Energy Analysis & Environmental Impacts

Energy Analysis & Environmental Impacts

Our goal is to conduct research on energy consumption and environmental impacts to inform policy, standards, and decision-making for the benefit of society and the environment.

 

Tom Kirchstetter, Chelsea Preble and Troy Cados measuring the effects of emission controls

Why Analyze Energy Systems?

Energy Analysis & Environmental Impacts focuses on Energy Markets, Policy, and Infrastructure; Energy and Environmental Systems Analysis; and Appliance and Equipment Standards. We analyze systems to maximize energy, economic, health and other societal benefits of advanced technologies; develop and enable cost-effective, achievable standards and policies that maximize energy efficiency; and inform public and private decision-making about energy-related issues. Read on for specific areas of research.

Chelsea Preble - Postdoc researcher - characterizing emissions of criteria air pollutants, greenhouse gases, and odorous compounds at a zero-waste energy facility.

Mitigation of Air Pollution and Greenhouse Gases

Ambient air pollution is a result of interactions of natural and anthropogenic emissions with meteorology through chemical transport processes with the atmosphere, vegetation, and building surfaces. We develop and apply air quality modeling and sensitivity analysis tools to investigate interactions and mitigation strategies.

 

Scientists Brett Singer and Woody Delp cook green beans to test the effectiveness of a range hood.

Impacts of Energy Use on Health in the Indoor Environment

The movement of air into and through buildings transports energy, moisture, and pollutants. We develop and use airflow simulation models to understand how to reduce pollutant exposures while simultaneously improving building energy performance and occupant comfort.

 

Hanna Breunig uses her laptop in Building 90's boiler room.

Lifecycle Assessment of Products and Services

We apply Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Technoeconomic Analysis (TEA) to a wide variety of established and emerging energy technologies and strategies to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of  products, materials, processes, or activities. 

 

A hand holding digital tablet and looking at house efficiency rating.

Energy Efficiency Standards and Codes

We support research on high-efficiency products to help determine the performance of advanced designs. We also develop and fabricate prototypes based on state-of-the-art research and practices to test the viability of next-generation products.

 

A virtual smart grid superimposed over a large city.

Energy Markets & Utility Policy

We are focused on creating a reliable, financially healthy electric system in a world of shifting technologies and resources.

 

Downtown Cleveland skyine with a wind turbine

Renewable Energy Policy and Economics

Our work in the area of renewable power generation synthesizes foundational data, conducts original research, and provides technical support to public agencies and others. 

 

Traffic management system concept.

Transportation Systems

Our work focuses on a variety of hardware and system's science research and development pathways to reduce the energy required to transport people and goods in our economy.

 

Dev Millstein works in front of his computer.

Tools

We develop analytical and experimental methods and tools to assess the technical, economic and market potential of energy technologies, as well as their associated social, economic, health and environmental impacts.

 

How EAEI Uses Techno-Economic Analysis to make Informed Decisions. Graphic

 

 

Energy Analysis team

Find out More

energyanalysis.lbl.gov