Dreaming of greener living
Jamie Fine, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering PhD candidate
Jamie Fine hopes to change the way we live.
The Mechanical and Industrial Engineering PhD candidate is the co-founder and president of EcoStudio, the interdisciplinary team behind ZeroHouse, a sustainable townhouse that produces as much energy as it consumes. Built with natural and recycled materials, in partnership with Endeavour Centre (external link, opens in new window) , ZeroHouse’s prefabricated design and solar panels make it an attractive, affordable alternative for families looking for an urban dwelling other than a cramped, high-cost, high-carbon condo. ZeroHouse was recently showcased at EDIT (Expo for Design, Innovation and Technology) (external link) .
Similarly, Fine’s PhD focuses on finding more environmentally friendly and cost-effective ways of heating and purifying water, using alternative energy sources. He received a Norman Esch Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship Award (opens in new window) for his concept for a solar-powered desalination system.
Throughout his graduate studies, Fine has been supported by expert faculty, particularly his co-supervisors Dr. Seth Dworkin, Canada Research Chair in High Performance Computing for Sustainable Energy, and Dr. Jacob Friedman, Chair of the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering.
“TMU has presented me with incredible opportunities,” says Fine, the recipient of a Department Graduate Excellence award and Ontario Graduate Scholarship. “The experiences and connections I’ve made here are preparing me for the rest of my life.”
At TMU, integrated learning enables our students to follow their passions – inside and outside the classroom – and achieve their dreams.
Photo credit: Narrative Drive