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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Bio-oils Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #256114
Title: Transformative research issues and opportunities in energy efficiency

Author
item CHUNG, YIP-WAH - Northwestern University
item WANG, JANE - Northwestern University
item AJAYI, OYELAYO - Argonne National Laboratory
item Biresaw, Girma
item CAO, JIAN - Northwestern University
item HUA, DIANN - Caterpillar, Inc
item LAPATOVICH, WALTER - Osram Sylvania
item LIU, WING - Northwestern University
item MAJUMDAR, ARUN - University Of California
item QURESHI, FARRUKH - The Lubrizol Corporation
item ZHU, DONG - Tri-Tech Solutions

Submitted to: Current Opinion in Solid State and Materials Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/17/2010
Publication Date: 1/3/2011
Citation: Chung, Y., Wang, J., Ajayi, O., Biresaw, G., Cao, J., Hua, D., Lapatovich, W., Liu, W.K., Majumdar, A., Qureshi, F., Zhu, D. 2011. Transformative research issues and opportunities in energy efficiency. Current Opinion in Solid State and Materials Science. 15:16-19.

Interpretive Summary: One of the methods of improving energy efficiency is to reduce friction, thereby reducing the energy needed to do the job. For example, reductions of friction in combustion engines could translate to savings millions of gallons of fuel per year. Bio-based lubricants could be developed to reduce friction and make critical contributions to energy efficiency. This article explores the various approaches to energy efficiency identified by a panel of experts assembled at a workshop sponsored by the U.S. National Science Foundation. Among its recommendations is research into the development of oxidatively stable bio-based lubricants.

Technical Abstract: This article presents a summary of research opportunities in energy efficiency identified in a workshop by a panel of experts assembled for the Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation Division of the U.S. National Science Foundation. The workshop and article are restricted to two areas – reducing energy consumption in buildings and improving energy efficiency in transportation. While these represent only a very small segment of important areas in energy efficiency, the panel considered them to be the most promising in terms of return on investment in research efforts. In the area of reducing energy consumption in buildings, high-priority research topics include: information technology infrastructure for fundamental data gathering, processing and management, whole system and process integration for design and operation of smart buildings, and high-performance building components and sub-systems. In the area of energy efficiency in transportation, high-priority research topics include: development of high-temperature high-performance ferrous alloys, systems design of protective coatings, fundamental understanding of surface texturing effects on friction and wear, and development of oxidatively stable bio-based lubricants. The energy challenge is serious. We need sustained investment in renewable energy, energy efficiency and talent development in these new technologies for the future of our civilization.