USA – Emerson, a leader in thermostats and heating, cooling and refrigeration technology, has announced plans to bring the industry and other partners together to increase the pace of innovation in areas that are central to safety, quality of life and sustainability.

The company today announced the launch of its “Helix” initiative, including the opening of The Helix innovation center, an industry-first, $35 million hub dedicated to advancing research and education for the global heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) industry. The new facility, located on the campus of the University of Dayton, is the latest step in Emerson’s journey to refine its approach to innovation.

“Heating and cooling innovations help us to keep food safer and fresher, to improve our health and comfort, and to realize these gains while also reducing energy consumption and environmental impact,” said Emerson Chairman and Chief Executive Officer David N. Farr. “With The Helix, Emerson serves as a catalyst to drive rapid, meaningful industry advances that address today’s challenges and help us stay a step ahead of tomorrow’s needs.”

The Helix will focus on advancing ideas from concept to prototype in 90 days or less. To get there, Emerson will collaborate with customers, HVACR industry partners and competitors as well as experts from other industries who can bring new perspectives to specific challenges.

The Helix innovation center features full-scale, simulated environments, including a working commercial kitchen, a two-story residential home and a grocery store. Teams will use the facility to generate new ideas and then test them under real-world conditions.

With The Helix innovation center and an evolved approach to innovation, Emerson and others will look to advance areas like Internet of Things connectivity and use of big data to better manage heating and cooling; solve challenges related to efficiency, environmental demands and regulations; and develop new applications for automation to increase efficiency and performance of residential and commercial solutions.

The Helix innovation center also features Grind2Energy™, Emerson’s groundbreaking solution to enable food waste to be converted into energy. The concept of transforming potato peels and orange rinds into energy is exactly the kind of outside-the-box thinking that the Helix initiative is meant to inspire.

As Emerson continues to bring together disparate experts to rethink transformation within the industry, its Helix footprint will grow as well. A second facility is planned at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, with additional future sites under consideration. – See more at: http://www.emerson.com/en-us/News/Pages/thehelix-announcement.aspx#sthash.3UBOL3f3.dpuf