New class of nanoparticle brings cheaper, lighter solar cells outdoors
Think those flat, glassy solar panels on your neighbour’s roof are the pinnacle of solar technology? Think again. Researchers in the University of Toronto’s Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering have designed and tested a new class of solar-sensitive nanoparticle that outshines what we currently consider state of the art. This […]
Heather MacLean recognized by CMHC for contributions to sustainability
8:07 AM: the Gardiner Expressway rumbles with thousands of vehicles driving downtown to work, each with its own combustion engine releasing a barely-visible trail of exhaust into the atmosphere. Is there a better way to move people around our city? If so, what is it? These are questions that Professor Heather MacLean (CivE) explores in […]
PURE green machine proves U of T engineers more than just design wizards
It may have hydrogen fuel cells, a solar panel and three lithium-ion batteries, but a new electric vehicle from students at U of T won’t be found on the highway – it’ll be working on the farm. A group of engineering students has proposed a new type of sustainable soybean harvester, recently winning first place […]
A car that travels 1,152 kilometres on one litre of fuel
How much do you think it costs to drive from Toronto to Vancouver in the U of T Supermileage Team’s new eco-car? Hint: it’s less than a medium latte from your favourite coffee shop.Unveiled at the international Shell Eco-marathon this month, the tiny car from U of T engineering students is capable of traveling 1,152 kilometres on […]
Engineering a more fuel-efficient engine from scratch
Last fall, eight engineering students from U of T crowded around a small leaf-blower engine and argued whether it could power the world’s most fuel-efficient vehicle. Then, they tossed it aside and started building a better one from scratch. Now – after their professors said it was impossible – that engine is at the heart […]
From bio-fuels to molten steel: How U of T engineers are curbing carbon emissions
Whether we’re transporting goods halfway across the planet, or making steel in large-scale factories, limiting our carbon emissions is an immense challenge. But Professor Murray Thomson (MIE) and his team at U of T Engineering are up to the task. Their research explores new types of biofuel, different combustion methods and advanced sensors that are […]
