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DOE OSTI2026

Exploring Building Retrofit Strategies Using AutoBEM Under Future Weather Scenarios

This study evaluates the long-term effectiveness of energy conservation measures (ECMs) on building energy consumption using AutoBEM, a scalable modeling framework driven by the high-resolution Model America dataset. We simulated 18,951 buildings in Flagstaff, Arizona under four climate scenarios using Future Typical Meteorological Year (fTMY) weather files for six time periods spanning from 1980 to 2099. Six ECMs were analyzed across electricity and gas usage, including HVAC fuel-switching, insulation upgrades, and infiltration control. While some measures, such as reducing space infiltration by percentage, showed minimal or even negative impact on total energy savings at the aggregate level, they proved highly effective for specific building types. Conversely, HVAC electrification offers high gas reduction but shifts demand to electricity, highlighting critical trade-offs under different climate trajectories. Building-type-specific analysis under SSP5-RCP8.5 (2080–2099) revealed significant variation in ECM performance, underscoring the need for targeted retrofit strategies. This study demonstrates the power of combining fTMY projections with large-scale simulations to inform data-driven retrofit planning.

Chowdhury, Shovan [ORNL]↗

DOE OSTI2020

Athena - Shuttle Bus Optimization and Event Driven Simulator [SWR 20-105]

The primary purpose of the software is to optimize shuttle routes to and from terminals, given some airport campus location like the rental car center. This code was developed as part of the DOE funded Athena project. One aspect of the Athena project was to investigate if the optimization of shuttle routes that move passengers to and from the five DFW terminals and the rental car center could result in lower energy consumption from the shuttle fleet while still maintaining an acceptable level of service to passengers. Hence, the optimization done by the code determines a set of shuttle routes, the type of shuttle on each route, and the number of shuttles servicing each route. The optimization aims to make these choices in a way that the energy consumption per hour by the fleet is minimized. Additionally, the software can fast simulate airport shuttle operations with collected data. The simulation inputs are passenger arrival rates, shuttle routes and frequencies, and simulation configurations. The outputs include: time dependent shuttle energy level, time dependent charging station usage, time dependent number of passengers on each bus, time dependent number of passengers at each bus stop, history of number of passengers left at each bus stop, route history of fleet shuttle buses and on-demand buses, and time dependent bus distance traveled.

Kelly, Kenneth↗

NASA NTRS2009

Device for Measuring Low Flow Speed in a Duct

A multiple-throat venturi system has been invented for measuring laminar flow of air or other gas at low speed (1 to 30 cm/s) in a duct while preserving the laminar nature of the flow and keeping the velocity profile across the duct as nearly flat as possible. While means for measuring flows at higher speeds are well established, heretofore, there have been no reliable means for making consistent, accurate measurements in this speed range. In the original application for which this system was invented, the duct leads into the test section of a low-speed wind tunnel wherein uniform, low-speed, laminar flow is required for scientific experiments. The system could also be used to monitor a slow flow of gas in an industrial process like chemical vapor deposition. In the original application, the multiple- throat venturi system is mounted at the inlet end of the duct having a rectangular cross section of 19 by 14 cm, just upstream of an assembly of inlet screens and flow straighteners that help to suppress undesired flow fluctuations (see Figure 1). The basic venturi measurement principle is well established: One measures the difference in pressure between (1) a point just outside the inlet, where the pressure is highest and the kinetic energy lowest; and (2) the narrowest part (the throat) of the venturi passage, where the kinetic energy is highest and the pressure is lowest. Then by use of Bernoulli s equation for the relationship between pressure and kinetic energy, the volumetric flow speed in the duct can be calculated from the pressure difference and the inlet and throat widths. The design of this system represents a compromise among length, pressure recovery, uniformity of flow, and complexity of assembly. Traditionally, venturis are used to measure faster flows in narrower cross sections, with longer upstream and downstream passages to maintain accuracy. The dimensions of the passages of the present venturi system are sized to provide a readily measurable pressure drop. Multiple throats are used to minimize the length needed to recover internal energy and enable the velocity profile to recover to near flatness.

