Drexel Engineers to Monitor Energy-Saving Roof Project in West Philadelphia
June 29, 2010 Drexel
civil, architectural and environmental engineers will monitor green, control and cool roofing systems in West Philadelphia to collect data for eco-friendly roofing. The roofing systems will create affordable and energy-saving roofs for residents.
The research team made up of undergraduate and graduate students, led by Drs. Franco Montalto and Mira Olson, partnered with the
Community Development Corporation (CDC) in an effort to build more of an eco-friendly housing area in West Philadelphia and to measure the effectiveness of the roofing system. More than $8,500 worth of monitoring equipment funded by the CDC will be used to capture data that measures runoff from the roofs, temperature and the effectiveness of the roofing’s sustainability in an urban environment with rain gauges and thermisters.
Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell, Chair of City Council’s Education Committee and the Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development, and the Homeless, has been a passionate supporter of the project.
“This project is great for the community and we thank both Drexel and the CDC for this initiative” said Blackwell.
The emerging green technology will be implemented at North Holly Street and Powelton Avenue in Philadelphia; three roofs have been installed on different homes. The data will be collected starting in August. View the kickoff
photos on the
Drexel Engineering Flickr page.
