A partnership composed of Johnson Controls, CBRE, World Resources Institute (WRI), and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory was recently launched to test and deploy an open-source, web-based energy analysis tool to identify energy efficient retrofit opportunities in commercial buildings.
Johnson Controls developed the LEAN energy analysis technology over the past eight years, and has used the tool to analyze retrofit opportunities in over 700 buildings. Berkeley Lab is working with Johnson Controls to automate and improve the tool and create an open-source version for public use.
CBRE will be an initial deployment partner, using the tool to help their enterprise customers target cost-effective energy efficiency retrofit opportunities across their real estate portfolios. WRI will use the open-source tool to help local governments around the world target the best opportunities for retrofitting public and private buildings within their jurisdictions.
“We believe this initiative will help drive greater investment in energy efficiency by turning readily available, monthly building energy consumption data into specific, cost-effective recommendations for improvement,” said Clay Nesler, vice president, global sustainability and regulatory affairs, Johnson Controls. An alpha version of the open-source LEAN energy analysis tool is available on GitHub at https://github.com/LBNL-JCI-
Related Stories
| Jan 31, 2014
New LEED online platform now available for LEED v4 projects
LEED v4 projects will be the first to experience the new LEED Online platform with streamlined documentation and processes.
| Jan 26, 2014
New York extends, enhances tax abatements to promote green roofs
The expansion of a tax-abatement program for green roofs under New York state law doubles the previous maximum benefit of $100,000, adds new plant species to the list of those applicable for the tax break.
| Jan 23, 2014
Washington state micro apartment law prompts fire safety concerns
Proposed legislation to further regulate the building of micro apartments has triggered appeals from community activists concerned that fire safety standards are sub-par.
| Jan 23, 2014
Pennsylvania owes school districts $1B for construction projects
The Pennsylvania Department of Education owes about $1 billion to numerous school districts for about 350 state-approved renovation and construction projects.
| Jan 23, 2014
About 1,500 concrete buildings in Los Angeles found vulnerable to earthquakes
Some 1,500 concrete structures built in Los Angeles before 1980 could be vulnerable to earthquakes, according to University of California researchers.
| Jan 23, 2014
Low-slope roofs with PVs tested for wind uplift resistance
Tests showed winds can cause photovoltaic panels to destroy waterproof membranes.
| Jan 16, 2014
Bio-based materials could transform the future of sustainable building
Recent winners of the Cradle to Cradle Product Innovation Challenge include a brick made from bacterial byproducts and insulation created from agricultural waste products.
| Jan 16, 2014
The incandescent light bulb is not dead
Despite misleading media reports, January 1 did not mark a ban on the manufacture or import of 60-watt and 40-watt incandescent bulbs.
| Jan 16, 2014
ASHRAE revised climatic data for building design standards
ASHRAE Standard 169, Climatic Data for Building Design Standards, now includes climatic data for 5,564 locations throughout the world.
| Jan 15, 2014
ConsensusDocs releases updated subcontract for federal work
The new version addresses recent changes in federal contracting.