Quinn, Frank↗

NASA NTRS2009

Measuring Thermal Conductivity of a Small Insulation Sample

Miller, Robert A.↗

DOE OSTI2024

Circular Economy for Photovoltaics in Service of Energy Transition

The challenge of energy transition is immediate and immense; current projections target 75 TW of photovoltaics (PV) capacity by 2050. While any transition to renewable energy technology is preferable to the current fossil-based system, it is ideal to improve the sustainability of PV to minimize negative environmental and social impacts. Circular economy (CE) has been proposed as a method to improve the sustainability of PV, especially for emerging materials like perovskites. CE is a set of actions, principles, and systems which aim to design out waste and keep products and materials in use, to reduce environmental impacts and enable sustainable development. At the most basic level, CE is "reduce, reuse, recycle", the R-actions, in ranked order. CE of a PV technology can be metricized in a variety of ways, such as the Material Circularity Indicator (Smith and Jones, Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2019) or recycling rates. Unfortunately, standard CE metrics have several shortcomings for measuring renewable energy technologies in the context of deployment for energy transition (Figge 2018, Saidani 2019): 1) Only measure mass flows; 2) De-prioritization of the use phase in favor of mass circularity when scoring; and 3) Tight focus on a single product scale The use phase and energy flows of PV are key to energy transition, and therefore need to be quantified. Additionally, correlating product-scale to system-scale is necessary for quantifying the environmental impacts of energy transition. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) can address some of these concerns, but also focuses on a single product scale and has trouble capturing the dynamics of system-scale energy transition, such as the interaction of module lifetime with manufacturing demands for energy transition deployment schedules. Therefore, we developed an open-source Python-based system dynamics model to quantify the mass, energy and carbon impacts of CE R-actions for PV technologies in the energy transition; PV in the CE (PV ICE) (Ovaitt & Mirletz 2021). The tool captures supply chains from material extraction through end of life, incorporating 5 circular end of life pathways. PV ICE takes in any evolving bill of materials, module properties and deployment schedule to support researchers and decision makers with data-backed insights. In this work, we quantify and compare proposed CE sustainable PV module designs and lifecycle management strategies, spanning currently commercialized technologies, government and industry technology targets, and several low Technology Readiness Level (TRL) emerging PV technologies, including perovskites. Our analyses capture the projected evolutions of lifetime, efficiency and material circularity of these PV technologies, as well as their material supply chains. Our analyses emphasize the importance of examining a suite of metrics to identify priorities and tradeoffs, and inform design or lifecycle management decisions holistically. Previous analyses have demonstrated the central importance of PV module lifetime to support energy transition while minimizing impacts. High levels of material circularity (>90%) enable minimizing lifecycle wastes, can reduce virgin material demands if paired with improving efficiency, but demonstrate tradeoffs in energy return on investment. In the fervor of new material and technology development, it is important to remember that CE is not the end goal; decarbonization and energy transition are the end goal. CE should be used in service to improve the sustainability of PV, and R-actions evaluated for their usefulness and efficacy to this end.

carbon↗

NASA NTRS2008

Optimization of Stability Constrained Geometrically Nonlinear Shallow Trusses Using an Arc Length Sparse Method with a Strain Energy Density Approach

A technique for the optimization of stability constrained geometrically nonlinear shallow trusses with snap through behavior is demonstrated using the arc length method and a strain energy density approach within a discrete finite element formulation. The optimization method uses an iterative scheme that evaluates the design variables' performance and then updates them according to a recursive formula controlled by the arc length method. A minimum weight design is achieved when a uniform nonlinear strain energy density is found in all members. This minimal condition places the design load just below the critical limit load causing snap through of the structure. The optimization scheme is programmed into a nonlinear finite element algorithm to find the large strain energy at critical limit loads. Examples of highly nonlinear trusses found in literature are presented to verify the method.

Hrinda, Glenn A.↗

DOE OSTI2025

Retro-Commissioning Sensor Suitcase for Energy Efficiency (CRADA Final Report)

The Sensor Suitcase project aimed to enable cost-effective, data-driven retro-commissioning (RCx) in small commercial buildings through a self-installable toolkit consisting of portable sensors and diagnostic software. Results showed that the Sensor Suitcase could identify common operational faults leading to 5–15% energy savings opportunities, with automated reports requiring minimal user interpretation. The project adhered closely to its Statement of Work (SOW) but evolved the reporting interface and sensor logging duration based on field feedback. The development and validation of diagnostics are documented in PNNL technical reports and internal analysis summaries.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

NASA NTRS1978

Fuel conservative aircraft engine technology

NASA's Aircraft Energy Efficiency Program, initiated in an effort to minimize the adverse impact of the worldwide fuel crisis, will develop technology for more fuel-efficient subsonic transport aircraft. The program includes three major propulsion projects: (1) Engine Component Improvement, directed at current engines, (2) Energy Efficient Engine, directed at new turbofan engines, and (3) Advanced Turboprops, directed at technology for advanced turboprop-powered aircraft. The present paper reviews the current status of each of these projects and describes some of the technologies and recent accomplishments.

