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.
New Research Directions, New Consortium Members and Recognitions
Funding for Research on Low-Carbon Building Material Alternatives
CBE’s life cycle assessment team has launched a new project to develop resources and investigate scalability, risks, barriers and opportunities of various impact reduction strategies for construction materials used in the construction of buildings across the State of California. This multi-year project, funded by the California Air Resources Board, will include development of marginal abatement cost curves, which will be used to support the development of policies for GHG reduction strategies.
Unlocking the Potential for Adaptive Reuse and Building Retrofits
Assistant Professor of Architecture Ramon Weber has received a Lau Grant for Just Climate Futures from Berkeley’s College of Environmental Design. This work will develop computational methods for assessing and optimizing the conversion of vacant office buildings into affordable residential housing in downtown Oakland and San Francisco. The project will establish a scalable, data-driven framework to support policymakers, urban planners, and architects in evaluating and implementing building retrofits that prioritize housing equity and sustainability. The project team includes the Terner Center for Housing Innovation and local organizations, and additional funding from the CBE consortium.
FOTILE, Global Leader in Kitchen Appliances Joins CBE
We are pleased to have FOTILE as the newest Industry Partner to join CBE’s consortium. The company is built on the foundation of product innovation and creating functional and stylish appliances. Since its founding in 1996, FOTILE’s products have helped to improve kitchen environments with technology that removes harmful fumes caused by cooking, which aligns well with CBE’s new research related to indoor air quality and thermal comfort in kitchens (see below). We look forward to FOTILE’s insights and collaboration in advancing this work.
Research Staff and Students Gain Promotions and Prestigious Recognition
Jiayu Li, who joined CBE as a postdoctoral researcher in 2023, was recently promoted to assistant professional researcher. He has been a regular presenter to CBE’s Industry Advisory Board, sharing insights from studies on air quality and comfort in kitchen environments and comparing induction versus gas cooktops, in collaboration with Berkeley Lab, and using ceiling fans to reduce the transmission of infectious aerosols.
Aoyu Zou is this year’s recipient for the prestigious Art Rosenfeld Award for Energy Efficiency. As a PhD candidate in UC Berkeley’s program in Building Science,Technology and Sustainability (MSTS), Aoyu has contributed to numerous research topics including advanced HVAC M&V tools, and his current focus is on buildings’ marginal operational carbon. In addition, Master’s student Quinn Parker Graessle and PhD student Jiwon Park, both in the MSTS program, have each received Graduate Scholarship Awards from the ASHRAE Golden Gate Chapter. These awards are well deserved for these students who are core contributors to CBE’s research.
Seeking Input on Early-Stage Building Design from Building Industry Stakeholders
We are asking building design professionals of all types to take our short survey (approx. 20 minutes) for a study that will characterize barriers and processes around the implementation of carbon reduction strategies in the early design phases. The study is a collaboration between UC Berkeley and Tsinghua University, and will compare early design considerations in two of the world’s largest construction markets. Take our survey now >
New Media Features CBE Staff
Interviews and training workshops featuring CBE research staff and Industry Partners help disseminate our research and related themes.
Podcast on Reducing Emissions from Heating Hot Water Systems
In a new podcast from the ASHRAE Journal, CBE’s Paul Raftery and Hwakong Cheng, Principal at Taylor Engineers, a CBE Industry Partner, discuss key research findings around reducing gas consumption, optimizing heating water systems and strategies for efficient morning start-up in existing large commercial buildings.
Illustrated Interview Describes Biogenic Carbon Storage
In a new video interview, Assistant Professional Researcher Matt Roberts describes examples of biogenic materials and how they sequester atmospheric carbon in construction materials. The video was created as part of a series featuring speakers from Greenbuild 2024.
Training on Design for High Performance Radiant Cooling
This training session recorded during the ASHRAE 2025 Winter Conference, features CBE’s Carlos Duarte and Saeed Danesh, Technical Project Specialist from REHAU, a CBE Industry Partner. The seminar covers principles of radiant systems, energy efficiency and comfort with high thermal mass systems, and insights from CBE research around design strategies, tools and integration with ceiling fans.
Recent Publications
Our team is actively documenting our research in numerous journals and reports, many produced in collaboration with CBE’s industry partners and affiliated institutions.
Using Smart Thermostats to Reduce Indoor Exposure to Wildfire Fine Particulate Matter
This study simulated the potential health benefits of optimizing HVAC operation using smart thermostats and air quality data. Results show this approach could decrease indoor PM2.5 exposure as much as ~50%, and up to ~60% during peak wildfire smoke days. This reveals that overlooked technologies and infrastructure could significantly protect building occupants from wildfire smoke.
A Novel Whole-Life Carbon Assessment of Thirty Buildings in California
This study introduces a novel framework including data collection, carbon calculation and whole-life assessment — based on data from industry professionals for thirty real buildings in California. Although developed for California, the methods and framework are broadly applicable to global contexts.
A Cost-Responsive Supply Air Temperature Control Strategy for Office Buildings Across Climates
We developed a new cost-responsive supply air temperature control strategy and introduced a new humidity control strategy for humid climates. Parametric simulations were used to simulate various algorithms, and a proposed control algorithm consistently outperformed other control methods.
Building and Occupant Characteristics as Predictors of Temperature-Related Health Hazards in American Homes
This study predicts temperature-related illness due to extreme heat or cold exposure based on building characteristics and demographic factors. We estimate that approximately two million US households experience temperature-related illness annually. By embracing holistic, data-driven methods we can better protect vulnerable residents from the growing threat of extreme temperatures. Read the LinkedIn summary and full paper.
The Effects of Personal Comfort Systems on Sleep: A Systematic Review
This review of 25 sleep studies estimates the effect of personal comfort systems on sleep quality, sleep stages and thermal comfort. The authors summarize and compare configurations of personal comfort systems, and outline four future directions for research directions. See the details in this LinkedIn summary and the full paper.