Systems, Buildings & Energy Efficiency
ERI researchers investigate design and implementation of passive and active building systems including geothermal heat pumps, insulated structural panels, thermal battery storage and rooftop solar photovoltaic panels. Additionally researchers are developing novel non-invasive monitoring techniques and control systems for multi-source applications.
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Researchers
Kevin Amende is an assistant professor in the Mechanical & Industrial Engineering Department. His research focuses on building energy systems and the manufacturing process.
Prof. Amende can be reached at 406-994-6304 or kamende@montana.edu.
Website: http://www.montana.edu/kamende/
Hongwei Gao is an assistant professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. He develops power converters for solid oxide fuel cell systems. These DC-to-AC converters condition the power produced by fuel cells. Dr. Gao has developed soft-switched converters for residential fuel cell power systems and is working on modular inverters for large-scale fuel cell systems.
Dr. Gao can be reached at 406-994-5973 or hgao@ece.montana.edu.
Website: www.coe.montana.edu/ee/hgao/
Jaya Mukhopadhyay is an Assistant Professor at the School of Architecture. She teaches environmental system controls to ungraduated students and system integration to graduate students. Jaya Mukhopadhyay’s research interests include net-zero energy buildings, building energy simulation, daylighting, energy efficiency in residential & commercial buildings, passive solar building systems, operation & maintenance of high-performance buildings, and indoor environmental quality. Professor Mukhopadhyay has been the principal investigator for projects sponsored by ASHRAE and EPA. She received her Ph.D. from Texas A&M University, where her research focused on improving the energy efficiency of buildings utilizing shared energy resources.
Dr. Mukhopadhyay can be reached at 406-994-6439 or jaya.mukhopadhyay@montana.edu.
Website: http://arch.montana.edu/directory/1812028/jaya-mukhopadhyay