Nored, D. L.↗

DOE OSTI2024

FLUKA simulation validation to measure the beam energy of a cyclotron

FLUKA is a fully integrated particle physics MonteCarlo simulation package which has many applications in high energy experimental physics and engineering. When using a cyclotron for medical radionuclide production, it is important to know that the beam energy is suitable to cause the intended nuclear reaction and minimize unwanted impurities. Here, this work focuses on the comparison of FLUKA as a tool to measure the beam energy of a cyclotron with experimental results using the method of stacked copper foils interspaced by an aluminum degrader. We compared two methods to determine the activity ratio: determining the activity in each foil using the experimentally measured cross-sections from the National Nuclear Data Center (NNDC) cross-section data and calculating the activity in the two Cu foils using the FLUKA program. These results were compared to those reported by Gagnon et al., 2011. The FLUKA results gave energy measurements that were different than the true energy by a percentage in the range of 2.4% to 13%, suggesting that FLUKA is not recommended for pre-calculating the cyclotron beam energy using these low Z materials without experimental confirmation. It also confirms that the experimental cross-section data from the NNDC database is superior for this application giving energy values that ranged from 0.1% to 1.6% from the true energy.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

NASA NTRS1981

Pilot guidance and display considerations for energy efficient flight profiles

Two computer programs are applied to energy efficient flight operation in order to minimize aircraft operating costs. One algorithm (OPTIM) computes vertical flight profiles which optimize direct operating costs, including fuel and time costs, for an aircraft flying over a fixed range and with a fixed time-of-arrival. The second program (TRAGEN) simulates an aircraft steered to fly along a specified vertical flight trajectory, in order to examine fuel and cost penalties involved in flying nonoptimal trajectories. Constraints such as air traffic control procedures, and atmospheric and weight conditions are considered and supported by graphs and diagrams. The use of the algorithms as preflight planning tools is discussed, emphasizing OPTIM's future application for on-board energy management. Finally, research questions concerning pilot guidance and display considerations for advanced energy/flight management systems are addressed.

Samms, K. H.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Optimum interface properties for metal matrix composites

Due to the thermal expansion coefficient mismatch (CTE) between the fiber and the matrix, high residual sresses exist in metal matrix composite systems upon cool down from processing temperature to room temperature. An interface material can be placed between the fiber and the matrix to reduce the high tensile residual stresses in the matrix. A computer program was written to minimize the residual stress in the matrix subject to the interface material properties. The decision variables are the interface modulus, thickness and thermal expansion coefficient. The properties of the interface material are optimized such that the average distortion energy in the matrix and the interface is minimized. As a result, the only active variable is the thermal expansion coefficient. The optimum modulus of the interface is always the minimum allowable value and the interface thickness is always the maximum allowable value, independent of the fiber/matrix system. The optimum interface thermal expansion coefficient is always between the values of the fiber and the matrix. Using this analysis, a survey of materials was conducted for use as fiber coatings in some specific composite systems.

Ghosn, Louis J.↗

DOE OSTI2022

Silver Nanowire-Indium Zinc Oxide Composite Flexible Transparent Conducting Electrodes Made by Spin- coating and Photonic Curing

