By land, by air: Engineering sustainable travel
People used to say that the journey was as important as the destination. But that was back when travel was exotic and exciting—before voyagers were so infuriated by gridlock, so concerned about safety and so consumed with their carbon footprint that the journey became something to endure, rather than savour. It doesn’t have to be […]
New technique offers spray-on solar power
Pretty soon, powering your tablet could be as simple as wrapping it in cling wrap. That’s Illan Kramer’s (ECE) hope. Kramer and colleagues have just invented a new way to spray solar cells onto flexible surfaces using miniscule light-sensitive materials known as colloidal quantum dots (CQDs)—a major step toward making spray-on solar cells easy and cheap […]
How organic LEDs are the future of sustainable, affordable lighting
Originally published in the Fall 2014 issue of Edge Magazine. There’s a revolution happening in the world of lighting, and Professor Zheng-Hong Lu’s (MSE) research into organic LEDs is leading the charge. The award-winning researcher from the Department of Materials Science & Engineering is delving into the centuries-old puzzle of energy efficiency: how to provide […]
New $5-million NSERC network uses enzymes for greener manufacturing
Instead of using fossil fuels to make plastics and industrial chemicals, what if we could harness eco-friendly enzymes—nature’s smallest helpers—to do the work? On Nov. 28, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) announced a five-year, $5-million grant to create the Industrial Biocatalysis Network (IBN). Based at the University of Toronto and led by […]
U of T Cities podcast episode three: sustainable cities
With the election just a week away, voter decisions are coming down to the wire: when it comes time to actually cast their ballot, will the choice they make help build a better Toronto? The latest in U of T News’ mini-series of podcasts tackles the question of sustainability to offers voters—and anyone interested in the future of urban […]
U of T Cities podcast episode two: the future of transit
No matter which box Torontonians check on October 27, this city is on a course for change. U of T News is presenting a mini-series of podcasts aimed at giving voters – or anyone interested in the future of cities – an idea of what Toronto and other global cities could look like just a few years […]
Engineering alumni build the world’s first consumer-ready OLED lamp
If you visit the lighting section of your nearest hardware store, chances are you’ll be bombarded by the latest mega-efficient LED bulbs—but to alumnus Michael Helander (EngSci 0T7, MSE PhD 1T2), that technology is old news. Helander and a team of former U of T Engineering students recently released the world’s first organic LED (or […]
U of T Engineering signs agreement with CAF to advance sustainable development in Latin America
If emerging economies are to prosper and compete in the 21st century, Enrique García, president and CEO of Latin America’s largest development bank, says there are two areas in need of critical attention: “Education and infrastructure…that is why we are here at the University of Toronto.” Last Thursday, García and a delegation from CAF — the […]
Engineering energy-efficient lighting
Doing more with less is the future of lighting. As smart novel lighting technologies use less energy to shine brighter, it’s also a trend that flipping the switch in homes and businesses around the world. It’s known as smart sustainable lighting, and researchers from the University of Toronto are leading the charge in design and […]
