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The Energy Systems Laboratory (ESL) |
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 The Energy Systems Laboratory (ESL) is a division of the Texas Engineering Experiment Station and a member of the Texas A&M University System. The ESL is affiliated with the Energy Systems Group in the Department of Mechanical Engineering (5 faculty), as well as 3 faculty from the Departments of Architecture and Construction Science in the College of Architecture and has been in existence for several decades.
The ESL's Director is Dr. David E. Claridge, Professor of Mechanical Engineering. The lab currently employs approximately 120 staff members, including mechanical engineers, computer science graduates, lab technicians, support staff, and graduate and undergraduate students.
The Lab focuses on energy-related research, energy efficiency, and emissions reduction, and has a total annual income for external research and testing exceeding $4.5 million. Some specialized areas are:
- Metering and modeling energy use in buildings
- Optimization of heating, ventilation, and cooling systems, known as Continuous Commissioning®
- Modeling and analysis of data collected, including calibrated simulation and measurement and verification of photovoltaic solar installations
Senate Bill 5, in 2001, assigned ESL an important role in the implementation of state energy standards and assistance with calculation of emissions reduction benefits from energy efficiency and renewable energy initiative.
We invite you to explore our website to learn about the ESL, its activities, and related resources.
Use the navigation bar at the top of the page for more information on the following:
- Major projects
- Testing Facilities
- Education and Professional Development Activities
Contact the ESL
Energy Systems Laboratory Main Office
Texas A&M University
3581 TAMU
214 Wisenbaker Engineering Research Center
Bizzel Street
College Station, Texas 77943-3581
Main Phone (979) 845-9213
Main Fax (979) 862-8687
General Lab Information and Continuous Commissioning Inquiries:
Diane McCormick, Manager of Organizational Services
979-862-8480
Riverside Laboratory and Fan Testing:
Kathy Wadle, Engineering Technician
979-845-6404
TERP (SB5) or Building Codes Questions:
Kathy McKelvey, Research Associate
979-845-1781
ASHRAE and IC3 Training:
Jessica Coffin, Conference and Event Coordinator
979-458-0675
Research and Business Services:
Vic Reid, Assistant Director for Research and Business Services
979-847-8780
The main ESL offices are located in the TAMU Wisenbaker Engineering Research Center (WERC) on the northeast corner of the Texas A&M Campus in College Station. To locate our offices, you may visit the online map or download directions.
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As part of Texas A&M University, one of largest research institutions in the Southern United States, the Energy Systems Laboratory (ESL) obtains much of its income through federal, state, and industry grants. ESL specializes in managing energy efficiency-related projects where technical university skills are needed. Some of the largest programs are featured below.
Texas Senate Bill 5 Codes Training, Energy and Emissions Analysis Program:
The Texas Government has assigned ESL the important role, within the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan, of providing technical expertise in the area of calculating and verifying energy savings and air emissions reduction from energy efficiency programs, as well as providing technical assistance on the new statewide building energy code.
Equipment Testing Services:
ESL conducts standard and custom testing of industrial and household fans, air conditioning, ventilation products and heat pumps. The lab also offers testing of flow meters, sound pressure levels, photovoltaic cells, and contaminant detection. The ESL ranks among the best testing and research labs in the nation and continuously seeks to improve its capabilities. The lab prides itself on its unique ability to customize test setups for customers' specific needs.
Continuous Commissioning® Program:
The Energy Systems Laboratory has developed a commissioning process over the last decade called Continuous Commissioning®. This process is used to resolve operating problems, improve comfort, optimize energy use, and sometimes to recommend retrofits. This process has produced average energy savings of about 20% without significant capital investment in over 150 large buildings in which it has been implemented. Payback has virtually always been under three years, with two years or less in most buildings.
eCalc Energy and Emissions Reductions Calculator:
Soon Texans will find it easier to comply with statewide energy efficiency codes created to reduce harmful emissions and improve air quality. Researchers with the TEES Energy Systems Laboratory are developing and testing eCalc, a Web-based system that automates calculations mandated by the state codes. eCalc allows a wide range of building and community facilities to be analyzed for energy and emissions reductions. By entering information about their respective buildings, owners and managers of single-family residences, multifamily buildings and commercial facilities will find out the best things to do to save wattage and reduce energy consumption. Reducing the load on power plants will result in fewer emissions – and cleaner air. A side benefit: utility customers also will save money by using less energy. |
Nine professors from the departments of mechanical engineering, architecture, and construction science oversee more than 35 graduate students in the Energy Systems Group who are available to assist with individual research projects and external contracts. Full-time ESL staff members include professional engineers, test engineers, technicians, and administrative personnel. The director of the ESL is Dr. David Claridge, Professor of mechanical engineering.
