CBE shares research on commercial building electrification, welcomes three postdoctoral researchers, and wins a best paper award for using AI to analyze occupant surveys. Upcoming events cover zero carbon design, building decarbonization, and low-GWP refrigerants.
We launched an open-source web tool to support building decarbonization analysis during early design phases, and new research to guide design with natural ventilation. We also welcome three new industry partners bringing valuable expertise across construction, development and design. Graduates join industry partner firms and academia, and papers gain awards.
Upcoming events include case studies and online tools for understanding marginal emissions profiles, plus strategies to shift loads and reduce emissions. Noah Zallen, Managing Principal for Energy Strategy / Climate & Sustainability at Introba, will take on the role as CBE’s Partner Vice Chair. We announce a new two-year study to understand and predict the experience of occupants viewing the outdoors through various shading and glazing materials.
As the year comes to a close, we want to acknowledge the many individuals, companies and organizations whose support makes our research both possible and impactful. In spite of new challenges, our community is resilient and we remain focused and committed to our shared mission. We also announce the winner and honorable mentions for the 2025 Livable Buildings Award, plus news and publications.
This spring and summer, a team of CBE researchers traveled to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to launch a new and unique field study to evaluate the benefits of fans in reducing heat stress and improving work performance in a manufacturing facility without air conditioning. This work is critical as summer temperatures and heat waves are increasing, along with the growth of such industrial and logistical facilities. The project is supported by CBE’s industry consortium partners Big Ass Fans, and the team includes experts on heat and health from the University of Sydney.
This summer we are excited to announce new funding to support research on low-carbon materials and adaptive reuse. We also share new media that disseminates our work, along with updates on our growing membership, awards and publications.
In this edition of Centerline we share recent news about staff recognition, funding to create radiant system guidelines, and highlights of new publications on embodied carbon, HVAC innovations, insights and marginal emissions. We also have updates on conferences and other inspiring gatherings, including the ‘Women of Carbon’ film screening at UC Berkeley.
As we wrap up 2024, we are excited to share updates on recent work and also about upcoming events where our research team will share our results with broad audiences from industry and academia. Much of this work benefits from the invaluable contributions of our industry partners and research affiliates that include companies and academic institutions from around the world.
The 2023 Livable Buildings Award has been awarded to VMDO Architects for their Paul Jennings Residence Hall, a 500-bed student housing facility at James Madison University completed in 2019. This project is the first residential building to be recognized by this award program, held annually since 2007. The awards also recognized the Bay Area Offices for SERA Architects with an honorable mention. SERA designed a full-floor office in a historic building in downtown Oakland, Calif., with a focus on creating a flexible and healthy workspace.
As we reflect on the events of 2022, we are encouraged by the return to normal that is underway, as the most challenging aspects of Covid-19 recede. Here at CBE we brought meetings and events back to the office, we held Industry Advisory Board meetings with in-person and virtual options, we welcomed new industry partners, new staff, and launched new research directions.