Discussion on renewable heat slated for Feb. 20

Fuzhan Nasiri of University College, London, will discuss renewable heat technology and policy as at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20 in Communications Facility 125 on the Western Washington University campus.

The presentation, which is part of Western’s Huxley College of the Environment Speaker Series, is free and open to the public.

In his talk titled “Integrating Renewable Heat into Non-Domestic Buildings,” Nasiri will provide background on the status of renewable heat, including policy, technologies, benefits, and challenges. In particular, he will explore the case of biomass boilers from the perspectives of capital and operational costs, supply chain issues, and environmental impacts. Through a case study, Nasiri will present outcomes and analyze the results subject to changes in source, types, and pricing of biomass materials as well as the choice of technologies and their cost and environmental performance profiles.

Fuzhan Nasiri is an assistant professor at the Faculty of the Built Environment, University College London . His research interests lie at the interface of systems science and sustainability. In particular, Fuzhan has been actively engaged in various research projects on modeling and analysis of the impact of support policies on renewable energy supply chains, integration of renewable technologies in the built environment, and the assessment of their life cycle costs and environmental impacts. Prior to joining UCL, Fuzhan worked as a postdoctoral fellow and research scientist in Energy Systems Analysis at GERAD (2007-2009) and in Water-Energy Nexus at Yale University (2009-2011).

The presentation will include a question-and-answer period. Anyone interested in the topic is encouraged to attend and participate. The Speaker Series, sponsored by Western’s Huxley College of the Environment, is intended to bring together environmentally-minded members of the WWU and Bellingham communities. Speakers address topics of contemporary environmental concern in the region and the world.

Western’s Huxley College of the Environment is one of the oldest environmental colleges in the nation and a recognized leader in producing the next generation of environmental professionals and stewards. Huxley’s distinctive, interdisciplinary curriculum reflects a broad view of the physical, biological, social, and cultural world, and has earned international recognition for quality.

For more information, please contact Jen VanderWeyden at Western’s Huxley College of the Environment at 360-650-2554.