| 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.

2007

Bauman, Fred S, Thomas L Webster, Hui Jin, Wolfgang Lukaschek, Corinne Benedek, Edward A Arens, Paul F Linden, Anna Lui, Walter F Buhl, and Darryl J Dickerhoff."Energy Performance of Underfloor Air Distribution Systems." (2007).

Zuo, Wangda, and Qingyan Chen."Real time airflow simulation in buildings."the 6th International Indoor Air Quality, Ventilation and Energy Conservation in Buildings Conference (IAQVEC 2007) (2007) 459-466.

Haves, Philip, and Peng Xu."The Building Controls Virtual Test Bed – a Simulation Environment for Developing and Testing Control Algorithms, Strategies and Systems."Building Simulation ’07 (2007).

Zuo, Wangda, and Qingyan Chen."Validation of fast fluid dynamics for room airflow."the 10th International IBPSA Conference (Building Simulation 2007) (2007) 980-983.

2006

Xu, Peng, Yu Joe Huang, Ruidong Jin, and Guoxiong Yang."Measured energy performance of a US-China demonstration energy-efficient commercial building."2007 ASHRAE Winter Meeting, January 27-31, 2007 (2006).

Prasher, Ravi S, Prajesh Bhattacharya, and Patrick E Phelan."Effect of Coloidal Chemistry on the Thermal Conductivity of Nanofluids."International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition (2006).

Wang, Liping, and Angui Li."A numerical study of Trombe wall for enhancing stack ventilation in buildings."The 23rd International Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture, Geneva (2006).

Wetter, Michael."Multizone Airflow Model in Modelica."Proceedings of the 5th International Modelica Conference (2006) 431-440.

Wetter, Michael."Multizone Building Model for Thermal Building Simulation in Modelica."Proceedings of the 5th International Modelica Conference (2006) 517-526.

Wang, Liping, and Nyuk Hien Wong."Natural ventilation simulation by using coupling building simulation and CFD simulation program for accurate prediction of indoor thermal environment."the 23st International conference on Passive and Low energy architecture , Geneva (2006).

Wang, Liping, and Nyuk Hien Wong."The impacts of facade designs: orientations, window to wall ratios and shading devices on indoor environment for naturally ventilated residential buildings in Singapore."the 23st International conference on Passive and Low energy architecture, Geneva (2006).

Griffith, Brent T."A Model for Naturally Ventilated Cavities on the Exteriors of Opaque Building Thermal Envelopes."SimBuild 2006 (2006).

Malhotra, Mini, and Jeff S Haberl."An Analysis of Building Envelope Upgrades for Residential Energy Efficiency in Hot and Humid Climates."SimBuild 2006 (2006).

Doebber, Ian, and Maurya McClintock."Analysis Process for Designing Double Skin Facades and Associated Case Study."SimBuild 2006 (2006).

Griffith, Brent T, Paul A Torcellini, and John Ryan."Assessment of the Technical Potential for Achieving Zero-Energy Commercial Buildings."2006 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings (2006).

Ellis, Peter G, Brent T Griffith, Nicholas Long, and Paul A Torcellini."Automated Multivariate Optimization Tool for Energy Analysis."SimBuild 2006 (2006).

Bhattacharya, Prajesh, S Nara, P Vijayan, T Tang, W . Y. Lai, Patrick E Phelan, Ravi S Prasher, David W Song, and J Wang."Characterization of the Temperature Oscillation Technique to Measure the Thermal Conductivity of Fluids."International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 49.17-18 (2006) 2950-2956.

Haves, Philip, Robert J Hitchcock, Kenneth L Gillespie, Martha Brook, Christine Shockman, Joseph J Deringer, and Kristopher L Kinney."Development of a Model Specification for Performance Monitoring Systems for Commercial Buildings."2006 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings (2006).

Kiliccote, Sila, Mary Ann Piette, David S Watson, and Glenn D Hughes."Dynamic Controls for Energy Efficiency and Demand Response: Framework Concepts and a New Construction Case Study in New York."2006 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings (2006).

Xu, Peng."Evaluation of Demand Shifting Strategies With Thermal Mass in Large Commercial Buildings."SimBuild 2006 (2006).

Lee, Kyoung-ho, and James E Braun."Evaluation of Methods for Determining Demand-Limiting Setpoint Trajectories in Commercial Buildings Using Short-Term Data Analysis."SimBuild 2006 (2006).

Witte, Michael J, Robert H Henninger, and Drury B Crawley."Experience Testing EnergyPlus With the IEA HVAC Bestest E300-E545 Series and IEA HVAC Bestest Fuel-Fired Furnace Series."SimBuild 2006 (2006).

Hanson, Mark, Steven Carlson, Dan Sammartano, and Thomas Taylor."Halfway to Zero Energy in a Large Office Building."2006 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings (2006).

Basarkar, Mangesh, and Muthasamy Swami."IFC to CONTAM Translator."SimBuild 2006 (2006).