Arizona's sustainable energy future gets boost from new grants

TEMPE, Ariz -- Three Arizona State University (ASU) faculty members have been awarded $10,000 APS Sustainable Design Research grants to advance sustainability in the disciplines of architecture, landscape architecture, industrial, interior or visual communication design.

Thomas Hartman, associate professor, ASU Herberger Institute School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, is studying the creation of design templates that optimally orient a home to reduce energy use while taking into account traditional subdivision layout and housing design plans.

Sherry Ahrentzen, PhD, associate Director for Research, Policy and Strategic Initiatives, Stardust Center for Affordable Homes and the Family, ASU Herberger Institute School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, is designing and building a prototype for a sustainable therapeutic garden at a low-income senior housing facility, which is undergoing a Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) green renovation and occupant health study.

Catherine Spellman, associate professor, ASU Herberger Institute School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, is researching urbanism and the application of sustainable design practices at the scale of the neighborhood, the street and individual houses to create a better quality of living.

“All three of these projects will help designers and builders create more energy efficient infrastructure, which is important to a sustainable energy future for Arizona,” said Ed Fox, Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer for APS.

The APS Endowment for Sustainable Design Research grants come from a collaborative effort between APS and ASU. In 1994, the APS-ASU Environmental Showcase Home was built. The home was designed to help reduce consumption of natural resources and to significantly change perceptions about standard building practices and materials in the Sonoran Desert. APS donated the Environmental Showcase Home to the ASU Foundation for a New American University (ASUF) in 2000. Subsequently, ASUF sold the home, and in consultation with APS and the college, used the proceeds to establish the endowment that supports the faculty grants. The grants follow on the original mission of the showcase home, to educate and foster new solutions for sustainable designs.

“The faculty and students in the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture are advancing collaborative design models that help redefine 21st century challenges and provide solutions in service of the greater public good,” said Darren Petrucci, director, ASU Herberger Institute School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture.

APS, Arizona’s largest and longest-serving electricity utility, serves about 1.1 million customers in 11 of the state’s 15 counties. With headquarters in Phoenix, APS is the largest principal of Pinnacle West Capital Corp. (NYSE: PNW)

Comprised of a dynamic combination of disciplines, the ASU Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University is at the forefront of the investigation of creativity and creative practice shaping the 21st century. Many of the institute's programs consistently rank in the top ten of national peers and encompass over 45 areas of study within its six schools: architecture and landscape architecture; art; arts, media and engineering; dance; music; and theatre and film. The ASU Art Museum and the Herberger Institute Research Center support our research initiatives. To learn more about the institute, visithttp://herbergerinstitute.asu.edu.

Media Contact:
Steven Gotfried
Arizona Public Service (APS)
External Communications - Media Relations
602.250.3040
steven.gotfried@aps.com