A team of researchers are investigating how to create a composite roofing material to retrofit buildings like this commercial building located in 新肯辛顿, 宾西法尼亚.
宾州大学公园. — The dramatic deindustrialization of much of 宾西法尼亚 during the 1980s and 1990s left many areas of the state in serious need of revitalization. 曾经充满活力和繁华的社区已经陷入混乱. 恶化的街道, abandoned factories and buildings and empty storefronts are found in cities like 新肯辛顿, 宾西法尼亚, 位于匹兹堡东北18英里处的一个小镇.
以斯帖Obonyo, associate professor of engineering design and architectural engineering, 被判25美元,000 grant from Penn State’s Institutes of Energy and the Environment to design and test a new roofing composite. The project is part of an ongoing economic development initiative in the city of 新肯辛顿. The initiative was stimulated by an Invent Penn State seed grant that funded the creation of 免费mg不朽情缘试玩新肯辛顿分校's Corner LaunchBox entrepreneurial center and coworking space, 是城市振兴和发展的基石.
通过角落发射箱, 免费mg不朽情缘试玩新肯辛顿分校 campus chancellor Kevin 斯奈德 is working to entice new businesses to the community by highlighting 新肯辛顿’s affordable real estate market. A goal of the program is to find cost-effective ways to improve and retrofit building elements in disrepair to help encourage business growth in the area.
收集建筑元素的数据, representatives from 免费mg不朽情缘试玩新肯辛顿分校 have been working with city officials to engage community members in the improvement conversation. A panel consisting of Obonyo; 斯奈德; Clive Randall, director of the Materials 研究 Institute (MRI) and professor of materials science and engineering at Penn State; and Steve Leonard, 一个基于行业的创新经理, also spent time discussing the problem and possible solutions during MRI’s 2017 Materials 研究 Day in October.
The collected data and information points to leaky roof problems as a top priority to improve local buildings in the 新肯辛顿 area.
在共同调查员兰德尔的帮助下, 斯奈德, Ali Memari, Bernard and Henrietta Hankin Chair in Residential Building Construction, director of the 宾西法尼亚 Housing 研究 Center and professor of architectural engineering and civil engineering, Obonyo希望解决这个问题.
根据屋顶环境创新中心的说法, each year nearly 4 billion square feet of roof coverings are installed in the United State alone. Re-roofing work to existing buildings accounts for close to 3 billion square feet.
Because building materials can equate to one-third of the total cost of construction, Obonyo and her team are working on a concept that uses innovative materials, 降低了成本, 降低能源成本，优化资源利用.
该团队最初的概念模型, a rubber-type membrane like ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM) will be installed on top of the old, 漏水的屋顶. Aluminum panels will play a role akin to ballast to prevent movement. To produce energy, a thin-film photovoltaic solar cell layer will be attached to the panels.
“We believe that our proposed multifunctional solution is more cost-effective because it addresses the existing moisture-related durability concerns, while also improving the energy efficiency and environmental sustainability of the building envelopes,Obonyo说.
Both simulations and lab testing will be used to determine the model’s practicality in regards to waterproofing, 绝缘和冷凝最小化. The research team will use the gathered data to refine the initial prototype to deliver a detailed, 可持续和能源生产屋顶系统.
Obonyo also looks to investigate additional challenges 新肯辛顿 is currently facing in the future. Crumbling foundations; issues with sewage, water and power; spaces for the aging; and workforce demographics and meaningful educational experiences in the K-12 school system rise to the top of her project list.
“Transformational use of sustainable building materials would result in significant financial benefits, reducing construction costs while enhancing the use of scarce materials [in the area],Obonyo说.
以斯帖Obonyo, associate professor of engineering design and architectural engineering, is leading the team of researchers investigating a new roofing composite that will allow for better retrofitting.
