Building Sustainability into Control Systems
Building Sustainability into Control Systems Courses is a project supported by the National Science Foundation under grant no. DUE 1044830*. This project engages mechanical engineering (ME) students by exposing them to relevant real-world problems that leverage our new Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) platinum-certified academic building by:
(1) utilizing our state-of-the art Building Management System to incorporate control systems learning opportunities that integrate energy consumption and sustainability, and
(2) developing hands-on process control experimental scenarios that supplement traditional classroom learning.
The new practical experiments and inductive learning platforms are incorporated into an ongoing redesign of the ME program that creates a more cooperative and student-centric learning environment. The project will provide assessments of student learning outcomes that result from new case-based and experiential learning approaches, and disseminate new curricular materials that will be modular and adaptable to a wide range of curricula. A key outcome of this effort is the examination of the role of first-hand experiences and curricular improvements in motivating and retaining diverse students in mechanical engineering.
NYSERDA is currently funding two projects: (1) a Facilities Training and Curriculum Development (PON 3442) project develops and delivers facilities training curriculum, engages student interns in developing new building systems primers and knowledge repositories, and supports faculty and an energy consultant in developing a new Energy Efficient Building Systems course, and (2) a Best Practices and Optimization project (PON 3715) establishes a shadowing and mentoring program to build the skills of facilities staff and build a culture of proactive system maintenace, monitoring and verification and energy management as well as train students to enter the workforce as capable building controls engineers.
A previous NYSERDA-funded REV Campus Challenge Technical Assistance for Roadmaps project (PON 3438) engaged student interns and an energy consultant in creating a building data historian and automated reporting tools, energy auditing and identifying energy conversation measures, and developing an energy master plan and climate action plan.
*Related Publications:
*Chin, A., *Faddoul, R., *Lacey, C., *Mosin, A., *Zhang, O., Baglione, M., Rundell, J., "Optimizing Condenser Water Supply Temperature to Minimize Energy Usage," ASHRAE Transactions, Vol. 126 (2020): 342-350. Presented at ASHRAE Winter Conference, February 1-5, 2020, Orlando, FL.
*Sterman, M., Baglione, M., “Simulating the use of CO2 concentration inputs for controlling temperature in a hydronic radiant system,” Proc. of the 2017 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, November 3-9, Tampa, FL.
Baglione, M., “Building Sustainability into Control Systems: A New Facilities-Based and Hands-On Teaching Approach,” 2015, 122nd ASEE Annual Conference Paper #13199, June 14-17, 2015, Seattle, WA.
Baglione, M., del Cerro, G., "Building Sustainability into Control Systems: Preliminary Assessment of a New Facilities-Based and Hands-On Teaching Approach," Proc. of the 2014 ASEE Zone 1 Conference, Apr. 3-5, 2014 Bridgeport, CT.Nominated for Best Professional Paper Award.
Zielkowski, A., Baglione, M., Wootton, D., "Determining System Time Constant Through Experimental and Analytical Techniques," Proc. of the 2014 ASEE Zone 1 Conference, Apr. 3-5, Bridgeport, CT. Nominated for Best Student Paper Award
Sterman, M., Baglione, M., “Design of Artificial Neural Network Using Solar Inputs for Assessing Energy Consumption in a High Performance Academic Building,” Proc. of the 2012 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, November 9-12, Houston, TX.
Baglione, M., Caubel, J., “Developing Undergraduate Engineering Curriculum Material using the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning and Building Management Systems of a High Performance Academic Building,” Proc. of the 2012 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, November 9-12, Houston, TX
Baglione, M., “Incorporating Practical Laboratory Experiments to Reinforce Dynamic Systems and Control Concepts,” Proc. of the 2009 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, November 13-19, 2009, Lake Buena Vista, FL, Vol. 7, pp. 391-395.
*Conferences/Poster Sessions:
Baglione, M., Rundell, J., *Triano, N., “Cooper Union's Roadmap to 40x30,” Campus Energy 2018 Conference, Feb. 26-Mar. 1, 2019, New Orleans, LA, and ASEE Midatlantic Conference, Nov. 1-2, 2019.
Baglione, M., “Building Sustainability into Control Systems: A New Facilities-Based and Hands-On Teaching Approach,” 2015, 122nd ASEE Annual Conference NSF Grantees' Poster Session, June 14-17, 2015, Seattle, WA. Click here for link to poster.
DiStefano, T., "Reforming Engineering Education: An Experiential Approach to Control Systems Design and Building Sustainability," 2015 ASEE Northeast Section Conference Student Poster Abstract, Apr. 30-May 2, 2015, Boston, MA. Abstract link. Click here for link to poster.
Leong, E., Tayco, G.J., "A Method for Analyzing and Reducing Building Energy Consumption," 2014 ASEE Zone 1 Conference Student Poster Abstract, Apr. 3-5, 2014 Bridgeport, CT.
2013 NSF TUES/CCLI PI Conference, January 23-25, 2013, Washington, DC, Abstract and Poster Link
*Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.