Pubdate: Sat, 23 Jan 2016 Source: Denver Post (CO) Copyright: 2016 The Denver Post Corp Contact: http://www.denverpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122 Author: Shay Castle, Daily Camera CU STUDENTS WORK WITH SURNA ON A GREENER POT GROW Nine senior engineering students at the University of Colorado are teaming with a Boulder-based Surna to design the company's new hybrid building for pot growers. Surna engineers equipment for controlled environments with a focus on the marijuana industry. The student team is helping with its newest product: a climate-controlled building that is a mix of an indoor grow operation and a greenhouse. The design includes a clear ceiling over an indoor grow. "It is sunlit - no one disputes that plants grow best under sunlight," Surna CEO Stephen Keen said. It will result in significant energy savings by redistributing heat and recycling water. CU mechanical engineering student Catherine Villa, who interned with Surna over the summer, suggested working with a team of her classmates. "We work a lot with HVAC and thermodynamics. I thought it would be a a really great idea for us to see how (those) work in the industry." The finished model will be displayed April 22 at a senior design expo. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom