Published: Feb. 8, 2019

Center for Building Energy Smart TechnologiesThe University of Colorado Boulder, City College of New York, Arizona State University and New York University are entering the planning stages for a new National Science Foundation industry-focused Center for Building Energy Smart Technologies or BEST.

Formed under the National Science Foundation’s Industry–University Cooperative Research Centers Program, there will be two sites: one in Boulder, Colorado (West Site)and the other in New York City (East Site).

This center will bring together and form long-term partnerships between startups, corporations, universities and government agencies, defining the future of energy-smart technology for years to come. Potential industry partners include green building product manufacturers, design professionals and construction companies.

CU Boulder Professor Moncef Krarti would serve as the West site director while CCNY Professor Jorge Gonzalez would serve as the East site director.

A planning workshop will be held in Boulder on March 7 and 8, 2019 to inform potential industrial and academic partners of the mission and scope of the BEST center. Registration for the Boulder event is now open (password is “BEST”) and details about speakers will be posted soon.

Areas of concentration for the center

  • Developing smart building materials that adapt dynamically
  • Developing smart building energy systems that increase efficiency
  • Developing integrated energy generation systems that work with buildings such as solar power
  • Developing smart grid systems
  • Integrating efficient and renewable energy resources through better design and operation

If you go

What: Planning workshop for proposed BEST Center
When: March 7-8, 2019
Where: Benson Earth Sciences Building (Room 380) on campus
Email: At CU, contact Professor Moncef Krarti
Phone: 303-492-3389