Biosphere 2

Biosphere 2 Model City for Energy & Water Management

Biosphere 2 (B2) is a large-scale earth science facility near Tucson, Arizona, that encompasses about 3.15 acres of land and houses five synthetic ecosystems encased in a glass and metal shell., The University of Arizona B2 bridges the gap between laboratory experimentation and real world observations of climate change.

Much like researchers test predictions of drought in the Amazon by creating drought in the B2 rainforest, the B2 campus can be manipulated to experiment and understand the effects of integrating new sustainable technologies and management strategies in cities around the world.

City Scale Laboratory

The B2 campus provides a setting for scalable research focused on the resilience, adaptation, and sustainability of cities. The B2 campus includes residential, commercial, and industrial scale facilities with energy and water infrastructure similar to any municipality. The B2 microgrid permits grid-scale experimentation without disrupting production, affecting critical infrastructure, or inconveniencing customers.

Sustainable Technology Test Bed

Biosphere 2 provides a unique platform to:

• Link environmental, energy and water infrastructure, and facility monitoring networks to develop integrated management models
• Test new technologies related to energy and water supply, storage, and quality
• Apply new knowledge and skills of students, scientists, and industry to
• physical systems with real-time response
• Expose the public to the benefits of these new tools and technology

The value of B2 as a test bed for smart technology integration has been demonstrated active research and demonstration projects related to:

• solar PV integration
• variable power management
• green infrastructure

Just as university computer labs have provided students to experiment with new ideas and develop technologies that have transformed all our lives. The B2 Model City strives to provide students and scientists the opportunity to revolutionize the way we manage our environment, infrastructure, and behavior to lead to a more sustainable future.

Visit http://www.biosphere2.org for more information.