Driving to a greener future: Durham College announces new research project with two community partners Posted on July 28, 2011 at 3:37 pm. July 28, 2011 Innovative Solutions and DRPS partner with college to investigate benefits of Mono-Pole technology OSHAWA, Ont. – In an effort to increase fuel efficiency and decrease emissions in vehicles, Durham College’s Office of Research Services and Innovation, in collaboration with Innovative Solutions Inc. and the Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) announced today a new research project for proof of principle testing of Mono-Pole technology. The project, initiated by Roland Kielbasiewicz, president of Innovative Solutions Inc. and a Durham College alumnus, could provide financial savings for organizations with large vehicle fleets, including emergency services or public transit. Test vehicles will be provided by the DRPS. Funding from the project will come from the Colleges Ontario Network for Industry Innovation (CONII). “The collaborative efforts of Durham College, Innovative Solutions Inc. and Durham Regional Police Service have been instrumental in making the project a reality,” said Debbie McKee Demczyk, director of the Office of Research Services and Innovation. “We are extremely pleased to work directly with our valued community partners in developing and creating more efficient and cost-saving vehicle fleets.” A magnetic system that works alongside the catalytic converter in an automobile, Mono-Pole technology is used to oxidize carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide. The American-patented system increases the fuel reactivity with oxygen to increase the fuel combustion efficiency. Preliminary production testing has shown up to a 17 per cent increase in fuel economy as well as lowered emissions. “Innovative Solutions is excited to be working once again with Durham College on an applied research project,” said Roland Kielbasiewicz, president, Innovative Solutions Inc. “Coupled with the support of DRPS, we are eager to review the findings of the Durham College team studying our mono-pole technology. Helping the bottom line and making a commitment to a greener environment is a win-win situation for everyone.” Ralph Ruffo, a professor in the School of Skilled Trades, Apprenticeship & Renewable Technology at Durham College, will act as the faculty lead and principal investigator in the project and will be assisted by Jeffrey Pang and Bill Bellamy, two second-year students in the college’s Motive Power Technician program. Pang and Bellamy will aid in the implementation of the intervention and testing on the vehicles as part of the study plan in the Automotive labs at the college’s Skills Training Centre, located at the Whitby campus. With the continued rise in energy costs combined with the environmental impact of burning carbon fuels, the potential discovery of any technologies that could be introduced into the market would be beneficial to all of Canada. The use of DRPS vehicles and provision of insured drivers for this study not only demonstrates the long-standing relationship between the college and the police force but also allows the DRPS to determine whether the potential exists to reduce their own fuel budget. “Our partnership with Durham College is a very important one for the DRPS, and extends beyond educational pursuits,” said Stan MacLellan, chief administrative officer, DRPS. “The opportunity to work together on potential innovations aimed at improving the environment and lowering costs is exciting for the service. The Mono-Pole project is a prime example of how our partnership allows us to explore efficiencies that have the potential to assist our organizations but more importantly the community-at-large.” The applied research test plans will be informed by the Society of Automotive Engineering – Fuel Economy Measurement Road Test Procedure (2010) whose standardized measures will ensure a rigorous testing process. This gasoline validation test is the first of many tests to include several high-level observers at all levels of government. Diesel testing will begin upon the completion of this study as well as natural gas and propane. Funded by the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation, CONII is a consortium of 22 Ontario colleges dedicated to helping business and industry stay competitive in the global economy. In addition to providing support to businesses it also offers financial support to colleges, enabling them to provide quicker access to the expertise of Ontario’s top researchers and the most state-of-the-art equipment and research tools available. About Durham College At Durham College, the student experience comes first. In September 2010, the college welcomed more than 30,000 students to campus including more than 7,600 full-time post-secondary students as well as part-time, Second Career and continuing education students; apprentices; and online learners. The college offers a wide range of market-driven programs in a number of different disciplines including business, information technology, energy, media, art, design, general arts and sciences, skilled trades, justice, emergency services and health care, enabling them to develop the skills required to meet the demands of today’s job market. A three-phase expansion of the college’s Whitby campus is currently underway. Phase 1 opened in September 2009 followed by Phase 2 in May 2011. Phase 3 will see the creation of a 30,000-square-foot building focused on agriculture, culinary, hospitality and tourism. Accommodating approximately 950 new students, it will house new classrooms and labs and offer a full-service, green-certified restaurant, lounge and greenhouse. In addition, a new Student Services building opened at the Oshawa campus in January 2011. For more information, visit www.durhamcollege.ca or call 905.721.2000. About Innovative Solutions Inc. Innovative Solutions Inc. has provided clients across North America with operational cost-saving solutions for more than 15 years. With a global demand shift towards energy saving Innovative Solutions has invested heavily in development and procurement of the latest energy-saving solutions and technologies from around the globe. This augmentation of services has garnered significant interest from not only their clients but from several organizations all focusing on finding the solutions to the ever-growing challenge of cost control and energy-demand growth. The demand for technologies designed to reduce carbon emissions while enhancing an organization’s revenue will only continue to grow as the search by Innovative Solutions continues not only to procure these technologies but also develop in-house solutions to better serve their clients while helping them find the perfect balance between profit and planet. Media contact:Michelle RoebuckCommunications, Marketing and External RelationsDurham College905.721.2000 ext. 2197michelle.roebuck@durhamcollege.ca Disclaimer: The contact information provided in archived news releases was current at the release date. For current information please contact Communications, Marketing and External Relations. SHARE:
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