VANCOUVER, B.C. – Cisco announced today it has partnered with the University of British Columbia on a number of initiatives focused on smart energy technologies and converged network solutions.
The company says it plans to invest up to $1 million over five years in collaborative projects such as the university’s Campus as a Living Lab Initiative. Cisco and UBC aim to create smarter, more energy-efficient buildings while identifying best practices and solutions to reduce UBC’s net greenhouse gas emissions and associated carbon costs.
The project partnership will also explore ways to develop a campus-wide “Smart Energy System” that integrates energy generation, demand and supply to buildings at UBC’s Vancouver campus. Cisco and UBC will explore the integration of all building systems, such as environmental controls, security, lighting, energy, video, fire and life safety, onto a converged network solution.
“This agreement will give us the opportunity to act on this shared vision by using UBC as a living laboratory to provide faculty, students and staff with fantastic learning opportunities and more efficient university operations,” UBC vice-president of communications and community partnership Pascal Spothelfer said in a release. “The living lab will also aim to define new industry benchmarks and a city-scale demonstration for making communities more sustainable through better efficiency and advanced technologies.”
