in the United States?

Nuclear experts across the globe continue to assess the damage caused by Japan's nuclear crisis. The consensus is that its impact is matched only by the Russian Chernobyl disaster in 1986. While the world stays focused on Japan, Americans wonder if a nuclear catastrophe can happen here.

Dr. John Metzger, director of Nuclear Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh and Howard Bruschi, retired Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer and current Executive Consultant at Westinghouse, discussed the current situation in Japan on the radio program "The American Entrepreneur" on Pittsburgh radio station AM 1360 WMNY.

Click the link to hear the discussion. The segment is entitled "Can the Japanese Nuclear Crisis Happen Here in the United States?" The interview starts at time 10:15 into the segment.

Virginia Tech’s Energy Task Force

Virginia Tech is committed to research and education that provides solutions for the Nation’s energy needs.

In 2006, the Deans' Task Force on Energy Security and Sustainability was formed to assist with university-level efforts in energy research. In the coming year, we will continue these efforts by assisting faculty members with the preparation of large grant proposals in research areas related to energy security and sustainability. We will also seek partnerships that position Virginia Tech as a national and international leader in areas of expertise and will continue to coordinate campus-wide events, such as a speaker series and community engagement activities.

This website is intended to provide a resource to view the university community's significant expertise in the field of energy research. If you are a guest, please review the links to project areas and research centers to gain a better understanding of our expertise in these important areas.*

If you are a faculty member doing energy-related research, please review your information by entering your name or center in the "Search" field. We welcome information about new projects and any updates you would care to make.

Search the Energy Task Force website