Facilities

Commercialized and emerging prototype technologies require characterization and measurements to determine whether designs meet specified performance objectives. For some materials, the fabrication and manufacturing process can result in deviations from the initial design. For other materials, material properties can change under different environmental conditions or when operated, as in the case of switchable chromogenic coatings. When assembled into systems, heat transfer between dissimilar components can affect overall thermal performance. In the case of dynamic integrated systems, interactions between sensors, control logic, and actuated envelope, lighting, and HVAC components can be tested under real sun and sky conditions.

In the following facilities, scientists apply their expertise to both characterize and validate numeric models, leading to improved designs and validated simulation tools. Full-scale field tests are used to provide credible data to owners, specifiers, and designers, bolstering confidence and lowering real and perceived risks associated with innovations. Industry is invited to contact LBNL for potential collaborations on R&D projects (contacts are given for each facility in the links below).