Penn State is leading a team of researchers at the Energy Innovation Hub at the Philadelphia Navy Yard Clean Energy campus to provide greener, more efficient building technology. The Department of Energy has pledged to fund the project with up to $122 million over the next five years.

Penn State’s own Dr. Henry C. Foley will lead the initiative in researching and developing building technologies that will reduce energy usage, cut pollution, and create jobs in the construction industry.

The program is using the Navy Yard campus because of its independent electric microgrid and over 200 buildings that can be put to use for the program’s unique needs.

“It is perfect as a test bed,” said John Grady, executive vice president of the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corp.

Penn State beat out the competition for the DOE grant in thanks to a collaborative effort by local and state politicians across Pennsylvania. The team will consist of researchers from a number of different universities, including Rutgers, University of Pennsylvania, and Drexel.