Fraunhofer Boston Lab Rounds Up Posse Of Partners

It was not so long ago that we reported that the Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems (CSE) would be developing a sustainable energy research and building innovation center in Boston‘s Innovation District, and was actively seeking companies interested in becoming part of what it envisions as a living laboratory demonstrating the future of green buildings.

It would appear that CSE has succeeded in this mission, as it has now announced the 37 industry partners who will be participating in the Center’s Building Technology Showcase. These partners will be kicking in a combined total of $2.7 million in advanced building energy technologies and services, and will be working with Fraunhofer CSE on research projects to be deployed and integrated into the new center. The list includes major players such as Siemens and DuPont, as well as Pythagoras Solar, Schucho USA and TIGI.

Fraunhofer CSE, Boston Innovation District

image via Fraunhofer USA

Those technologies range from building-integrated solar photovoltaics to radiant flooring, and include high-efficiency building envelope components such as roof membrane, windows, doors and insulation; an advanced, efficient 200-ton chiller system; and plenty more. Fraunhofer CSE plans to showcase these technologies in a state-of-the-art exhibition and educational space that will be open to the public, bringing attention to green building products and systems and spurring the adoption of green building tech in general.

This green building showcase will be created out of the “deep energy retrofit” and renovation of the historic, 100-year-old building at 5 Channel Center in Boston, transforming it into a research and demonstration facility for advanced building energy tech. This will be no mere floor-room for products and systems, though, as CSE researchers will evaluate the reliability and effectiveness of the technologies incorporated into the building, helping the companies to test and improve their products with building-integrated and other applied research.

The building will also serve as Fraunhofer CSE’s new headquarters, housing its advanced research labs and staff.