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.

1998

Akbari, Hashem."Introduction, energy savings of reflective roofs."ASHRAE Technical Data Bulletin 14 (1998).

Parker, Danny S., Yu Joe Huang, Steven J. Konopacki, Lisa M. Gartland, John R. Sherwin, and Lixing Gu."Measured and simulated performance of reflective roofing systems in residential buildings."ASHRAE Transactions 104 (1998).

Bretz, Sarah E., Hashem Akbari, and Arthur H. Rosenfeld."Practical issues for using solar-reflective materials to mitigate urban heat islands."Atmospheric Environment 32 (1998) 95-101. DOI

Konopacki, Steven J., and Hashem Akbari."Simulated impact of roof surface solar absorptance, attic, and duct insulation on cooling and heating energy use in single-family new residential buildings." (1998).

1997

Akbari, Hashem, and Arthur H. Rosenfeld."Cool buildings and cool communities."Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Buildings and the Environment 2 (1997) 301-308.

Konopacki, Steven J., Hashem Akbari, Melvin Pomerantz, Sasa Gabersek, and Lisa M. Gartland."Cooling energy savings potential of light-colored roofs for residential and commercial buildings in 11 US metropolitan areas." (1997). DOI

Levinson, Ronnen M.."Near-Ground Cooling Efficacies of Trees and High-Albedo Surfaces."Department of Mechanical Engineering (1997).

Levinson, Ronnen M., William W. Delp, Darryl J. Dickerhoff, William J. Fisk, Albert (Matty) Nematollahi, Ingar Stordahl, Christophe Torre, Duo Wang, Richard C. Diamond, and Mark P. Modera."Commercial Thermal Distribution Systems FINAL REPORT for California Institute for Energy Efficiency." (1997).

Bretz, Sarah E., and Hashem Akbari."Long-term performance of high-albedo roof coatings."Energy and Buildings 25.2 (1997) 159-167. DOI

Taha, Haider, Sharon Douglas, and Jay Haney."Mesoscale meteorological and air quality impacts of increased urban albedo and vegetation."Energy and Buildings 25.2 (1997) 169-177. DOI

Taha, Haider."Modeling the impacts of large-scale albedo changes on ozone air quality in the South Coast Air Basin."Atmospheric Environment 31 (1997) 1667-1676. DOI

Rosenfeld, Arthur H., Joseph J. Romm, Hashem Akbari, and Alan C. Lloyd."Painting the Town White—and Green."MIT Technology Review 100.2 (1997) 52-59.

Pomerantz, Melvin, Hashem Akbari, Allan Chen, Haider Taha, and Arthur H. Rosenfeld."Paving materials for heat island mitigation." (1997). DOI

Akbari, Hashem, Sarah E. Bretz, Dan M. Kurn, and James W. Hanford."Peak power and cooling energy savings of high-albedo roofs."Energy and Buildings 25 (1997) 117-126. DOI

Berdahl, Paul H., and Sarah E. Bretz."Preliminary survey of the solar reflectance of cool roofing materials."Energy and Buildings 25 (1997) 149-158. DOI

Taha, Haider."Urban climates and heat islands: albedo, evapotranspiration, and anthropogenic heat."Energy and Buildings 25 (1997) 99-103. DOI

1996

Akbari, Hashem, Ronnen M. Levinson, and Paul H. Berdahl."ASTM standards for measuring solar reflectance and infrared emittance of construction materials and comparing their steady-state surface temperatures."1996 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings 1 (1996) 1-11.

Konopacki, Steven J., and Hashem Akbari."Estimates of energy consumption by building type and end use at US Army installations." (1996).

Levinson, Ronnen M., Hashem Akbari, and Lisa M. Gartland."Impact of the temperature dependency of fiberglass insulation R-value on cooling energy use in buildings."1996 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings 10 (1996) 85-94.

Heinemeier, Kristin E., Hashem Akbari, and John S. Kromer."Measuring savings in energy savings performance contracts using in-place energy management systems- A case study."1996 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings 5 (1996) 77-86.

Gartland, Lisa M., Steven J. Konopacki, and Hashem Akbari."Modeling the effects of reflective roofing."1996 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings 4 (1996) 117-125.

Konopacki, Steven J., Hashem Akbari, Larry Lister, and Lee DeBaille."Electrical energy and cost savings potential at DOD Facilities."Proceedings of the 1996 ASHRAE Summer Conference 102 (1996) 691-698.

Rosenfeld, Arthur H., Joseph J. Romm, Hashem Akbari, Melvin Pomerantz, and Haider Taha."Policies to reduce heat islands: Magnitudes of benefits and incentives to achieve them."1996 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings 9 (1996) 177-186.

Taha, Haider."Modeling impacts of increased urban vegetation on ozone air quality in the South Coast Air Basin."Atmospheric Environment 30 (1996) 3423-3430. DOI

1995

Rosenfeld, Arthur H., Hashem Akbari, Sarah E. Bretz, Beth L. Fishman, Dan M. Kurn, David J. Sailor, and Haider Taha."Mitigation of urban heat islands: materials, utility programs, updates."Energy and Buildings 22.3 (1995) 255-265. DOI