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.
- 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

2022

Walker, Iain S., Brennan Less, Nuria Casquero-Modrego, and Leo I. Rainer."The Costs of Home Decarbonization in the US."Proceedings of the 2022 Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings. (2022).

2021

Less, Brennan, Iain S. Walker, Nuria Casquero-Modrego, and Leo I. Rainer."The Cost of Decarbonization and Energy Upgrade Retrofits for US Homes." (2021).

2019

Mills, Evan, Norman Bourassa, Leo I. Rainer, Jimmy Mai, Ian Vaino, Claire Curtin, Arman Shehabi, Louis-Benoit Desroches, and Nathaniel Mills."A Plug-Loads Game Changer: Computer Gaming Energy Efficiency without Performance Compromise." (2019).

Less, Brennan, Iain S. Walker, Jonathan L. Slack, Leo I. Rainer, and Ronnen M. Levinson."Sealed and Insulated Attic Hygrothermal Performance in New California Homes Using Vapor and Air Permeable Insulation—Field Study and Simulations." (2019).

Meier, Alan K., Richard E. Brown, Daniel L. Gerber, Aditya Khandekar, Margarita Kloss, Hidemitsu Koyanagi, Richard Liou, Leo I. Rainer, and Seth Sanders."Efficient and Zero Net Energy-Ready Plug Loads." (2019).

Meier, Alan K., Leo I. Rainer, Abigail A. Daken, Tsuyoshi Ueno, Marco Pritoni, and Dan Baldewicz."What can connected thermostats tell us about American heating and cooling habits?."ECEEE 2019 SUMMER STUDY (2019).

2018

Rainer, Leo I., Aditya Khandekar, and Alan K. Meier."Builder Installed Electrical Loads: The Energy Mortgage on a New House."ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings (2018).

2017

Mills, Evan, Norman Bourassa, Leo I. Rainer, Jimmy Mai, Louis-Benoit Desroches, Arman Shehabi, Ted Pollak, and Nathaniel Mills."An Energy-focused Profile of the Video Gaming Marketplace." (2017).

2014

Mills, Evan, Norman Bourassa, Leo I. Rainer, Gregory K. Homan, Noel Market, Danny S. Parker, Glenn Dickey, and Joan Glickman."Asset Rating with the Home Energy Scoring Tool."Energy and Building 80 (2014) 441-450. DOI

2012

Bourassa, Norman, Leo I. Rainer, Evan Mills, and Joan Glickman."The Home Energy Scoring Tool: A Simplified Asset Rating for Single Family Homes."2012 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings (2012).

Parker, Danny S., Evan Mills, Leo I. Rainer, Norman Bourassa, and Gregory K. Homan."Accuracy of the Home Energy Saver Energy Calculation Methodology."2012 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings (2012).

2005

Akbari, Hashem, Ronnen M. Levinson, and Leo I. Rainer."Monitoring the energy-use effects of cool roofs on California commercial buildings."Energy and Buildings 37.10 (2005) 1007-1016. DOI

2000

Akbari, Hashem, and Leo I. Rainer."Measured energy savings from the application of reflective roofs in 3 AT&T regeneration buildings." (2000).

1998

Konopacki, Steven J., Lisa M. Gartland, Hashem Akbari, and Leo I. Rainer."Demonstration of energy savings of cool roofs." (1998). DOI

1996

Rainer, Leo I., Steve E. Greenberg, and Alan K. Meier."You Won't Find These Leaks with a Blower Door: The Latest in "Leaking Electricity" in Homes." (1996).

1992

Sailor, David J., Leo I. Rainer, and Hashem Akbari."Measured impact of neighborhood tree cover on microclimate."1992 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings 9 (1992) 149-158.

Diamond, Richard C., Joseph A. McAllister, Leo I. Rainer, Ronald L. Ritschard, and Helmut E. Feustel."Affordable Housing Rehabilitation in Vermont: Energy Savings, Cost-Effectiveness, and Resident Satisfaction."Thermal Performance of the Exterior Envelopes of Buildings V (1992).

1991

Diamond, Richard C., Joseph A. McAllister, and Leo I. Rainer."Multifamily Energy Audit for HUD-Insured Multifamily Properties."Document prepared for the Office of Multifamily Housing, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (1991).