Realizing high-throughput, low-cost perovskite solar cell (PSC) manufacturing is highly sought-after in photovoltaic (PV) research in recent years. To fully achieve roll-to-roll (R2R) manufacturing of PSCs, it is important to consider the flexible transparent electrode (TE). PET/ITO is a commonly used substrate for making flexible PSCs. When optimizing transparent conducting materials, there is a tradeoff between sheet resistance (Rsh) and optical transparency. Because commercial PET/ITO substrates are made with slow (~1 m/min) vacuum deposition processes, they tend to be expensive. Therefore, it would be advantageous to develop a high-throughput, R2R compatible, solution-deposition approach for fabricating the TE on PET substrates. While various solution-deposition processes, such as blade coating or slot-die coating, can achieve the desired web speed of > 10 m/min, there is still a need to improve the post-deposition annealing step. One promising post-deposition processing technique is intense-pulsed-light processing, also known as photonic curing. Photonic curing delivers short (0.01 – 100 ms) pulses of broadband (200 – 1500 nm) light from a xenon flash lamp to the samples. Any materials in the sample stack that absorb light will convert the impinging light pulse into heat within the sample, which drives changes in the sample (calcination, phase change, crystallization, etc.). Photonic curing has three main advantages over thermal annealing: 1. Faster processing speed (milliseconds or seconds). 2. Compatibility with plastic substrates. 3. Smaller physical footprint and less wasted energy. Since the light pulses are on for a short time, the intensity can be high while the total energy delivered to the sample is low, minimizing damages to the plastic substrates. In this work, a hybrid TE material is fabricated on PET substrates using photonic curing. The hybrid TE material contains a layer of silver nanowires (AgNWs) and a layer of metal-oxide (InOx, ITO, IZO, etc.). The AgNWs increase the light absorbed by the film during the photonic curing process, which leads to higher processing temperatures, possibly improving the conversion of the metal-oxide layer. The AgNWs also enhance the electrical conductivity of the final TE layer after photonic curing. A AgNW and metal-oxide bilayer is formed by spin coating each solution onto the PET substrate sequentially followed by a single photonic curing process. We use average optical transmittance (Tavg) from 400 to 700 nm and average Rsh to evaluate the TE performance. The following photonic curing parameters are varied to optimize Tavg (maximize) and Rsh (minimize): Pulse voltage, pulse envelope, number of micro-pulses, duty cycle, number of pulses, and pulse repetition rate. Preliminarily, we also observe a significant impact on the TE properties by the volume of AgNW deposited during the spin coating deposition step. Using dispense volumes of 80 µL and 20 µL, we achieve samples with Tavg = 73%, Rsh = 19 Ω/sq, and roughness = 9 nm, and Tavg = 83%, Rsh = 58 Ω/sq, and roughness = 5.6 nm, respectively, after photonic curing.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2026

Transverse Kinematic Imbalance in MicroBooNE's New nue CC0pi Measurements

Neutrino-nucleus cross section measurements require accurate modelling of neutrino interactions. Neutrino beams are not monoenergetic, and the energy of each interaction must instead be modelled using nuclear interaction assumptions. This introduces significant systematic uncertainty into cross section measurements. Effects such as Fermi motion, nuclear correlations, and final-state interactions (FSI) smear the underlying quasi-elastic scattering signal, making it difficult to disentangle genuine quasi-elastic kinematics from nuclear effects across the full range of interaction channels (QE, MEC, RES, DIS) probed in these measurements. Transverse Kinematic Imbalance (TKI) variables, such as $\delta p_T$ and $\delta \alpha_T$, probe this same phase space by exploiting the fact that the incoming neutrino has zero transverse momentum ($\vec{p}_T^{\,\nu} = 0$). Any measured transverse imbalance in the final state therefore arises from nuclear effects rather than from uncertainty in the incident neutrino energy, allowing cross section measurements to select a phase space that is rich in quasi-elastic-like events with minimal contamination from FSI and other nuclear effects, independent of energy reconstruction. Recent unfolded MicroBooNE cross section measurements of electron-neutrino charged-current interactions with zero pions and at least one proton ($\nu_e$ CC0$\pi$, 1eNp0$\pi$) show that several leading nuclear interaction generators (including GENIE variants, NuWro, GiBUU, and NEUT) reproduce the differential cross section in electron energy reasonably well, but consistently struggle to describe the differential cross section in the cosine of the leading proton's angle, yielding lower $p$-values across all seven generators tested. This tension points to a more fundamental, kinematics-driven disagreement between data and generators that is not visible in energy-only cross section observables. This is precisely the regime TKI variables are designed to probe. Following previous TKI cross section measurements with muon-neutrino data in MicroBooNE, this poster presents the case for extending the TKI framework to electron-neutrino cross section measurements as a next step to isolate and characterize the source of the observed generator tension in proton kinematics.

