Traffic emissions may pollute 1 in 3 Canadian homes
A trio of recently published studies from a team of University of Toronto engineers has found that air pollution could be spreading up to three times farther than thought—contributing to varying levels of air quality across cities. Past research on air pollution from vehicle tailpipes has shown poor air quality anywhere between 100 to 250 […]
U of T Engineering Supermileage Team wins Shell Eco-marathon in Detroit
Eighty-nine engines revved in Motor City this weekend, but they weren’t racing for gold—they were racing for green. The University of Toronto Supermileage team won this year’s Shell Eco-Marathon Americas in Detroit, Michigan, with an efficiency of 3,421 miles per gallon—the equivalent of 6.82 millilitres of gasoline per 10 kilometres. That’s less than five tablespoons […]
Alternative energy MOOC captures global audience
Originally published in the 2015 issue of Momentum Magazine. When he began instructing at U of T Engineering 37 years ago, Professor James Wallace (MIE) taught a few dozen students at once in campus classrooms. Now with the introduction of massive online open courses— MOOCs—he’s using a state-of-the-art camera an internet connection to teach thousands of students simultaneously from […]
Where you live could mean “greener” alternatives do more harm than good
Whether it’s swapping your car for an electric vehicle, or your natural gas furnace for geothermal heating, transitioning from fossil fuels to electric-powered technology is widely believed to be the best way to lower carbon emissions. But according to U of T civil engineer Chris Kennedy (CivE), knowing where the electricity comes from to power […]
The organic LED age is here: Meet the U of T engineers behind OTI Lumionics
Originally published in the 2015 issue of Impact Magazine. Google “OLED,” and you’ll find scores of articles confidently predicting that this is the year of the organic light-emitting diode. Some of those articles are ten years old. Still, there are reasons to believe the OLED age is finally dawning. In fact, engineering alumnus Michael Helander (EngSci 0T7, MSE PhD 1T2) is betting on […]
U of T Engineering alumni awarded $5.7 million to produce energy-efficient lighting solutions in Toronto
It’s about to get a whole lot brighter in Toronto thanks to a significant investment from the Canadian government in a U of T Engineering alumnus’ sustainable lighting company. OTI Lumionics, a company co-founded by alumnus Michael Helander (EngSci 0T7, MSE PhD 1T2), has been awarded $5.7 million from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) to […]
Engineering students’ futuristic ideas materialize into three sustainable innovations
Whether it’s mimicking ocean mussels to create powerful non-toxic glue, or designing energy technologies that can store power for a whole city block, U of T undergraduate engineering students have the opportunity to lead innovative research that improves both our communities and ecosystems. Here are three materials science and engineering students who are designing a […]
Engineering alumnus gives back to support solar cell research at U of T
U of T Engineering alumnus Shawn Qu (MSE PhD 9T5) believes in a bright future for home-grown solar technology—and he’s helping create it. Dr. Qu is founder, chairman and CEO of Canadian Solar, North America’s leading photovoltaic module manufacturer and one of the world’s largest solar power companies. Canadian Solar recently committed $400,000 to support […]
Crystal light: New family of light-converting materials points to cheaper, more efficient solar power and LEDs
Engineers are shining new light on an emerging family of solar-absorbing materials that could clear the way for cheaper and more efficient solar panels and LEDs. The materials, called perovskites, are particularly good at absorbing visible light, but had never been studied in their purest form: as perfect single crystals. Using a new technique, researchers […]
