Current construction practice does not allow occupants of a residential setting to easily reconfigure the floor plans, even though peoples’ needs constantly change during their lifetime (having children, etc.). Therefore, people often have to either renovate their houses or apartments or to move to a larger one.  Large quantity of material and energy are wasted during a renovation process because old wall and floor materials are very difficult to be re-used.  Larger houses normally have much less occupancy density and are wasting more energy than smaller houses.  There is a need for flexibility in residential building floor plans to allow the buildings to age with their occupants.  Modular wall and floor systems can provide flexible floor planning, better indoor air quality, and improved energy efficiency.  However, existing modular wall and floor systems are not suitable for residential settings.  Therefore, the objective of this project is to design and test a prototype modular wall and floor system that is sustainable and appropriate for residential applications.

The commercialization of this system could create many new Pennsylvania jobs in several areas.  New jobs would be created for continuing system development and refinement, for manufacturing of the system, and for installing the system in homes or apartments. The manufacturing would also maintain local jobs.  The proposed project will advance the commercialization of technologies in Pennsylvania not only in the commercialization of the system itself, but also in the commercialization of potential complementary and add-on products.  Our goal is to reach out to Pennsylvania companies to develop new finishes, carpet tiles, and accessories (such as modular outlet systems.) The system will primarily be constructed from Pennsylvania-sourced, environmentally friendly materials, thereby supporting the Pennsylvania economy and reducing energy used for shipping materials.  This will also help maintain Pennsylvania jobs and support local manufacturing firms.

Dark Light: Low-Energy Modular Luminous Wall Surfacing System Using CeeLite LEC Technology

Drexel University
Eugenia Victoria Ellis, PHD, AIA
Jin Wen, PhD; Caroline Schauer, PhD; HP Huang

Dark Light is a luminous acoustical panelized system for low-level lighting conditions, such as night lighting, emergency lighting or theater lighting.  Illumination is provided by electroluminescent technology, a light emitting capacitor (LEC) developed by the eastern Pennsylvania company CeeLite, and is similar in color temperature to natural daylight.

Dark Light is controlled using photosensitive motion-detectors that automatically turn on the light when a space is occupied.  This lighting system is cost effective and energy efficient because it uses little electricity and generates minimal heat, and is made from recyclable materials.  By powering this lighting system with photovoltaics, this could be marketed as a fully solar-powered system with battery back-up, with the additional potential use as emergency lighting.

Daylighting, Daylight Simulation and Public Health – Composite Solar Lighting

Drexel University
Nick Calcagni
Eugenia Victoria Ellis, PhD, AIA; Jin Wen, PhD;
Caroline Schauer, PhD; Neal B Handly, MD; Donald L McEachron, PhD

Recent research indicates that lighting has become a public health issue; people working in natural sunlight are more productive, more effective, and happier than when in artificial light.  Natural changes in daylight balance a body’s circadian rhythm, determining sleeping and eating patterns, brain wave activity and hormone production.  For proper health and energy savings, it is important to use or mimic the full spectrum of natural lighting.  The Composite Solar Light Engine and Luminaire (CSLEL) evenly distributes natural daylighting supplied by a commercially available light harvester to building interiors that have limited access to exterior openings.  The illumination level remains constant regardless of exterior weather conditions; the color temperature of the light emitted matches natural daylight and changes throughout the day to match diurnal conditions; the lighting level can be adjusted manually and can be turned off.  We are presently looking for a Pennsylvania
industry partner for technology commercialization.

Active Air Heater without Boiler