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.

BEST Center National Institute 2024 Presentations Available

January 16, 2024

Recordings from the annual Building Efficiency for Sustainable Tomorrow (BEST) Center National Institute, held January 4–5, are now available. The theme of this year’s two-day, online event was “Less Carbon, More Action! Strategies for Better Buildings & Tech Education.”

The 2024 National Institute, which was co-hosted by BEST and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), brought together college faculty, students, and technical professionals aspiring to improve their knowledge and application of high-performance building operations. The BEST Center is supported by the National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education program.

Mary Ann Piette, Berkeley Lab’s associate laboratory director for the Energy Technologies Area (ETA), kicked off the institute’s second day with a talk about national strategies to decarbonize the buildings sector. Other topics on the agenda included heat pump water heater technology, residential electrification, building performance standards and strategies, demand flexibility, smart buildings, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Guideline 36 implementation, and more.

To watch recordings from the 2024 Institute, visit tinyurl.com/2024NationalInstitute to register and gain access. Registration and recordings will be available until February 28, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. EST.