United Technologies Research Center Will Help Establish 'Energy Innovation Hub'

EAST HARTFORD, Conn., Sept. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- United Technologies Research Center, the central research organization of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX), expects to receive an estimated $10 million over five years from the U.S. Department of Energy for its role in a new "Energy Innovation Hub" for research and development of technologies to improve energy efficiency in existing and new buildings.

The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced $122 million in funding for the Energy Innovation Hub, stating the initiative "will bring together leading researchers from academia, two U.S. National Laboratories and the private sector in an ambitious effort to develop energy-efficient building designs that will save energy, cut pollution, and position the United States as a leader in this industry."

"This is a strong endorsement of the role of United Technologies as a leader in sustainability and energy efficiency, and we expect our technical collaborations will enable new products and solutions and fundamentally change the current energy consumption profile of existing and new buildings," said Dr. J. Michael McQuade, UTC Senior Vice President, Science and Technology.

The Energy Innovation Hub is the core investment establishing the Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster (GPIC), a consortium of public and private organizations that will address energy efficiency in existing and new buildings as well as economic and workforce development.  An event to promote GPIC was hosted by Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter earlier today and featured U.S. Secretary of Energy Dr. Steven Chu among a list of distinguished speakers.

"We expect the breakthroughs in technology and tools created in Philadelphia through this collaboration to address critical national energy needs and help transform the market by delivering scalable energy solutions," said Dr. David Parekh, Vice President, Research, and Director, United Technologies Research Center (UTRC).  "The Research Center will play a leading role in advancing these critical technologies, and our best expertise in all relevant disciplines - from our Connecticut base to across the globe - will be engaged to ensure success."

In its Aug. 24 announcement, the Department of Energy declared it will fund the Energy Innovation Hub at up to $22 million this fiscal year, and will subsequently fund the hub at an estimated $25 million per year for the next four years, subject to Congressional appropriations. If the program is fully funded, UTRC anticipates its total share will be about $10 million over five years.

The Energy Innovation Hub will be coordinated by Pennsylvania State University and located at the Philadelphia Navy Yard Clean Energy campus, which will function as a living laboratory for developing, integrating and testing energy efficient building systems.  

Buildings account for nearly 40 percent of U.S. energy consumption and carbon emissions, and the Energy Innovation Hub will focus on research and development of highly efficient building components, systems and models aimed at reducing energy use, minimizing net greenhouse gas emissions, and catalyzing an industry-wide shift to new technologies.

"UTC's comprehensive portfolio of energy efficient building products and services provides unmatched solutions to the challenges associated with reducing building energy consumption while ensuring comfort and safety," said Sandy Diehl, UTC Vice President, Integrated Building Solutions.  "Research at the hub will advance current technology and develop next-generation solutions that will deliver additional value for our customers."

United Technologies Corp. is a diversified company whose products include Carrier heating and air conditioning, Hamilton Sundstrand aerospace systems and industrial products, Otis elevators and escalators, Pratt & Whitney aircraft engines, Sikorsky helicopters, UTC Fire & Security systems and UTC Power fuel cells.

SOURCE United Technologies Corp.