Ribbon-Cutting for TxAIRE Homes

TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler’s Texas Allergy, Indoor Environment and Energy Institute officials held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the TxAIRE Homes project Wednesday. The event featured Jonathan W. Taylor, director of the Texas Emerging Technology Fund, which awarded UT Tyler a grant to establish the institute and monies for the homes’ construction. “We are extremely happy with the project and believe that what we are demonstrating here will have a significant impact upon how houses are built and operated,” said TxAIRE Executive Director John J. Vasselli. More than 50 local companies have participated in the design and construction of the TxAIRE houses, while technology products from more than 35 Texas-based companies are showcased within the two, he added. Construction began in June.

According to officials, the TxAIRE Research and Demonstration Houses have been designed to serve as realistic test facilities for developing and demonstrating new technologies related to energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and sustainable construction materials and methods. The TxAIRE Houses are said to be fully instrumented testbeds that make possible full testing and analyses of roof, wall, window, and slab building envelope components. TxAIRE was established in 2007. According to the UTT website, “The overarching focus of TxAIRE is upon high performance buildings, with key elements being indoor environmental quality as it relates to human health, and building systems design and performance, with particular emphasis upon energy efficiency.” You can go to http://www.uttyler.edu/TxAIRE/ for more information.