UT-ORNL Gov Chair Enquist Announced

Governor’s Chair in High Performance Energy Practices in Urban Environments

Philip Enquist, leader for urban design and planning with Chicago-based architecture powerhouse Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, was named 16th University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge National Laboratory Governor’s Chair. Enquist will collaborate with ORNL's Build­ing Technologies Research and Integration Center. The center aims to push new energy-efficient building products to the market.

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ORNL shines in Top Inventions blog

Building Technologies Office R&D becomes the norm

ORNL buildings researchers were instrumental in collecting historical information for DOE’s blog post about the top four inventions that are helping homeowners save energy and money. The piece displays how many of the technologies that are considered the norm today started as emerging technologies decades ago, and how BTO is further advancing these technologies.

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Next-Gen Home Refrigeration

ORNL, GE promote energy savings and simplified recycling

Refrigerators featuring magnetic cooling and 20 percent greater efficiency are the product of a cooperative research and development agreement between GE Appliances and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. While the concept of magnetocaloric cooling has been around for many years, only since 2006 has GE explored using the technology for home refrigeration. In addition to energy savings and vastly simplified recycling at end of life, these refrigerators use no compressors or refrigerants that could be harmful to the environment. (Photo courtesy GE Appliances)

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New R&D House Evaluates Heat Pump

Variable-Speed Air-Source Integrated Prototype

ORNL’s new unoccupied research house provides a risk-reducing, whole building approach to realistic residential technology validation. Currently in the house, ORNL is evaluating a NORDYNE prototype variable-speed air-source integrated heat pump for space conditioning and water heating. Researchers implemented sensor technology that will collect data at regular intervals while the heat pump operates in a residential environment.