Burridge, Jessica [U. Manchester (main)] (ORCID:00↗

NASA NTRS2018

Mid-infrared Spectroscopy of Pr-Doped Materials

Solid state lanthanide doped lasers primarily operate in the ultraviolet, visible, near infrared and short-wavelength infrared out to around 2.1 μm. At longer wavelengths, the transitions in conventional oxide crystal and glass materials become susceptible to multiphonon quenching due to their relatively large phonon energy. The use of low phonon materials can minimize the nonradiative quenching, opening up possibilities for solid state lanthanide lasers operating in the mid-infrared (MIR). This provides motivation to study the spectroscopy of lanthanide ions in bromide, chloride and fluoride materials, which have relatively low phonon energies. In this article, the MIR spectroscopy or praseodymium ions in five different host materials is studied, specifically KPb2Br5 (KPB), LaF3, KYF4 (KYF), BaY2F8 (BYF) and YLiF4 (YLF) host crystals. The MIR emission cross sections have been measured from 3 to 6 μm and reciprocity of absorption and emission is utilized to validate the results. The lifetime dynamics in the MIR are covered for various pump and emission wavelengths. Results are also presented on MIR emission from 6.5 to 8.5 μm in a Pr: KPB crystal, which, to the best of the authors knowledge, is the first such measurement of luminescence in this wavelength range that has been published.

Brian M Walsh↗

DOE OSTI2022

Thermal Optimization of a Silicon Carbide, Half-Bridge Power Module

This project describes the modeling process to design the packaging and heat exchanger for a half-bridge wide-bandgap (WBG) power semiconductor module. The module uses two silicon carbide, metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) devices per switch position that are soldered to an aluminum nitride, direct-bond copper (DBC) substrate. A baseplate cooling configuration (e.g., no thermal grease) is used along with a water-ethylene glycol, jet-impingement-style heat exchanger. The heat exchanger was designed to be fabricated using prototyping equipment from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, complies with automotive standards (for minimal channel sizes, flow rates, and coolant), and considers reliability aspects (i.e., erosion/corrosion). Device-scale computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used first to design the slot jet impingement cooling configuration and compute the effective heat transfer coefficient (HTC) of the concept. The computed HTCs are then used as boundary conditions for a finite element study to optimize the package geometry (e.g., device layout and baseplate thickness) to minimize thermal resistance and minimize temperature variation between the module's four devices. Finally, a fluid manifold is designed to generate the slot jets and cool the devices. Module-scale CFD predicts a relatively low junction-to-fluid thermal resistance of 16.7 mm2 K/W, a 1.4 degrees C temperature variation between devices, and a total pressure drop of 5,860 Pa (0.85 psi) for the design. The thermal resistance of the module design is about 67% lower than the 2015 BMW i3 power electronics/modules thermal resistance.

DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗

DOE OSTI2021

A combined biological and chemical flue gas utilization system towards carbon dioxide capture from coal-fired power plants (Final Report)

Photosynthetic algal cultivation has been intensively studied for CO 2 capture and utilization for several decades. The footprint for using algae to capture CO 2 emitted from carbon-intensive industrial processes (power plants, cement plants, and fermentation processes) is extremely large, which creates serious technical and economic hurdles that must be cleared if algal technologies are to be commercially implemented. Fortunately, algal biomass is rich in proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids, providing a good chemical source for organic absorbents and other value-added chemical feedstocks. In particular, amino acids from algal protein can be used to generate amino acid salt solutions that have been proven to be effective for capturing CO 2 . In order to take advantage of both algal cultivation and biomass utilization, the goal of the proposed project is to develop a combined biological and chemical system for coal-fired power plants for sequestering CO 2 in biological absorbents and generating value-added products. This approach significantly reduces the land and energy footprint of CO 2 capture, and minimizes capital and operational expenses. Three specific objectives are targeted: 1) optimizing the growth of the selected algal strain to maximize biomass accumulation from the coal-fired flue gas; 2) developing a cascade biomass utilization to produce amino acid absorbents, polyurethanes, biodiesel, and methane; and 3) conducting techno-economic analysis (TEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) of the proposed process. Three key technical outcomes were achieved: (1) With the selected robust algal strain and unique photobioreactor design, long-term culture stability can be extended, and algal biomass productivity reached 0.5 g dry biomass/L/day year-round at a biomass concentration of 1.2 g/L in the pilot photobioreactor; (2) The biomass utilization process led to complete utilization of the algal biomass to produce amino acid salt absorbent, polyurethanes, and methane; and (3) The combined biological and chemical flue gas utilization process concluded a technically and economically feasible commercial-scale system that completely captures CO 2 in coal-fired flue gas with greatly reduced energy consumption.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗

