BOSTON — The Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems (CSE) announced 37 industry partners who are participating in its Building Technology Showcase, what the organization says is a first-of-its-kind research and demonstration building for sustainable technologies in the city of Boston’s Innovation District. These partners, including HVAC and building controls manufacturers, are contributing a combined total of $2.7 million in advanced technologies and services for the building, and committing to working with Fraunhofer CSE on research projects to be deployed and integrated into the new “living laboratory.”

Technologies contributed by industry partners range from building-integrated solar photovoltaics to radiant flooring; high-efficiency building envelope components such as roof membrane and insulation; an advanced, high-efficiency 200-ton chiller system; and others. Fraunhofer CSE will showcase these technologies in a state-of-the-art exhibition and educational space open to the public, calling attention to energy saving and/or sustainable construction attributes.

“We are excited to play a central role in Fraunhofer CSE’s Building Technology Showcase with the contribution of our building automation system — which will optimize the operation and efficiency of the many innovative technologies being deployed in this unique facility,” said Dave Hopping, vice president, Building Automation Solutions, Siemens Building Technologies Division. Siemens is also providing life safety and security systems for the building. “The systems we are installing will generate real-world data to help developers and building owners understand the reliability and effectiveness of advanced building technologies for achieving efficiency, sustainability, and safety goals.”

HVAC manufacturers involved in the Building Technology Showcase include Baltimore Aircoil Co. (BAC), Clearwater Systems Corp., Multistack, Taco Inc., Viega, and Watts Water Technologies Inc.

Fraunhofer CSE is performing a retrofit and renovation of the historic, 100-year-old building at 5 Channel Center in Boston to transform it into a research and demonstration facility for advanced building technologies. The Center’s goal is for the Building Technology Showcase to play an important role in accelerating the adoption and acceptance of cutting-edge building technologies in Massachusetts and the United States. CSE researchers will evaluate the reliability and effectiveness of the technologies incorporated into the building, helping technology developers prove out their products with building-integrated and other applied research. The building will be Fraunhofer CSE’s new headquarters, housing its advanced research labs and staff.

“We are delighted that Fraunhofer CSE’s research will be implemented in Boston,” said Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino. “We were the first city in the nation to require green building, and Fraunhofer CSE’s research partnerships mean we can continue to push ahead here with even more cost-effective and advanced building energy technologies — while fostering the growth of our clean energy workforce.”

Fraunhofer CSE is inviting product and system manufacturers and integrators to join those currently involved as industry partners.

For more information on the Building Technology Showcase, visit http://cse.fraunhofer.org/bts.

Publication date: 03/12/2012