HALL a/e/c/ PA funds insulation research at Appalachian

Posted Feb. 1, 2018 at 2:56 p.m.

BOONE, N.C. — A team of four faculty and staff members within Appalachian State University’s Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment and the Appalachian Energy Center received $21,000 in funding from HALL a/e/c PA (HALL), a multidisciplinary design and consulting firm headquartered in Charlotte, to conduct thermal testing of Rockwool Cavity insulation. The grant is administered by the Appalachian Energy Center.

These faculty members are Jeff Tiller, professor emeritus and chair in Appalachian’s Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment and adjunct research professor within the university’s Appalachian Energy Center; Dr. Brian Raichle, professor in and current chair of Appalachian’s Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment; Dr. Ok-Youn Yu, associate professor and interim assistant chair in Appalachian’s Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment; and Dr. Jeff Ramsdell professor within Appalachian’s Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment.

According to Tiller, he and his team will calculate the R-values, or thermal resistance, of wall assemblies composed of grades I, II, and III Rockwool Cavity insulation.

He said the testing will be completed using the newly constructed thermal testing chamber in Appalachian’s Building Science Lab, which is housed in the Appalachian Energy Center, to measure the performance of an 8-foot by 16-foot residential wall.

“The wall will be tested at simulated exterior temperatures of 14 degrees Fahrenheit, or -10 degrees Celsius, 50 degrees Fahrenheit, or 10 degrees Celsius, and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, or 32 degrees Celsius,” Tiller said.

Graduate student researchers involved with the project include Brittany Auten ’09, a native of Greer, South Carolina, pursuing a Master of Science in technology at Appalachian; Silver Frank ’17, engineering physics major and native of Burnsville; and Dustin Roten ’15, engineering physics major from Warrensville.

About the Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment

One of seven departments housed in the College of Fine and Applied Arts, the Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment at Appalachian State University features an integrated array of programs spanning the fields of sustainable design and technology. Its mission is to foster a strong and vibrant culture of inquiry, discovery and innovation that integrates theory with application, problem seeking with problem-solving, local issues with global perspectives and technological progress with environmental stewardship. It offers bachelor’s degrees in sustainable technology and building science, and a master’s degree in technology. Learn more at https://stbe.appstate.edu.

About the Appalachian Energy Center

The Appalachian Energy Center (AEC) at Appalachian State University conducts energy research and applied program activities in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy technologies, forecasting and modeling, economic development and policy analysis in a multidisciplinary environment that leverages the expertise of faculty, staff and students from across the university as a resource for private industry, local, state and federal governments, as well as nonprofits. Through its outreach programs and research, the Appalachian Energy Center benefits communities and citizens across the state by helping create new jobs, businesses and increased investment and income. Learn more at https://energy.appstate.edu.

About HALL a/e/c PA

HALL a/e/c PA is a multidisciplinary design and consulting firm established in 1992 by Dennis J. Hall, FAIA, FCSI. The firm offers a wide variety of professional services to clients and has enjoyed a national reputation for outstanding service. The firm’s extensive experience provides clients with expertise and knowledge to suit most project situations. HALL a/e/c PA is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, with branch offices in Dallas, Texas, and Orlando, Florida.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.