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.
Colum 1 +
Colum 2 +
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.
- Presentations
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.

Publications

Publications By Research Area

1993

Berman, Sam M, George Fein, Don L Jewett, and F Ashford."Landolt C Recognition in Elderly Subjects is Affected by Scotopic Intensity of Surround Illuminants."Journal of the Illuminating Engineering Society 23 (1993).

Berman, Sam M, George Fein, Don L Jewett, and F Ashford."Luminance Controlled Pupil Size Affects Landolt C Task Performance."Journal of the Illuminating Engineering Society 22 (1993).

1992

Richardson, Robert W, and Sam M Berman."Variational Theory of the Radiant Emittance of the Mercury Argon Discharge and the Effects of Isotopic Enrichment."Journal of Applied Physics 72.12 (1992) 5571-5578. DOI

Pert, Evan T, Josephine del Rosario, and Michael J Siminovitch."Increasing Light Output and Efficacy of Recessed Troffers with Spot Coolers."15th World Energy Engineering and 1992 World Energy Environmental Congress (1992).

Osterhaus, Werner K.E, and Ian L Bailey."Large Area Glare Sources and Their Effect on Discomfort and Visual Performance at Computer Workstations."1992 IEEE Industry Applications Society Annual Meeting (1992).

Sgro, Lee Ann."The Thermal Gradient."IEEE-IAS (1992).

Greenhouse, Daniel S, Ian L Bailey, Peter A Howarth, and Sam M Berman."Spatial adaptation to text on a video display terminal."Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics 12.3 (1992) 302-306.

Ward, Gregory J, and Paul S Heckbert."Irradiance Gradients."Eurographics Rendering Workshop (1992).

Atkinson, Barbara A, James E McMahon, Evan Mills, Peter T Chan, Terry W Chan, Joseph H Eto, Judy D Jennings, Jonathan G Koomey, Kwok-Wai Ken Lo, Matthew E Lecar, Lynn K Price, Francis M Rubinstein, Osman Sezgen, and Thomas P Wenzel."Analysis of Federal Policy Options for Improving U.S. Lighting Energy Efficiency: Commercial and Residential Buildings." (1992).

Clear, Robert D, and Sam M Berman."Economics and Lighting Level Recommendations."Journal of the Illuminating Engineering Society 22 (1992).

Bailey, Ian L, Robert D Clear, and Sam M Berman."Size as a Determinant of Reading Speed."Journal of the Illuminating Engineering Society 22 (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