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