| Building Technology and Urban Systems

About Us +
Researchers in the Building Technology & Urban Systems Division (BTUS) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory develop data and technologies that increase energy efficiency and improve the health, safety and comfort of building occupants, in the United States and worldwide.

We work closely with industry partners, academics and government officials to achieve these goals, and share our research widely
Research +
We are at the forefront of cutting-edge research that redefines building technology and explores all areas of urban systems.

We have been leaders for decades in developing energy-efficient windows, improving indoor air quality, coming up with new ideas to fix the nation's electricity grid, and so much more.

Visit our research areas at the right to find out more.
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Publications +
Enjoy presentations from Building Technology & Urban systems research experts on a wide variety of topics in the areas of building energy efficiency, the electricity grid and how it relates to buildings and much more.
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News
Tools & Guides +
Explore our tools, guidebooks and software and download for free.

We offer a variety of technologies designed to simulate and model real-world circumstances to assist in energy-saving programs and help building owners build better buildings. These tools can help calculate performance of building systems like windows and shades, help consumers and builders pick the best windows for a variety of applications and much more.

1992

Berman, Sam M."Tuning Light Spectrum to Improve Energy Efficiency."International Association of Energy-Efficient Lighting 2 (1992).

1991

Franconi, Ellen M, and Francis M Rubinstein."Considering Lighting System Performance and HVAC Interactions in Lighting Retrofit Analysis."IEEE-IAS Annual Conference (1991).

Piette, Mary Ann, Joseph H Eto, and Jeffrey P Harris."Office Equipment Energy Use and Trends." (1991).

Rubinstein, Francis M, and Chin Zhang."A Spreadsheet for Analyzing the In-Situ Performance of Fluorescent Luminaries."Illuminating Engineering Society Annual Conference 1991 (1991).

Clear, Robert D, and Sam M Berman."Polarization and glare on VDUs and Other Tilted Specular Surfaces."Illuminating Engineering Society Annual Conference 21(1) (1991) 29-40.

Rubinstein, Francis M, and Rudolph R Verderber."Automatic Lighting Controls Demonstration: Long-term Results."PG&E Research and Development (1991).

Koomey, Jonathan G, Celina S Atkinson, Alan K Meier, James E McMahon, Stan Boghosian, Barbara A Atkinson, Isaac Turiel, Mark D Levine, Bruce Nordman, and Peter T Chan."The Potential for Electricity Efficiency Improvements in the U.S. Residential Sector." (1991).

Siminovitch, Michael J, Francis M Rubinstein, and Michael Packer."Fixture Efficiency Program."Association of Energy Engineers Conference (1991).

Siminovitch, Michael J, and Niela M Kleinsmith."Convective Venting in Compact Fluorescent Fixtures." (1991).

Berman, Sam M."Energy Efficiency Consequences of Scotopic Sensitivity."Journal of the Illuminating Engineering Society 21 (1991).

Verderber, Rudolph R, Oliver C Morse, and William R Alling."Harmonics from Compact Fluorescent Lamps."Annual IEEE-IAS Conference (1991).

Raasch, Thomas W, Ian L Bailey, Peter A Howarth, Daniel S Greenhouse, and Sam M Berman."Visual Performance at Video Display Terminals--Effects of Screen Color and Illuminant Type."Journal of Optometry and Vision Science 68 (1991) 924-929.

1990

Siminovitch, Michael J, Francis M Rubinstein, and Michael Packer."Thermally Efficient Compact Fluorescent Fixture Systems."IEA/ENEL Conference on Advanced Technologies for Electric Demand-Side Management (1990).

Rubinstein, Francis M, Michael J Siminovitch, and Rudolph R Verderber."50% Energy Savings with Automatic Lighting Controls."IEEE-IAS Annual Conference, October 7-1, 1990 2 (1990). DOI

Siminovitch, Michael J, Francis M Rubinstein, and Richard E Whiteman."Thermally Efficient Compact Fluorescent Fixtures."IEEE-IAS Annual Conference (1990).

Eto, Joseph H."The HVAC Costs of Increased Fresh Air Ventilation Rates in Office Buildings, Part 2."The 5th International Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Climate (1990).

Verderber, Rudolph R."Electronic High Frequency Fluorescent Ballasts (Past, Present and Future)."Energy Cost Avoidance in Education Buildings Conference (1990).

Ward, Gregory J, Anat Grynberg, Charles K Ehrlich, and Francis M Rubinstein."Using CAD for Lighting Design Helps Predict the Unpredictable."Electrical Systems Design 70 (1990) 26-31.

Siminovitch, Michael J, Francis M Rubinstein, and Richard E Whiteman."Thermal Performance Characteristics of Compact Fluorescent Fixtures."1990 HVAC and Building Systems Congress, October 7-12, 1990 (1990).

Koomey, Jonathan G."The Environmental Value of Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions." (1990).

Koomey, Jonathan G, Arthur H Rosenfeld, and Ashok J Gadgil."Conservation Screening Curves to Compare Efficiency Investments to Power Plants: Applications to Commercial Sector Conservation Programs."1990 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings 5 (1990) 5.115-5.124.

Clear, Robert D, and Sam M Berman."The Effect of Instructions on Visual and Task Performance."Journal of the Illuminating Engineering Society 20 (1990) 108-116.

1989

Koomey, Jonathan G, Arthur H Rosenfeld, and Ashok J Gadgil."Conservation Screening Curves to Compare Efficiency Investments to Power Plants." (1989) 20.

Crawford, Douglas G, Rudolph R Verderber, and Michael J Siminovitch."Maintaining Optimum Light Output with a Thermally Conductive Heat Pipe."IEEE-IAS Annual Conference (1989).

Rubinstein, Francis M, and Michael Packer."The Effect of Luminaire Type and Spacing on Visibility Levels in Unobstructed Spaces."IEEE-IAS Annual Conference (1989).