The National Center of Excellence (NCE) on

Smart Innovations

Sustainable systems [Climate – Energy – Materials]

About NCE

NCE SMART — Highlights

01 / 05 — Mission

Climate & Energy Solutions Grounded in Science and Engineering

The National Center of Excellence (NCE) on SMART Innovations provides climate and energy system solutions based on sound science and engineering to governments and industries around the globe.

Our research seeks to quantify complex climate-energy system interactions resulting from all phases of a product or technology’s life cycle — and to develop cost-effective solutions to reduce any negative impacts.

02 / 05 — Approach

Transdisciplinary Research Across Engineering, Sustainability & Policy

Unlike traditional research programs, the NCE at ASU is a transdisciplinary cluster of researchers and scholars who work together on solutions that encompass technical, social, economic, and regulatory factors.

The NCE includes participants from the School of Sustainability and the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, bridging disciplines to deliver smart solutions for both industry and government.

03 / 05 — Research Areas

Core Areas: Technology & Material Innovations and Policy Innovations

Technology & Material Innovations — Research on nanoparticles for solar-thermal appliances, surface treatments that control temperatures of built environment structures, and alternatives to conventional building and paving materials.
Policy Innovations — Quantifying risks to human health, security, economy, and environment from current regulatory frameworks — and developing innovative alternatives for adaptation and mitigation strategies to support governments worldwide.

04 / 05 — Industry Partners

Trusted by Leading Industry Organizations Worldwide

Existing and past industry partners of the National Center of Excellence include:

BASF Dial Corp Henkel Intel CEMEX Raytheon Ford Motor Company AT&T Asphalt Pavement Alliance

05 / 05 — Government Partners

Informing Policy from Local Governments to the United Nations

Governmental partners include:

United Nations Environment Programme US EPA CDC NOAA Department of Energy NASA City of London City of Beijing City of Seoul City of Chicago City of Phoenix City of Philadelphia City of Houston Maricopa County King County, WA

Research Focus Areas

NCE Research Focus Areas

Research Focus — 01 / 03

Climate

More than half of the planet’s population now lives in cities — urban areas are gaining an estimated 67 million people per year. By 2030, approximately 5 billion people are expected to live in urban areas.

The NCE works with governments and industry to develop programs and technologies to reduce climate change impacts at both the urban and global scales, addressing the grand challenge of sustainability in rapidly urbanizing regions.

01 / 03

Research Focus — 02 / 03

Energy

Focused on the nexus of Energy and Climate, the NCE develops innovative technologies and strategies to help industry reduce energy consumption and meet growing regulatory requirements.

Life Cycle Modeling for Energy & Climate
Electricity Reliability and Delivery Vulnerability
Energy Reduction Technologies & Materials for Buildings
Industrial Energy Reduction Strategies & Quantification Modeling
Solar Thermal Technologies including Solar Absorption Cooling
Nano-particle Solar Designs & New Generation Surface Materials

02 / 03

Research Focus — 03 / 03

Materials

From smart building materials to cool pavements, the NCE researches next-generation materials that reduce energy demand, improve urban climate, and advance sustainable construction practices.

Smart Materials for sustainable buildings — reducing energy, water, and material use
Cool Pavements — optimizing thermal conductivity, albedo, and emissivity to combat Urban Heat Island
Field trials at outdoor research facilities and in-situ designs across the Phoenix metro region
Heat transfer modeling using NASA satellite imagery of Phoenix surface temperatures

03 / 03