Strategic Partnership in Core Sunlighting Solutions
Creators: name: University Of California Office Of The President
Publisher: name: University of California Office of the President
publisherIdentifier: https://ror.org/00dmfq477
publisherIdentifierScheme: ROR
Year: 2024

description: There is currently tremendous interest in developing a system that can guide sunlight into multi-floor buildings, both to reduce electrical energy consumption by electric lights and improve the quality of workplace illumination. An effective core sunlighting system has the potential to reduce energy for standard commercial building lighting by at least 25%, replace electric lighting 75% of the time that the sun shines within the core daytime hours, and reduce peak electrical power demand when it is most needed, typically midday on sunny days. If this can be achieved, core sunlighting systems have the potential to substantially reduce the associated greenhouse gases emissions of commercial buildings. In addition to this tremendous environmental impact, there is little doubt that the introduction of effective core sunlighting technologies developed by a strategic partnership of innovators in Canada and California will train highly qualified personnel, create new markets for manufacturing and installation businesses and advance the global reputation of both partners in the development of sustainable technologies. Widespread adoption of the technology requires a short economic payback time and compatibility with today’s building construction practices. To achieve this goal, further innovations are required and, fortunately, these innovations are readily achievable through a partnership of dedicated, dynamic and forward-thinking individuals presently located in university centers of excellence in building science in Canada and California. We propose a series of focused workshops to identify the current gaps in knowledge and understanding between the different stakeholder groups who will be influential in the technology adoption process, including building science researchers, lighting designers and facility management experts. These workshops will provide opportunities for participants to meet in a focused, innovative and productive environment and to forge the new partnerships and collaborations that are necessary to seed the cross-sector development. The proposed series of collaborative events is intended to develop key partnerships as well as the overall strategy. The specific objectives of the events include assembling innovative teams to develop new core sunlighting systems, developing strategies for maximizing the educational impact on students and researchers, identifying strategic industrial partnerships to implement demonstration systems quickly and establishing a framework for a long-term commercialization strategy. The events will be jointly led by Dr. Lorne Whitehead of the University of British Columbia and Dr. Konstantinos Papamichael of the University of California Davis. They have demonstrated the ability to help groups build consensus and achieve their goals. Together, UBC and UC Davis can convene a group of participants who are knowledgeable and influential in complementary aspects of the building industry.