Staff and students in the Energy Systems Laboratory provide a link between clients' industrial applications and academic research. Focusing on energy-related research and conservation, the group's total annual income for external research and testing exceeds $4.5 million.
 | Lynette Ajie |  | Juan Carlos Baltazar-Cervantes, Ph.D.
Research Associate |  | Tim Brundidge
Research Technician |  | John Bryant, Ph.D., P.E.
Associate Director, ESL
Associate Professor, Department of Construction Science, College of Architecture |  | Jorge A. J. Caeiro, Ph.D.
Research Engineering Associate III
|  | David Claridge, Ph.D., P.E.
Director, ESL
Leland Jordan Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering | | Jessica Coffin
Conference/Event Coordinator |  | Charles Culp, Ph.D., P.E., FASHRAE, LEED-AP
Associate Director, ESL
Associate Professor, Department of Architecture
|  | Larry Degelman
Professor Emeritus, Department of Architecture |  | Song Deng, P.E.
Associate Director |  | James Eggebrecht, P.E., C.E.M.
Assistant Research Engineer, Assistant Director of Industrial Assessment Center, Executive Director of the IETC Conference | | Steven Esparza
Research Engineering Associate II |  | Don Gilman, P.E.
Assistant Research Engineer
| | Diane McCormick
Assistant to Drs. Turner and Claridge |  | Jeff S. Haberl, Ph.D., P.E., FASHRAE
Associate Director, ESL
Professor, Department of Architecture
|  | Warren M. Heffington, Ph.D., P.E.
Associate Director, ESL
Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering |  | Pam Karonka
Lead Office Associate |  | Zi "Betty" Liu, Ph.D.
Assistant Research Engineer
Manager, Modeling & Analysis Group |  | Kyle Marshall
Senior Software Application Developer
Software Architect
|  | Michael Martine
Research Technician |  | Joe Martinez
Assistant Research Engineer | | Katherine McKelvey
Code Specialist |  | Kelly Milligan
Manager, Riverside Laboratory | | Cynthia Montgomery
SB5 Program Manager / Code Specialist | | Gary Napper
Energy Management Specialist
|  | Dennis L. O'Neal, Ph.D., P.E.
Associate Director, ESL
Department Head, Mechanical Engineering
|  | Stephen O'Neal
Computer Systems Manager | | Carlos Ortiz, P.E.
Assistant Research Engineer | | Robert V. Reid, Colonel, USAF (Ret)
Assistant Director, Research and Business Services
| | Iraj Solouki
Research Engineering Associate |  | Robert Stackhouse
Software Applications Developer |  | Jim Sweeney
Senior Research Associate |  | Cory Toole
Research Engineering Associate I |  | W. Dan Turner, Ph.D., P.E.
Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering and immediate past Director |  | Malcolm Verdict, C.E.M.
Associate Director |  | Guanghua Wei (魏光华), P.E.
Associate Director, Research Engineer
| | Carlos Yagua
Research Engineering Associate II |  | Bahman Yazdani, P.E.
Associate Director, Research Engineer | | Greg Zeig
Research Engineering Associate II |  | Jijun Zhou, P.E.
Assistant Research Engineer | |
 First established in 1939, the Energy Systems Laboratory (ESL) is the official testing laboratory for the Home Ventilating Institute. For more than 50 years, this independent, certified laboratory at the Texas A&M University Riverside Campus has served air conditioning and fan manufacturers across the nation and abroad. Its well-earned reputation -- for tests conducted to industry standards, for equipment traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology and for quick response to clients' needs -- has made the ESL a preferred research facility among industry leaders.
The Energy Systems Lab continues to improve its capabilities for fan air flow research and its testing certification program for axial and centrifugal fans, blowers, evaporative coolers, cooling tower fans and similar air flow equipment. Originally called the Fan Test Laboratory, the lab was renamed in 1985 to better represent its expanding environmental research capabilities, which now include research on air conditioners and heat pumps, buildings, flow meters, noise and fires.
During last two decades, the ESL was expanded to include the Building Energy Analysis Division (BEAD), which is responsible for research in and development of building energy analysis technology. The BEAD has expanded rapidly while its faculty, engineers, computer professionals, technicians, and graduate students have taken on several very large projects, from the Federal Environmental Protection Agency, the US Department Defense, and the Texas State Government. The ESL currently has an annual income for research and testing in excess of $4.5 million. |
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Human Resources:
Our main office is located in WERC 214. Contact Diane McCormick for more information. |
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ESL
