IIT Student Entry in the 2014 National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Green Energy Challenge Highlights Work on McCormick Tribune Campus Center
Students in Dr. Dan Tomal’s Spring 2014 IPRO, Developing Insights that Support Energy Efficiency Improvement Strategies for Varied Built Environments (497-338), had the opportunity to conduct an energy audit at IIT’s McCormick Tribune Campus Center in consultation with Dr. Mohammad Shahidehpour, Director of IIT’s Center for Electricity Innovation. They also worked with other members of IIT’s Smart Grid program and ECA member firms to enter their project into the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Green Energy Challenge. The focus of the Challenge was to create proposals for student union facilities that included the following three elements:
- A detailed proposal for a lighting system upgrade that may include lamps, ballasts, fixtures, and/or controls.
- The introduction of sub metering and feedback systems in the building in a way that advances the students’ energy awareness.
- An analysis of an energy efficiency upgrade that shows consideration for the conditions and opportunities in the facility.
The students documented the IPRO progress in a video that was part of their Challenge entry. The Challenge results will be announced in July. Finalists will be invited to make oral presentations and attend the award ceremony at NECA’s Annual Convention at McCormick Place in Chicago in September 2014.
INTM Adjunct Professor Dr.Tomal has facilitated multiple IPROs focused on energy efficiency. His students have conducted energy audits on a variety of buildings and/or landmark sites on IIT’s Main Campus and in other urban neighborhoods with support from the Electrical Contractors Association of the City of Chicago (ECA).
Location: IIT MTCC