DOE OSTI2020

Detecting Thermally Induced Spinodal Decomposition with Picosecond Ultrasonics in Cast Austenitic Stainless Steels

Given the existential climate crisis faced by mankind and the world, the lifetime and sustainability of nuclear reactors as a carbon-free source of renewable energy depend on the susceptibility of their structural components to environmental degradation. In particular, critical components for light water reactors (LWRs) evolve over decades in service, losing ductility and toughness due to thermal and irradiation aging. Techniques to monitor their health cannot be easily applied in the field due to their destructive, expensive, or immobile nature. Thus, non-destructive evaluation (NDE) methods are sought to monitor and evaluate the health of major LWR components such as core barrels, steam generator tubes, or primary coolant pipes and are often required by policy, such as NRC policy #10-CFR-50.65. In this work we demonstrate the use of gigahertz, non-contact ultrasonics to gauge the state of cast austenitic stainless steels (CASS), used in some of the largest components in LWR primary systems. We do so by linking changes in their surface acoustic wave (SAW) characteristics using transient grating spectroscopy (TGS) to transmission electron microscopy (TEM)-verified evidence of spinodal decomposition and G-phase precipitation. In this thesis, thermal aging is shown to induce SAW peak splitting in spinodally decomposed CASS alloys, correlated strongly with lowered toughness and decreased ductility. Furthermore, statistical testing on the number of SAW peak splits observed show that the second SAW peak significantly appears more frequently and is significantly different in frequency in comparison to counts and frequencies measured in unaged specimens. The ability of this technique to non-destructively detect microstructural degradation at a distance in a predictive manner in the case of CASS motivates extending gigahertz ultrasonics to detect other LWR material degradation modes as an in-vessel inspection technique, such as reactor pressure vessel (RPV) embrittlement. This allows for the greater use of NDE techniques for confident monitoring of LWR structural material health to 80 years and beyond, saving costs by minimizing structural replacements until needed and maximizing energy production by preventing early decommission until necessary.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2021

U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center Building Energy Efficiency (CERC-BEE) Open-Source Retrofit Targeting Tool (CRADA FP00007338 Final Report)

To increase the cost-saving energy and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions reductions in buildings and portfolios at the scale and speed necessary to limit climate change, researchers at LBNL and Johnson Controls (JCI) developed the Building Efficiency Targeting Tool for Energy Retrofits (BETTER). BETTER is a software tool that consists of three components: (1) the BETTER analytical engine source code (which was developed with intellectual property provided by JCI under CRADA FP00007338); (2) the BETTER web application, developed by LBNL and McQuillen Interactive Pty. Ltd; and (3) the BETTER application programming interface (API), also developed by LBNL and McQuillen Interactive Pty. Ltd. BETTER enables building and portfolio owners, managers, and service providers worldwide to quickly, easily identify cost-saving energy efficiency retrofits in existing buildings and portfolios without expensive site visits or complex modeling. With minimal data input, the tool benchmarks a building’s electric and fossil energy usage against peers; quantifies energy, cost and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction potentials at the building and portfolio levels; and recommends energy efficiency measures to decarbonize and electrify buildings and portfolios, targeting specific energy savings levels. No other tool so comprehensively analyzes buildings and portfolios with such ease. If fully implemented, it is estimated that BETTER could help reduce emissions equivalent to planting 1.3 billion trees globally by 2030. Moreover, an additional 50-75% of embodied GHG emissions could be avoided in each case where BETTER results in a building being retrofitted instead of demolished and replaced, providing substantial additional decarbonization benefits for the buildings sector. BETTER has garnered multiple awards and avid interest from investors. In 2020, it earned a R&D 100 Award for innovation and a LBNL Director’s Award for Technology Transfer. In 2021, BETTER was named an EarthX E-Capital Summit Climate Tech Prize semi-finalist

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