A Minneapolis start-up called Flyspy is running an alpha version of its Web site at flyspy.com. Using Minneapolis as the only departure point, the site enables searches for the best available airfares to other large U.S. cities during a 30-day window of time, which means users can see how making slight adjustments in their departure and arrival dates could result in significant travel savings.
Perkins & Will says it’s making a proprietary technology public. The architectural design firm, with offices in Minneapolis, created the 2030 e2 Energy Estimating Tool for its own designers to help them fulfill the American Institute of Architects’ goal of making all U.S. buildings carbon neutral by 2030. Given the urgency of global warming, the firm says it’s making the beta version of the application available to anyone at 2030e2.perkinswill.com. The e2 software allows a designer to set goals for energy efficiency, renewable energy use, and renewable energy offsets to see how those goals will shape a building’s design.
The University of Minnesota Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science has formed a research partnership with the Petroleum Institute in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, an engineering school funded by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and other major oil producers. The relationship includes a $6.1 million grant to the U of M over the next three years to fund collaborative research in processing hydrocarbons to make fuels and processing petroleum-based polymers for industrial uses.
A year-long application process is yet to unfold, but as U.S. Soccer and the U.S.A. Bid Committee bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup soccer tournament, they’ve contacted the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome and the new TCF Bank Stadium to notify them that they’re candidates for hosting World Cup games. A total of 70 professional and collegiate sports stadiums received notices. The last World Cup held in the United States, in 1994, included 24 teams and used nine stadiums. The World Cup currently features 32 teams.
